What type of crate is best for dogs that try to escape?
Plastic crates with solid support are superior to wire crates for powerful or escape-prone dogs. Wire crates bend easily and can collapse if a dog applies pressure; a dog that finds even a small gap can force their way out and potentially hurt themselves.
At a glance
Length
10 min
Channel
Cali K9
Video from
Aug 2025
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Dog owners ready to invest in structured training; aspiring professional trainers.
What this video answers
What type of crate is best for dogs that try to escape?
Do you need to use a slip collar or can other collars work?
When should you graduate from the training box?
How long can dogs safely stay in a crate?
Why is a 15-foot leash important if you're training off-leash recall?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.
Essential Dog Training Tools Explained by Cali K9
In this video, Cali K9's trainer breaks down the five essential tools he uses daily to train dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. Whether you're dealing with leash pulling, reactivity, aggression, or basic obedience, these items form the foundation of effective dog training. The trainer emphasizes that having the right equipment is as critical to dog training as having the correct tools is to any other profession—without them, progress becomes unnecessarily difficult.
The five core tools discussed range from simple storage solutions to specialized training equipment. Each serves a specific purpose in teaching dogs new behaviors, building compliance, and creating clarity during the learning process. The trainer draws on experience training thousands of dogs, from aggressive rehabilitation cases to celebrity clients featured on Netflix, to validate why each tool deserves a permanent spot in your training kit.
Key Moments
The Five Must-Have Dog Training Tools
Treat bag or training vest: Stores food rewards in an organized, easily accessible way; keeps dogs motivated by maintaining consistent access to high-value treats during training sessions.
Slip collar and leash: Allows you to apply pressure and release it smoothly, maintaining connection with your dog while guiding behavior rather than yanking; kept high on the neck behind the head for proper positioning.
Training box and touch pad: Elevated platform that keeps dogs in exact positions, improves posture, reduces distractions, and teaches rear-end awareness; phased out as the dog progresses.
Quality crate: Provides a safe den space, prevents destructive behavior, enables safer travel, and supports crate training—essential until dogs can be trusted unsupervised in the house.
15-foot long leash: Bridges the gap between controlled six-foot leash work and off-leash freedom; solidifies recall by allowing distance practice and proofing without losing control.
High-value food rewards: Raw, kibble, or freeze-dried options keep dogs engaged through their food drive during the early learning stages of training.
Why the Right Equipment Transforms Your Training Results
Dog training without proper tools is like trying to complete carpentry work without the right saw or hammer—you can attempt it, but the process becomes frustrating and results suffer. The video emphasizes that these five items aren't luxuries; they're practical aids that make learning faster, clearer, and more enjoyable for your dog. A training box removes ground distractions and provides physical structure that helps dogs understand exactly what position you want; a slip collar lets you maintain a light connection while primarily using food lures instead of brute force; a 15-foot leash lets you gradually build confidence in recalls without the risk of your dog bolting. Even simple items like a treat bag keep your rewards organized and your training sessions efficient, preventing the energy loss that comes from fumbling with treats in your pockets. When tools remove friction from the learning process, dogs progress faster and trainers stay consistent.
Questions About These Training Tools
What type of crate is best for dogs that try to escape?
Plastic crates with solid support are superior to wire crates for powerful or escape-prone dogs. Wire crates bend easily and can collapse if a dog applies pressure; a dog that finds even a small gap can force their way out and potentially hurt themselves. Plastic crates provide the structural integrity needed to safely contain dogs with strong escape drive, while decorative designer crates often prioritize appearance over containment and should be avoided for serious crate training.
Do you need to use a slip collar or can other collars work?
While pinch collars and other options exist, the trainer prefers slip collars because they're easier to manage, less clunky to put on and remove, and allow you to apply and release pressure smoothly with the same tool. The key is keeping the slip collar positioned high on the neck, just behind the head, and maintaining a taut (but not overly tight) connection to guide the dog rather than yank it around.
When should you graduate from the training box?
The training box is phased out gradually as the dog learns. You begin by training on top of the box, progress to training inside it, then graduate to the touch pad to build rear-end awareness while maintaining structure. Eventually, once the dog demonstrates solid understanding of positions like sit, down, and stand, you can remove these aids entirely, but they're invaluable during early learning stages.
How long can dogs safely stay in a crate?
Dogs can eventually hold a crate duration of up to eight hours, but this builds slowly. Start with short periods, create positive associations by feeding meals inside the crate, and always ensure your dog gets vigorous exercise before crate time so they're ready to rest. Never use the crate simply as a way to contain a high-energy dog without first exercising them thoroughly.
Why is a 15-foot leash important if you're training off-leash recall?
The 15-foot leash is the bridge between controlled six-foot work and true off-leash freedom. It lets you practice recalls at distance while maintaining safety, gradually building your dog's reliability before releasing them completely. This progressive distance training—six feet to ten feet to fifteen feet—solidifies recall reliability and is a crucial step that many trainers skip, resulting in dogs that won't come reliably off-leash.
A collar that tightens when leash pressure is applied and releases when pressure is removed, allowing smooth communication rather than constant tightness.
Leash pressure
Gentle tension applied through the leash to guide or correct a dog's position or behavior, which is then released as a reward when the dog complies.
Food drive
A dog's natural motivation to work for food rewards, especially when the dog is hungry and food is a high-value motivator.
Proof
To test and solidify a trained behavior by practicing it in different conditions, distances, or with distractions to ensure reliability.
Rear-end awareness
A dog's understanding of where their back legs are positioned, which improves body control and the ability to move their hindquarters independently.
This video is genuinely helpful because it cuts through the noise of dog training product marketing and focuses on what actually works across hundreds of real cases. The trainer doesn't oversell; he explains the specific purpose of each tool and how it accelerates learning, which makes the investment feel justified rather than trendy.
What I appreciated most was the emphasis on progression and phasing out tools. The video makes clear that a training box or touch pad isn't meant to be permanent—they're learning scaffolds that you remove once the dog understands the behavior. That clarity prevents the common mistake of becoming dependent on tools. If you're serious about training your dog or starting a training business, this practical breakdown is worth watching.
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Listen fam! The right tools can make or break your dog training journey.
In this video, I’m breaking down the Top 6 Must-Have Dog Training Tools I use every single day at Cali K9 to get fast, reliable results with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments.
If you’re struggling with leash pulling, reactivity, aggression, obedience, or socialization, these tools are non-negotiable.
These are the exact tools I’ve used to train thousands of dogs, from Netflix-featured cases to celebrity clients to aggressive rehabilitation.
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You don't have tools yet? Get those through this links:
Vest
https://calik9.com/collections/training-vests
Kits and box’s
https://shop.calik9.com/collections/training-equipment
Leashes and collars
https://calik9.com/collections/collars-leashes
Tugs and toys
https://calik9.com/collections/training-toys
Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more business and dog training success stories! Turn on the notification bell so you do not miss out!🔔
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https://3motivators.calik9.com/optin-page
Monthly All Access Cali K9 Online course subscription
https://go.calik9.com/5pillars-47
Book your evaluation with my team and I📲
https://go.calik9.com/evaluation-with-jas
Learn how to skyrocket your business with my Cali K9 Mentorship Program💵
https://go.calik9.com/ck9-mentorship
Video transcript for “The Only Dog Training Items You Should Buy!” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
What's going on, Cali K9 family? Today, I want to go over five of the most important training tools that you'll need to train your dog. I believe that all of these five tools are essential. I know sometimes people try to like wing it with one thing or the other. If you have all five, it's like you're going to
go do a job, you want to make sure that you have the right tools for the job, and these are going to be the top five tools that I recommend for you. So, make sure to like, comment, and smash that subscribe button, guys. I'm growing my channel. I'm bringing all my new content to you guys, just like I do on
Instagram. I'm bringing long form versions of it, lots of explanation. It does not stop. It won't stop. And let's get it popping. All right. So, first tool that you're going to need when you're training your dog, I think you should have a bait bag, a treat bag of some sort that's going to carry your
reward. Now, I like to train with food because dogs will work easy for food. If they're hungry, they'll work. And when I'm first teaching a dog things, I like to use something that they like, something that's going to keep them motivated. And again, like I said, a hungry dog will be willing to work, and
I can start shaping that dog's behavior, showing it new things, and really making sure that it understands that it could get a piece of food, then it has to come again for something else. because once it swallows the food uh and you have the dog engaged in that food drive, they're
going to want another piece, right? So, by having your treat bag allows you to keep all your food, whether you're feeding your dog raw, whether your dog feeding your dog kibble, whether you're feeding your dog freeze-dried, all of it can go in a treat bag. There's various pouches. I like the ones that kind of
collapse and can close and open and are easily washable. Another option is to maybe have like a bib. And you can actually get these from like Home Depot. The same thing you put like nails in, you can actually put treats in. So that's an option as well as like a training vest and then you can have
different pockets in there. But definitely have somewhere to store your treats and your rewards. Sometimes it's cool you have a vest because you could keep balls and you can keep treats over here and one over here and you can get tugs back here. So those are great, but the main one is going to be that treat
bag so you can keep your rewards nice and organized. So, the next tool that I'm going to need is going to be a slip collar. Now, I like to use a slip collar, number one, because it's a lot easier to work with. Sometimes a pinch collar could be very clunky um trying to take it on and off. You do have ones
that snap, but for certain people, it could be a little tough. I like to use a slip collar because I can make leash pressure and I can make correction with that same collar. The main thing you have to focus on when you have a slip leash is keeping it up high enough. So you want to keep it taut, not so tight,
but taut where it could sit on the neck and kind of right behind the head. So I like to use that one. Again, I don't train my dog yanking them around. It's really just as a lead. I'll be doing most of my guiding with lure. So I'll be able to just keep a connection with the dog and be able to add pressure and
subtract pressure. If you want to have a happy dog, then make sure you have motivation and you have your leash pressure and you have your slip leash. And your slip leash is going to be a way just to be connected to your dog. And you can still make corrections and apply leash pressure with the slip leash. The
next tool I think you should have is a training box. Now, the reason why we use the box, so many different reasons. We like to have an elevated platform. It's the first step of agility. Number one. Number two, it's the first step of compliance. It keeps your dog straight. It keeps your dog in an exact place. It
keeps your dog uh with better posture. It gives your dog more clarity. It's distractionf free where they don't have a bunch of odors and scents from the ground in the grass. There's so many reasons to use a position box. I like to use it when I'm teaching the front position or finding the heel position. I
teach to sit down and stand in the box because it keeps the dog very straight. And then when I tell the dog to down, he goes backwards. And when I tell him to stand, he comes forward. And then when I tell him to sit, you know, it's all right there in the box. So we have a Cali K9 position box. It basically is is
a a box with a open end and we first train on top of the box. Then we flip the box over and we train in the box and then it allows us to just create an easier uh learning process for the dog and it's a great tool to use. I highly recommend the training box. The next thing that we also use in addition to
the training box is the touch pad because it teaches your dog rear end awareness. you're able to put the front feet on the touchpad while making sure the back feet can pivot and move around the box. So, that's great when you're making left turns. It also is great as a graduation from the box. Then you kind
of go through the touch pad and then you can phase it out, right? But the touchpad is also a great tool to have. So, the box and the touchpad are great combo. Again, I phase a lot of this stuff out eventually, but when I'm in the learning phase, in the early stages of training, highly, highly recommend
utilizing your box and your touchpad. Great tools to have. Definitely think you should have them in your toolbox if you're going to train, especially with young dogs. It just helps them process things easier, keeps it fun, it keeps it very black and white, and it's just helpful as a training aid. The next tool
that I recommend is your crate. A crate gives your dog an opportunity to go chill out. It keeps your dog out of trouble. It gives them their little den they can go hang out in. I do believe that you should exercise your dog vigorously if you are crate training though because you don't want to just
take a dog with all this energy and just always pop him in a crate. Uh you want to make sure you get the dog tired so the dog will just maybe sleep in his crate. It allows you to travel a lot easier. It allows you to, you know, put your dog and travel in a car with your dog without, you know, with more safety.
So many reasons why a crate is a super good tool. You need to make sure that you have a crate. Create a positive association for the crate. Feed them in the crate. Give them their true toys in the crate. You know, build up the the duration slowly, but eventually dogs stay in the crate for a good amount of
time, right? Sometimes up to, you know, eight hours, right? But if your dog is going to chew up your house, then you need to have your dog crate trained, like very necessary until you can trust them in the house. So, love having a crate. Always like to have high quality crates. Sometimes the wire crates tend
to be a little flimsy and the dog sometimes can work their way out of them. So, you have to really make sure that uh if you have more real strong kind of vigor and and strong dog that likes to escape, then you probably need to get like a plastic crate that has a lot more support. When sometimes when
you use the metal crates, they tend to bend and they're a little flexible and if a dog gets a little inch, they'll take a mile and they'll bust out of that crate and they can possibly hurt themselves in the process. So, be careful not to get some of these designer crates uh where you have like
something that's like a a ornament in your house because those are not necessarily meant to keep a dog in and kind of contained, but sometimes they don't put enough emphasis on the support and those are easily able to escape from or break out of. So, be careful with that. Now, the last training tool I
believe you should have is going to be your 15t leash. Why? Because as you become more free with your dog and let him go a little explore a little more, it allows you to be able to recall him from 15 ft. So you can give him a little bit more freedom, but it's that step before going off leash that allows you
to have more control. And then if your dog does run away and catch a little wind, he wants to go run around, you could catch him a lot easier with a long leash attached. Again, also your transition from six feet to 10 feet to say 15 feet, it really solidifies your recall and your dog learning to come
back. So really working with that long leash, huge, huge, huge essential thing that you should have. Sometimes when you have your regular leash and then you have a 15 foot leash, you can actually have a second person pull your dog out of position with the 15oot leash and that really proofs the heel position or
the recall position. So when you're having like a double handler situation and you're working on something, you're proofing, leash proofing, not distraction proofing, you'll be able to utilize that 15oot leash and it'll be super helpful in the process. also big with recalls, recalls, recalls, recalls
with the 15T leash, that is going to really solidify your recall. Uh, if you guys are interested in finding the training kit that we provide at calk9.com, the link right here is in the description, you can hit our store up, you can grab some swag, you can grab some uh, training tools. You might have
a few things and just need the others, but it's all right there at the CalK9 store. Guys, you need this stuff. It's just part of your training. It'll help you go so much further. just so much faster. Again, I always like to say the right tools for the job is very necessary. If you're a plumber, you need
plumbing tools. If you're a carpenter, you need carpenter tools. If you're a dog trainer or dog handler, you need dog training tools. And it's just going to make the process a lot easier. So guys, hope you guys enjoyed this video. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to this channel. I have way more heat
coming for you guys. Lots of game, lots of information for you to be able to keep absorbing it to take you to the next level of your dog training journey. Whether you are a handler or a trainer, we can help you with both of those. We train online with people from all over the world. We also help dog trainers who
are trying to level up their business. Guys, I've done it 15 years professionally. Uh, you know, I have my show, I have my celebrity clientele, I have all of these uh things that I've done that are working and I help new trainers take their business to the next level. So, if you guys are interested in
learning more about how to become a dog trainer, make sure to hit the mentorship link and the coaching link on the bottom and I'll help you take your dog business to another level. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe, and we'll see you on the next one. Peace. [Music] So high.
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