Our labradoodle was bred to be a service dog, with the goal that he would be a help mate to a handicapped adult or child. But in order to do that, a dog has to be able to pull a heavy cart if need be, and Bixby has a bad hip.
So cart pulling was never going to be in his repertoire.
On the other hand, patrolling our New England homestead, making our old farmhouse his own, watching over our chicken and ducks, checking in on the cows, and reprimanding the barn cats once in a while, well all of that is right up his alley.
Our golden doodle (who is, ironically, black) is the sweetest, smartest puppy we could have hoped for. She’s still a farm-dog-in-training but she’s learning well and growing quickly.
Everything thing listed here is Michelle & Bixby & Selah approved. ❤️
It takes work to train your dog. But Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, and that’s okay, our dogs are worth it.
To help you out, I’m listing some of Bixby & Selah’s favorite things here.
This post contains affiliate links & I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
This is a great enriching way to feed a dog their kibble every day. It’s hard plastic and more difficult than the next option (shown in orange).
This kibble dispensing toy is soft plastic and an easier dispensing option than the kong dispenser.
Enrichment toys like this one make a challenging game out of their meals
I have 6 of these. So I always have plenty of frozen, ready snacks and meals for doggie enrichment.
I have a couple of these kong-knock offs. They’re just as durable for half the price.
Keep your pup entertained and active for a long time every time you fill this mat with a thin layer of peanut butter, moist food, or yogurt.
This food puzzle is a great beginner one, if you think your pup needs an easier challenge.
All-Natural Food, Treats & Chews
Not your typical dog food, Sundays is FRESH, REAL food that has been lightly dehydrated to make it shelf stable. The easiest way to feed your dog the BEST food possible. Use code SOULYRESTED and save 50%!
This kibble is as good as dog kibble gets. I love that there are no cheap fillers, like corn or soy, no wheat, no BHA, BHT, by-products, artificial colors or flavors, or preservatives. And THIS is the best price you’ll find anywhere. (New customers use code WELCOME to save $$)
Kelp gives dogs & cats
good breath, Increase energy & promotes healthy skin (natural flea & tick prevention) Use code RESTED15 for 15% off entire order!
All the health benefits of fresh liver, in powder. You can even make into a gravy or just sprinkle as is on your dog’s food. Use code RESTED15 for 15% off entire order!
I keep the dogs’ food in this storage container on wheels. I love that I can easily access it and it’s air-tight..
These are a much better alternative than rawhide and they last sooooo long! Use code RESTED15 for 15% off entire order!
Our puppy LOVES chewing on these for HOURS
I love that these are easily broken into smaller treats, if I want, and of course Bixby LOVES the venison. Use code RESTED15 for 15% off entire order!
I love that these functional treats are high in glucosamine, which helps Bixby’s old joints feel better.Use code RESTED15 for 15% off entire order!
Looking for puppy food that’s made with real ingredients yet easy on the wallet? I love that this kibble uses fresh chicken for the protein source and has fish oil, for a healthy coat and strong joints.
Chicken feet are so good for dogs, since they’re high in glucosamine and chondroitin. Bixby LOVES them & they even help his bad breath! Use RESTED15 to save 15% off the already great bulk pricing here.
These tendons are long-lasting chews for dogs that are natural joint and ligament supplements, since they’re high in glucosamine and chondroitin. Bonus: they’re high in protein & even help bad breath!
Dog Training & Other Puppy Essentials
This is a great book, loaded with tips and pictures
This superb guide is one to read both before you bring home a puppy and during those first few difficult months.
Bixby has had this leash for 9 years and it’s still going strong!
Love this water bottle for hikes
When training a dog to walk well on a leash this is very important
These training treats can be broken into itty pieces & the dogs LOVE them. Use code RESTED15 to save!
Frequent brushing teaches bite inhibition, trains a puppy to have a gentle mouth, and reduces puppy nipping.
When Bixby had a bad injury that medicine and bandaging wouldn’t help this light healed it in ONE sitting. He loves it to relieve his joint pain too. Bonus: it works for other animals and people too!
On this page, I link to products I find useful for dog training or that Bixby–the best homestead dog ever–happens to love. These links are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small payment if you purchase through my link, but it won’t cost you a penny extra, and it helps to support our little family farm & sugarbush, future Bixby pampering treats, & all the free dog-training, sugarmaking, and simple-living content we share here, on SoulyRested, with the world. Thank you for your support!
I recently chatted with the owner of Raw Paws about why real food is important for our pets and some of the many lies the pet food industry likes to feed us:
Some of My Favorites
You may enjoy reading one of these articles I’ve written about Bixby:
