In July 2020, Nava entered my life, bringing with her an abundance of joy, love, and a crash course in dog ownership. I had grown up around dogs and so made the foolish assumption that training on my own would be a walk in the park (pun intended). Turns out that less walk in the park, more trying to teach things to a small child that can’t talk and only listens if there aren’t squirrels, footballs and/or friendly humans around.

At the beginning of our journey, it was pretty clear I was going to need a plan ,because Nava was a gem in my eyes, even the best dogs need guidance as well as a specific and consistent path to towards good behviour. In the early days, and regrettably I would add, I took the traditional raised voice, pointing fingers, and a lack of structure approach. Needless to say Nava continued to chase squirrels, run on to football pitches and stop right in front of people out on their morning run.

The internet is generally not your friend when it comes to training plans for dogs.

 I’m sure plenty of people Google how to raise a child, but the reality is you take advice from friends, family and find what works for your little furry one. My shining light on this journey, was the discovery of a dog trainer advocating for positive reinforcement as a means for training, exactly as you see with Lisa. The energy in their video, the mutual respect between human and dog and the results it provided was exactly what I’d been looking for. I thought, let’s give this a shot.

Positive training became our mantra, high and low value treats, rewarding the wanted good behaviour and redirecting away from unwanted behaviour. Over the subsequent weeks Nava's behavior transformed and at the same time we became more bonded than ever. The only challenge I was having was dog products fitting the needs of our method.

Enter Nava + Me. I’ve done a separate post about the history of the business, but a little here for the story. The challenge with positive reinforcement, is you need a few more tools than a lead and a voice. As a designer in a previous life, I went to task creating those tools that would allow the wider market a far more effective route to positively train their dog (and look stylish in the meantime I might add). The more I learnt about the method, the more I wanted it to be the way that every owner trains their dog, what’s not to love, an enriched life for the dog and a simpler life for the owner (*spoiler alert* this is Nava + Me’s mission statement).

So far I’ve created three products, they focus on making life better in the home, out the home and at the pub/[enter inside venue of your choosing]. It was about creating tools that played a key role in training, but only ever in a positive way. The goal was clear—to provide owners and their dogs the means to focus on the joys of the moment, not the negatives.

Over the years we have done our fair share of testing products and trying to find the ones that tick the boxes we needed. There are so many products on the market so when we were researching and trialling them we came to conclusions for the key elements that should be included and avoided.

 I thought I’d share a little bit about what to look for and what to avoid when trying to find a treat/walking bag, an enrichment toy and a travel mat.

When selecting a dog treat bag, it's essential to prioritise functionality and convenience. Avoid designs that are overly complex or too difficult to access quickly, as a user-friendly treat bag will enhance the training experience for both you and your dog. Multiple compartments can be beneficial for carrying different types of treats, high and low value, or even personal items like keys or a phone. Choose a bag made from durable and easy-to-clean materials, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of daily use. A waterproof bag will always be a winner in our eyes, even though you think you won’t need it to be, it’s a life saver. The Walking + Treat bag that we came up with has exactly these points. Easy access, dual treat pouch, large compartments and made from waterproof, durable materials.

When it comes to dog enrichment toys, look for options that stimulate your dog's brain. It’s so important to move away from the generic stuffed toys that promote dogs to completely destroy in a matter of minutes. Look for toys that can be filled with treats or kibble, encouraging your dog to problem-solve and stay engaged. It’s beneficial to both you and your dog if the toy can either be an independent play time or a joint game, which can strengthen the bond between you and your dog. If you find yourself reaching for the same squeaky stuffed toy, have a look at our Squares + Crosses enrichment toy, a toy designed specifically for brain stimulation.

For a travel dog bed, prioritize portability and comfort. Opt for a bed that is lightweight, easily foldable, and compact when packed. Look for materials that are both durable and easy to clean, as travel often involves different environments. Ensure the bed provides adequate support for your dog's joints and has a cosy or warm feeling to it especially for those who have short haired dogs. A travel dog bed that strikes a balance between comfort, convenience, and durability will make trips more enjoyable for both you and your canine companion. If you’re after something that ticks all these boxes, check out the Travel + Settle mat.

At Nava + Me we aren’t just another company creating dog accessories; we are a designer's reflection of the transformative power of positive training. I aim to embody as a designer the incredible journey Nava and I embarked on, from novice dog owner to passionate advocate for a method that I trule hope you’ll adopt too.

Nava + Me is a small female owner business founded by Andraea Posnett in Hackney, East London. Their products are meticulously designed and created to enrich the life of your dogs while simplifying yours. You can find their enrichment toy, settle/travel mat, and dual treat dog pouch here.