Big Pup Training,
Toy & Health Product Review
Our Mission
At Big Pup Thumbs Up our mission is simple. To help big pup owners find reliable, durable and effective brands that truly work for large breeds without the guesswork, with honest reviews.
About Us
Our journey started a few years ago, when our family of five adopted a Great Dane x Bull Arab, Duke from a local Animal Rescue. Duke was 50kg of untrained power, excitement and pure chaos; our first big breed, and definitely our biggest learning curve. From shredded beds to broken toys, failed walking gear, and the constant fear that he’d eat the couch while we were out, we quickly realised that we needed to search for dog products specifically catered for big dog breeds. After a whole lot of trial, error, frustration, and eventual triumph, we found the products that actually worked. The ones that made our life easier, kept him and us safe, and helped him grow into the healthy, happy, gentle giant he is today. We created this site to share our experiences honestly as first big dog parents who have lived through the challenges and found real solutions. If our story helps even one other large dog owner avoid the trial and error we went through, then sharing this information is all worth it.
Training
Walking with a 50kg Powerhouse: What Finally Worked
Other harness we've tried...
We started without any harness but you can see how that turned out. Then we tried a body harness because everyone said it was 'gentle' and great for large dog breeds but for ours it made no difference. Whilst wearing the body harness, Duke would still, pull, drag and tighten the leash.
Before:
What finally worked...
The Game Changer Halti head harness, one of the biggest turning points for us.
We went from not being able to take him for a walk, to actually being able to enjoy our walks
without fear. With great control, comfort and without anxiety of not being dragged. It didn't 'fix' him overnight but it made training possible and life way easier.
After:
For anyone struggling with a strong puller, Halti is one of our favorite brands. For big and small breeds too, I'd highly recommend that you check it out here to see the range of sizes. Note: size three worked really well for us as per the Halti sizing guide.
The Luca Lead is a lightweight, super effective no-clip slip lead that’s perfect for quick control, training, and those “oh no, he’s running out the door” moments. Easy to slip on, gentle, and secure. Making it ideal for dogs who like to bolt out of the house or are hard to grab in a hurry. Because it works like a lasso, you can quickly secure your dog even if they’ve slipped out or managed to escape. The adjustable slider keeps the loop comfortably in place without tightening too much, giving you solid control during training. It’s lightweight, durable, and especially handy for reactive, excitable dogs. It lacks a traditional clip, but that’s also what makes it so fast and convenient to use, I highly recommend getting one here.
From Chaos to Calm: Crate Training
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When we adopted Duke he was untrained, anxious when left alone, chewed furniture, and jumped all over us, which you could imagine this was not ideal for a dog that was equal to our height when on his hind legs. This training crate was a gamechanger for our big boy, it kept him safe, made him less anxious and stopped furniture destruction.
This crate is best for large breeds, strong dogs, and owners needing a safe set-up while out of the house. It was sturdy enough, the double door access made it easy to set up in tight spaces. The foldable design made traveling and cleaning easy, and with some treat training he learnt that it was a safe space.
So I would highly recommend getting this training crate here as it made our lives happier and safer for an untrained dog. I would definitely suggest the XL with 122 length which worked really well for Duke.
Toys
Kong Wobbler Enrichment
When you have a big dog with endless energy, the KONG Wobbler was our saving grace. This heavy-duty, wobbling food dispenser keeps large breeds mentally engaged, encourages slow eating, and turns every mealtime into an enriching challenge.
We tested it with our own giant, and it quickly became a daily must-have. It holds up to powerful jaws, keeps dogs entertained, and helps reduce boredom, anxiety, and destructive behaviors. It is for strong, heavy chewers, keeps big dogs mentally stimulated, slows down fast eaters and it is easy to clean, fill, and use. The Kong Wobbler is one of the most reliable enrichment tools we’ve tested and implemented into Duke's routine so I would definitely recommend purchasing one here.
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Health &Wellbeing
Essentials
Essential For Your Pups Health: NexGard Spectra
For heartworm, tics and general parasite protection, we've stuck with NexGard Spectra. Our boy has been on it consistently, and he has been happy and healthy ever since.
They have a range of medicines for all dogs and weights but here's what we use for our large breed, it is easy to give him and reliable but ensure you check with your vet to know what is best fit for your dog.
We love NexGard as it has been a trustworthy brand I definitely recommend seeing the details here.
Food that Works for us: Pedigree
We tried various food brands in with different forms, textures especially with Duke being and allergy prone dog, other brands enflamed his allergies and weren't great for his bowels or his health.
So Pedigree ended up being our saving grace and the best brand for him. It prevented allergy issues, maintained his shiney coat, promoted healthy bowel movements and he actually loves it.
However every dog is different, so make sure to check with you're vet to find out if the ingredients work with your furry friend, but Pedigree has been a solid, affordable option for our boy's needs that is why I highly recommend you give it a try here.
Grooming: The Brush For Shorthairs
The MIU COLOR grooming brush is the first brush that actually worked for our short hair. We had already tested wide-tooth brushes, bristle brushes, and a few “all purpose” grooming tools. None of them grabbed any loose fur; they just skimmed the surface.
So we gave the MIU COLOR brush a shot, and it finally made a real difference. It's close teeth reach the under-coat without scratching and it removes a surprising amount of loose hair with just a few passes.
Its gentle effective, and super easy to clean with its detachable comb mechanism. So I highly suggest purchasing one here.
Miscellaneous
The Perfect Water Trough for our Big Boy
It may seem easy but picking the right water container is important that is why we chose one big enough our big dog.
That is why we chose Zeez water bucket for ours giving him a more comfortable experience while drinking.
It is also made out of safe stainless steel material, and a large enough capacity for our big boy. If you want to check it out click here for more details.
Note: Elevating their water or food bowls allows large breeds to eat and drink more comfortably while also reducing strain on their joints.
Dog Bed Alternative: Why we Recommend... a Couch
After trying multiple dog beds that barely lasted a week, the only thing strong enough to survive our Great Dane/Bull Arab was a couch and honestly, it’s the best “dog bed” we’ve ever used. A couch is best for heavy chewers, bed-destroyers, and anyone tired of replacing $100 beds every month.
Couches have a solid, durable frame that’s much harder to rip apart, they’re roomy, cost-effective in the long run, and super easy to maintain with a sheet or couch cover. That’s why we highly recommend choosing a couch instead. Tap here to see the one we recommend.
Final Thoughts
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Owning a a big dog can be one of the best experiences of your life once you figure out the right tools.
We didn't recommend these products because we were told to but because we tested these dependable products and integrated them into our daily life.
These products truly made our lives easier and I hope they can make yours easier too.
TESTIMONIALS
Testimonials Coming Soon
We're a brand-new site built by real dog owners. As more people try the products we recommend, we’ll update this section with genuine feedback from our community. Stay tuned!
Testimonials Coming Soon
We're a brand-new site built by real dog owners. As more people try the products we recommend, we’ll update this section with genuine feedback from our community. Stay tuned!
Testimonials Coming Soon
We're a brand-new site built by real dog owners. As more people try the products we recommend, we’ll update this section with genuine feedback from our community. Stay tuned!
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FAQ
Your Questions, Answered
