You’ve probably seen a cat toy that consists of a long, flexible wand with a hand grip on one end and feathers or a small ball or fuzzy on the other end for the cat to chase. Did you know that there’s a similar toy/exerciser for dogs? It’s commonly called a flirt pole, although some of us think that sounds like what you’d find in a doggy singles bar.
Call it what you want, it’s a great way to entertain and exercise your dog if you follow some basic safety and training rules.
Here are some comments from trainers:
| Ettel: “It’s total crack for Prynne [a very small dog]. Favorite thing ever. She runs like a nut anyway; we just use it at home in smaller spaces. Bought it online.” | ||
| Jess: “One of my favorite tools! I make mine from lunge whips. They’re great for impulse control work.” | ||
| Allison: “My dog loves his, but I do have to be careful as he has a bad back. I only play outside, never inside.” | ||
| Kim: “The last orthopod seminar I went to, the surgeon said he sees a lot of knee injuries from flirt poles.” | ||
| Jill: “I won’t use it inside. Alastor [a big dog] would wreck our house. I use it off and on with him in the backyard. I think I need to worry more about my knees than his. If I run with it, he thinks it is easier to take me out than to catch the fake rat.” | ||
| Vicki: “I bought a flirt pole and the first time I used it with my lad he was loving it . . . until I accidentally smacked him on the nose with the pole.” | ||
| Deb: “I dislike the name flirt pole. Makes me think of a stripper club offering pole dancing. I do use a lunge pole with a squawker tied to it. The purpose is to build chase drive. I want my dogs keen to chase the bunny (drag lure). I’ve had it for years.” | ||
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Why you want to use a Flirt Pole:
- It totally and completely exhausts dogs in record time. But it doesn’t exhaust you.
- You can use it as a fun way to practice the following commands: sit, down, look, wait, take it, leave it, drop it.
- You’ll be working your dog’s rile/recovery skills. That means they’ll get to practice listening to you when they’re in a state of high arousal (chasing and tugging) and learn to cool off quick (drop it and lie down) when you say so. Handy for reactive dogs who are working on impulse control.
- You can tire out your dog at home, before going on a walk, so they’re more relaxed.
- You can tire out your dog at home, instead of going on a walk, so you’re more relaxed.
- You can make a small flirt pole (half the regular size) and use it inside the house, if you don’t have a yard.
—Notes From A Dog Walker by Jessica Dolce
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Here are some suggestions for making your own flirt pole:
| Jess: “I make mine from lunge whips that I get at a farm supply for under $20. Very durable; have yet to have one break in use. I’ve had dogs tug on them hard enough to bend the pole part nearly in half without a problem. Did learn not to leave them bent in the trunk for weeks on end, though. They are too big to use indoors unless you’ve got an arena-type area.” | ||
| Vicki: “Definitely make your own with a horse lunge whip. I haven’t used my bought one since.” | ||
| Danielle: “My husband made ours with a golf club shaft, 550 cord, a cat Breakaway collar, and a Kong Wubba toy. We used the Breakaway collar to prevent undue stress on their teeth and neck. The dogs love it and it gives them a lot of exercise, but you do have to be careful.” | ||
Here are some safety tips from trainers who use flirt poles:
| Kat: “I think it’s important to keep it low, replicating chasing a squirrel, instead of flipping it up to encourage jumping. Making sure the toy goes in multiple directions so the dog doesn’t get dizzy. Making sure that the dog gets to keep/tug/play with the toy to their satisfaction before trading for it and playing again. I can see how going too quickly can encourage guarding behavior.” | ||
| Monique: “I have a video for clients demonstrating safe use (to avoid injuries). We see far fewer injuries from this activity than from retrieving or frisbee.” | ||
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Flirt Pole Rules You Will Use:
- Dog must lie down, look at you, leave the toy alone, and wait for you to release them, before playing.
- When you tell them to “take it,” then they get to chase.
- After a few pass-bys, reward them by allowing them to catch the toy.
- Let them tug until you tell them to “drop it.”
- Have them lie back down and wait until they are totally calm. Then start again.
- Change direction every once in a while, so your dog isn’t always running one way.
- If the dog grabs the toy before you say “take it” or is mouthy or jumping on you, take a time out and/or start over.
—Notes From A Dog Walker
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When to Skip the Flirt Pole:
- If your dog has bad joints or injuries that could be aggravated by quick changes of direction and jumping.
- If your dog doesn’t know the following: wait, take it, leave it, drop it. Practice with treats first, then a tug toy, then move on to the flirt pole.
- If you do not know the dog well. It’s not safe to rev up an unfamiliar dog. While this is one of my all-time fave tools for shelter dogs (it tires them out so fast!), they must know basic commands and you need to have a relationship with the dog before getting them super psyched. Establish a working bond first—make sure you’re communicating with each other—then start off slowly.
- If this overstimulates your dog to the point that they can’t calm down after. You know your dogs. If this isn’t a good fit for them, just pass.
- If your dog thinks it’s dumb. Some dogs just don’t dig it.
—Notes From A Dog Walker
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Give it a try! Make your own flirt pole (Notes From A Dog Walker has directions and photos), make certain your dog knows the basic cues and behaviors that are a prerequisite for flirt pole use, and experiment with what works for you and your dog. Be patient, cautious, and safe!
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Spokane area readers:
I’ll be presenting an hour’s worth of information about your family dog—FREE!—this Saturday, September 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the South Hill branch of Spokane Public Library. I hope you’ll be able to join us. Please let me know if you heard about it here on the blog!
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