Flirt Pole Fun!
One of my top tips for students to improve their dog’s training performance is to play interactive games. Play will enhance your relationship with your dog and the stronger your relationship, the better your training will go.
By interactive games, I mean games that include you, not other dogs. Fetch is a fun game that can reinforce your pup’s desire to return to you, which can help you with your recall. Chase games are great, if exhausting, but only work to your advantage if you are the one chasing your dog, never the other way around. Tug is an awesome way to both build engagement and magnetize your dog to you.
Also, I’ve always loved the idea of using a flirt pole to exercise dogs. With some proper flirt pole action, you can incorporate all three of a dog’s favorite activities as listed above. Fetch, chase, and tug! Plus, you can do so with minimal effort or risk of bodily harm on your part! However, in the past, I’ve had trouble finding one that lasts more than a session or two with my large, rough and tumble crew.
Recently my friends over at petexpertise.com asked me if I would like to try one of their new flirt poles out. I jumped at the chance! So here is my review of the Squishy Face Studio flirt pole, courtesy of petexpertise.com
I found this toy to be better designed than other flirt poles I’ve used. It is much more durable that other models. For instance, the bungee cord that connects the toy to the line is very strong and pliable without being too stretchy which can make catching the moving object precarious for a dog’s neck. Also, there are no fasteners that can get in the way of play, or inhibit some dogs from grabbing, or worse, snap with too much pressure. This makes the Squishy Face Flirt quite suitable for both large, strong dogs and tentative players who are new to chase/capture/tug.
After inspecting it, I was convinced I could indeed play with my seventy pound Belgian Shepherds. Indeed I could! Both of my boys, Lazaretto and Mars played heartily and successfully with this toy. However, my greatest joy was watching my young student, little Rafiki the mini-Labradoodle puppy go to town! So much so that I made sure to send him home with one. He’s a city dog, with a small back yard and people with very busy schedules. This is the perfect way to efficiently exercise the little guy (he’s like an energizer bunny) while also keeping play focused on interactive games, rather than just letting him blow off steam (and his owners) at the dog park.
I visited Rafiki this weekend, after not seeing him for about three weeks and his family confirmed that the Squishy Face Flirt Pole is still his very favorite toy. I highly recommend this toy, give it a go! Your dog will have a blast!
