If you have an anxious dog, it’s not the best game to play just before a walk as fast exercise can increase the stress hormone adrenaline, and possibly further raise your dog’s anxiety levels. Any exercise for dogs, including with the flirt pole, helps release anxious energy (which leads to destructive behaviors) and to maintain healthy body functions. Despite these complaints, the vast majority of owners were pleased with the toy and felt that it was well-constructed and durable.

For a medium to large size dog, buy a 4-6 foot long 3/4″ PVC pipe, 10-15 feet of rope, and a dog toy. You’re now ready to introduce the flirt pole. For safety, keep the toy trailing along or very slightly above the ground so your dog doesn’t have to leap up for it, which could lead to injury and can be damaging for joints. Never let your dog play with the Flirt Pole unsupervised. It will not survive as a chew toy. Always put it away after use. Start with your dog in a sit or down position. Move the lure around in a circle along the ground to engage your dog. Once your dog catches the lure have them release it. Don’t turn it into a tug of war. If they won’t release the lure just put the flirt pole on the ground. This lets them know that the game won’t continue until they have released. Reward your dog and start again.On days when I’m not able to take my dogs for a long walk, their flirt pole is my go-to tool to help them burn excess energy.

Causing any dog to jump can be hazardous; especially dogs under one year of age, whose bones are still growing. Thread the rope through the pipe and tie a knot at either end of the pipe, to keep rope from sliding in and out. Your dog has a natural drive to chase and catch prey. And a flirt pole is the perfect tool to stimulate this desire in your dog.If your dog is anything like mine, with high prey drive, they will go absolutely crazy for this toy. They will jump, spin, lunge, and bark with excitement as they try to catch the toy.

While flirt poles are super fun, they can also help with training. But don’t tell your dog that, they’ll think they’re just having fun! 😉

Best flirt pole for your dog

Two colours are available, the orange/yellow lure which has a squeaker and the blue/aqua lure which doesn’t. Replacement lures plus fleece and fur lures also available. This is an important cue which tells your dog he can finish whatever you are currently asking him to do. Commonly used cue words are ‘Free’, ‘Release’, ‘Go’, or ‘OK’. Again, practise this in many different scenarios. It’s a good one to remember to say after you’ve asked for a wait or sit, to tell your dog he can now move through the door, or eat his dinner. If you’re looking for a flirt pole for your dog, size is definitely something to consider. Too small and they won’t be able to get a good grip on it, too large and they might get tangled up in the ropes. If you’re new to flirt poles, or if your dog has never played with one before, you might be wondering how to get them started.

Take it on the road! Ask for it at different times and in different environments, until you notice he starts to look at you often. The pole should be made of a durable material that can withstand your dog’s excited pulls and tugs. The lure should also be made of a sturdy material so that it doesn’t fall off mid-play.The toy doesn’t start moving until your dog is successfully sitting and waiting. Even if he can only stay still for five seconds in the beginning, it’s still a good start. This teaches your dog that the fun doesn’t begin until he’s waiting patiently and politely. Keep the chase short as it can be a strenuous activity, especially for an unfit dog. You also don’t want him to get frustrated or lose interest if he hardly ever gets the toy. When he catches it, give lots of praise and play a fun game of tug before asking him to ‘Drop’, and then reset. The second thing your dog will learn is to let go of the toy at the end of the flirt pole. Some dogs will have trouble with that, especially in the beginning. However, ensure you don’t allow them to continue playing until they willingly let go of the toy. 3. Keep it low After intensive workouts with a Flirt Pole, just like any human, your dog needs to refuel on all the good stuff: Otherwise, there’s a pretty good chance your dog will enjoy flirt pole play and will see its benefits!