Are you looking for a new and fun way to exercise your dog? Perhaps you’re interested in incorporating some training games into your dog’s daily routine. Or maybe you’re looking for a way to meet your dog’s breed-specific needs to stalk, chase, and catch “prey”? You’re in luck, because there’s actually a tool out there that can help you do all three activities at once, while also improving your bond and communication with your dog! It’s called a flirt pole, and it’s one of the best dog toys and training tools on the market. Read on to find out more!
What is a Flirt Pole?
A flirt pole looks like a giant cat toy or fishing pole, but is made of sturdier parts so that it can be used with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
A flirt pole has three parts:
- A long ,sturdy pole : these can often expand or collapse so they can be stored or transported easily
- A long, sturdy rope attached to one end of the pole. The rope is usually 3-6 feet long.
- A tug toy or prey decoy fastened to the end of the rope. For dogs with a high prey drive (i.e. dogs who love to chase and catch prey), using a toy that resembles a prey animal in look and feel is a great idea.
Flirt poles come in different sizes and lengths, depending on the size and breed of the dog you’re using it with. The general goal with using a flirt pole is to have the dog track, chase, and catch the toy at the end of the rope. This allows the dog to expend excess energy while giving them an outlet for natural doggy behaviours.
Benefits
There are so many benefits to using flirt pole!
- Flirt poles provide a safe, appropriate outlet for breed- specific needs: flirt poles allow your dog to engage in parts of the predatory sequence, such as eyeing, stalking, chasing, and catching/biting “prey” in the form of a tug toy. This is especially important for high-drive, working line dogs and/or dogs with lots of energy. Flirt poles are especially popular with herding breeds such as border collies.
- Flirt poles provide both physical and mental exercise: because the tug toy is at the end of a long rope, the dog gets more chances to chase and move around than they would by playing tug. You can add in training cues such as “get it!”, “trade”, etc., to make flirt-pole play a training game
- Flirt poles teach coordination, body awareness, and motor control as dogs learn how to track the toy, chase, and catch.
- Flirt poles keep your dog close to you: your dog to chase a fast-moving object but cannot run off with their toy. This is a great alternative to games like fetch which require a lot of space
- Flirt poles allow for safer, more accessible play: because the toy is at the end of a rope, It means you can play with your dog without your hands being close to their mouth and teeth. You can also use a flirt pole while seated and without needing to throw the toy, making it a great choice for people with limited mobility
- Flirt poles can be great for reactive dogs: if walks are stressful for your dog, a flirt pole can provide excellent at-home exercise and enrichment. You can use it inside (on non-slippery floors, please!) or in your backyard
DIY Flirt Pole
You can purchase a flirt pole at many pet stores these days, or online at Amazon , but you can just as easily make one from items you’d find at the dollar store (or in you garage!)
What you’ll need
- A broom handle with a hole at the end
- A durable, soft nylon rope or bungee-style cord (you can use a leash if you remove the clip at the end), approximately 4-6 feet long
- A tug toy your dog loves
Simply run the rope through the hole in the broom handle, and tie it tightly. Then tie the toy to the other end of the rope, and voila! You’ve just made your own flirt pole.
How to Use a Flirt Pole
The basics of flirt pole use are simple: hold the pole out in front of you so that the tug toy is just off the ground, and start to move it around. You can snake the toy along the ground or bounce it in different directions. The key to fun, effective flirt-pole play is to mimic the movement of a prey animal: try not to shove the toy towards the dog’s mouth; instead, have your dog chase and catch the toy. I prefer to keep the toy close to the ground so that my dog isn’t jumping too high or having to work too hard to catch the toy. Aim for 10-15 seconds of chase, then allow your dog to catch the toy. Then trade the toy for a treat and start over.
Below are some instructions for adding some training into the mix!
- Ask your dog to “stay” or “wait”
- Present the flirt pole to them and invite them to “get it!”
- Have them chase the toy for 10-15 seconds, then allow them to catch it
- Praise your dog for catching the toy!
- Now ask for “trade” or “drop”; make sure you’re keeping the flirt pole still at this point. You may need to put a cookie to your dog’s nose at first to get them to “trade”- that is totally fine.
- Toss a few treats onto the ground to get your dog to chill for a moment while you move the flirt pole away
- Now ask for “sit”, “down”, or any other simple behaviour. When your dog performs the behaviour, mark “yes” and present the flirt pole, inviting them to “get it!’
- Repeat
Feel free to get creative when playing with your dog- mix in some fun cues, use different toys your dog loves, and above all have fun with them! Remember that play is one of the best ways to bond with your dog, and flirt poles provide a great opportunity for that!
About the author: Beth Dowbiggin is a professional dog trainer, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) living and working in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She teaches puppy, basic manners, and advanced obedience classes through Spot On Dogs in Charlottetown. She has two border collies, Mack and Hamish.