I bought a flirt pole!!

[lancerandrara]

I'm overly excited. It's arriving on Monday.
How do YOU use it? Is it as great as they say? Is it magical? Do dogs kill babies to play with it? Is it from Mars?

(aka, flirt pole thoughts. Also, flirt pole sounds wrong.)

Hmm.. on a related note, what awesome dog thing do you use or do to get your dog mentally or physically drained, other than the whole fetch and running?

 

[Equinox]

Ooh, where did you order from? I really wish I had the materials to build one for Trent, but 1) haven't come across anything yet and 2) I've been lazy. Tell me if it's magic, because that'll motivate me to get one.

Funny thing though, I have a friend who has a GSD that will only work for his flirt pole. Doesn't really care about balls, tugs, etc. just wants his flirt pole. Goes nuts for it, which is great, but it's significantly less convenient than a ball or squeaky toy LOL

 

[straw]

I built one for about $10 - found everything I needed at Home Depot.

I love mine. The dog loves it. I think it's a great exercise outlet. Different dogs can use it at their own pace, it doesn't need to be super intense or high impact if they can't handle that.

It's probably Venice's favourite game, but she's also not obsessive over it. When I say 'all done' and put it away, she doesn't pace or whine or fuss for more.

 

[Torch]

Rhys, my Amstaff, LOVES his flirt pole. Ours is just a regular lunge whip-it works perfectly and has held up amazingly well. He goes crazy for it and tugs on it too. Usually I just have a length of knotted nylon rope tied to it. He loves to chew the rope and tug with it so it works well.

 

[lancerandrara]

Ooh, where did you order from? I really wish I had the materials to build one for Trent, but 1) haven't come across anything yet and 2) I've been lazy. Tell me if it's magic, because that'll motivate me to get one.

Funny thing though, I have a friend who has a GSD that will only work for his flirt pole. Doesn't really care about balls, tugs, etc. just wants his flirt pole. Goes nuts for it, which is great, but it's significantly less convenient than a ball or squeaky toy LOL

I ordered this one from amazon that's only $15! The rest of them were near $30 and I did not comprehend why. LOL.

http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP02290...TF8&qid=1416685854&sr=8-2&keywords=flirt+pole

It has great reviews too. I hope it holds up- it looks like it should, with the people reviewing having large breed dogs.. and my dogs are just small~medium. HAHAH I sure hope my dogs like it as much as your friend's GSD.

Grace IT IS MAGIC.
(actually I'll confirm when it arrives)

 

[Fran101]

I really want a squishy face one

They aren't that bad price wise and Merlin really needs an outlet. We are nowhere near any kind of big park so it's been a struggle

 

[lancerandrara]

I built one for about $10 - found everything I needed at Home Depot.

I love mine. The dog loves it. I think it's a great exercise outlet. Different dogs can use it at their own pace, it doesn't need to be super intense or high impact if they can't handle that.

It's probably Venice's favourite game, but she's also not obsessive over it. When I say 'all done' and put it away, she doesn't pace or whine or fuss for more.

NICE! I actually first saw a DIY article for it a couple days ago, which is what made me want one!
That's nice though, not going apeshit insane. Lancer goes flying nuts over tennis balls and I'm hoping this flirt pole doesn't drive him QUITE AS crazy. LOL

 

[Linds]

I love Flirt Poles!

My dogs love them, such a great way to get them out and exercised when I don't have a lot of time or the weather is bad. Even more fun during the winter when I can make them run through snow to try and grab it. I love it for impulse control work and drive building. Just an all around super easy, super fun and super useful toy that I think more people and their dogs would really benefit from.

I make my own because I like the pole and rope to be longer than most places sell. I'll be interested in hearing if that one you ordered holds up! Looking at it I would think my dogs would snap it in half but I'm curious to see how it goes with you. I tend to do a lot of crazy tug though with the flirtpole so that might be why.

Best part though is the faces dogs make while playing with them

 

[Dekka]

For those who want to make their own and like a really flexible whippy stalk (esp if you want a long stalk) get a longe whip at your local tack shop or order in US:https://www.smartpakequine.com/two-piece-lunge-whip-2152p

in Canada: http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=DRG0851&stricSKU=DRG0851

Then tie either a bit of fabric or one of those stuffingless toys to it and enjoy.

 

[xpaeanx]

Oooo! That's exciting! Can't wait to hear about all the enjoyment your dogs get out of it!

 

[FG167]

I use it for my non-IPO dogs for exercise. Limit LOVES it, it makes his eyes go crazy. The IPO dogs only get it as puppies for training so I don't use it for them for anything else. I've made them, we have one made and one bought...

Puppy Jentry

2014-05-04, Jentry Flirt Pole-3 by Falon167, on Flickr

Limit

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-8 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-3 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-16 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-15 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-6 by Falon167, on Flickr

One of the best things about it, you don't have to be feeling super well to do it. Just a little flick of the wrist is all that is needed. Helpful if dog has an out...

For exercise we play frisbee, fetch, tricks that take a lot of energy (sending around a far object etc), or train. I also like food dispensing toys a lot.

 

[Linds]

Oh I missed the part about other physical and mental exercise!

My favorite thing, especially in the winter is trick training and impulse control work. Especially the physical tricks like stalls and things of that nature. I also love bikejoring when the weather allows.

 

[PWCorgi]

I use a Da Bird cat toy with Siri. OMG BEST THING EVAR!

 

[BostonBanker]

Gusto's flirt pole is just an old lunge whip with a stuffed toy tied to the end. I don't use it much in the nice weather, when there is a lot of other stuff we'd rather do, but it is fantastic for winter play in our tiny yard. I can send Gusto all over the yard in the deep snow, running up and down snowbanks, while I stay on the nice shoveled drive

 

[Southpaw]

Gosh my dogs LOVE their flirt pole. Ours is also just a lunge whip with a toy tied to the end - less than $10 for the greatest toy ever lol. They go nuts for it. As soon as I get it out they get soooo excited which is probably helped by the fact that we don't play with it that often. They love to chase and tug and do acrobatics, so it seemed like a no-brainer that they would dig a toy like this.

It tires them out REALLY quick and takes such minimal effort on my part. Really awesome for when I don't have much time, or on days where I wish I didn't have dogs because I'm not in the mood for anything lol. And yes, great for impulse control.

DSC_0087 by hum.hallelujah, on Flickr

IMG_5558 by hum.hallelujah, on Flickr

IMG_5545 by hum.hallelujah, on Flickr

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Yep! TSC lunge whip and skineez here as well! Love it, especially in the winter

 

[Applebear]

These look fun, may have to look into making or buying one for both Ro and Rip. I'd be interested in making a bit of a heavy duty one that can hold up to the abuse, as if Rip gets a hold of it...he'll be giving it a good tug before he lets go.

Keep us posted, would love to hear how it goes.

 

[Annabell]

I wonder if Fable would like one of these. She generally doesn't care about toys, so I just assumed that she wouldn't care about a flirt pole either; but as much as you guys are going on about them, maybe I will look into one. Oh and by the way, these pictures are great! Wonderful action shots

 

[lancerandrara]

I love Flirt Poles!

My dogs love them, such a great way to get them out and exercised when I don't have a lot of time or the weather is bad. Even more fun during the winter when I can make them run through snow to try and grab it. I love it for impulse control work and drive building. Just an all around super easy, super fun and super useful toy that I think more people and their dogs would really benefit from.

I make my own because I like the pole and rope to be longer than most places sell. I'll be interested in hearing if that one you ordered holds up! Looking at it I would think my dogs would snap it in half but I'm curious to see how it goes with you. I tend to do a lot of crazy tug though with the flirtpole so that might be why.

Best part though is the faces dogs make while playing with them

Lancer will probably be doing some kind of apocalyptic chewing and tugging as well, so I sure hope the skinny thing will hold up. LOOL I'll let you know!

omg... that face... those jowels...
:lol-sign:

 

[lancerandrara]

I use it for my non-IPO dogs for exercise. Limit LOVES it, it makes his eyes go crazy. The IPO dogs only get it as puppies for training so I don't use it for them for anything else. I've made them, we have one made and one bought...

Puppy Jentry

2014-05-04, Jentry Flirt Pole-3 by Falon167, on Flickr

Limit

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-8 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-3 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-16 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-15 by Falon167, on Flickr

2014-03-02, Limit Flirt Pole-6 by Falon167, on Flickr

One of the best things about it, you don't have to be feeling super well to do it. Just a little flick of the wrist is all that is needed. Helpful if dog has an out...

For exercise we play frisbee, fetch, tricks that take a lot of energy (sending around a far object etc), or train. I also like food dispensing toys a lot.

OH MY GOSH, these are epic photos. This is so exciting. I am excited.

I'm occasionally quite lazy, which means often. I sure hope Lancer or Rara likes the flirt pole as much as your dogs do LOL. I'll be sure to sigh heavily into their faces if they don't.

oh yeah!! Food dispensing toys are the best. I've also never even tried FRISBEES before and I'm have no idea why.

These look fun, may have to look into making or buying one for both Ro and Rip. I'd be interested in making a bit of a heavy duty one that can hold up to the abuse, as if Rip gets a hold of it...he'll be giving it a good tug before he lets go.

Keep us posted, would love to hear how it goes.

For sure, I'll post here again this week about the $15 thing when I get to play with the doggies. 8D