Guys, I can’t stress enough how much fun a Flirt Pole can be for you and your dog, but what is a Flirt Pole? Well, think of a giant cat toy but made for your dog, and while there’s plenty of physical activity involved, we use it to help expend that mental energy too. This is a great tool for helping to slough off excess energy and a fun way to strengthen your “wait” cue and your “trade” cue, plus, depending on the size of pole you have and the space available, this can be played both indoors and outdoors.

A super quick search on Google yielded a variety of Flirt Poles ranging from $11-$30 and are great for anyone who wants to click to receive but anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good deal and while I’m not all that creative, I enjoy making these myself because it’s very simple. So I’m going to show you how to do it yourself.

What you’ll need:

• PVC-I’ve used both 3 and 4 foot lengths and found that it’s just as easy to buy a 5′ length of pipe and cut it in half and make two 2.5′ poles
• Paracord or some similar rope
• Ring for the bottom or you can just make huge knots so that your rope stays secured
• Stuffie with or without a squeaker
• Scissors
• Lighter (optional)
• Colorful duct tape, because it’s fun!

Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, lets start creating! First I cut a length of cord about 3 times the size of the pole and feed it through. I want it to be long enough so that I can draw it in and out of the pole and give the dogs some leeway when they are playing and I also plan for a little bit of fray if you need to swap out toys. Next, I secure the ring at the bottom end with a loop that I have no idea what the name is, and then (optional) melt the cut edge with a lighter to prevent fraying and add a little duct tape so that it isn’t waving about loosely.

Next, I repeat the process at the other end using a toy with a loop on it. Note, this step requires me to draw the cord down the length of the pole, so hopefully you’ve cut enough rope or you can tie it using a fancy knot of your own. Eventually, with repeated use, I imagine the toy will need to be replaced occasionally.

The final part is when you get to release your creative juices and wrap the pole in colorful duct tape, if that’s your jam. A 2″ wide roll won’t cover your pole, length-wise, so plan on two long strips, or if you have the patience, you could do smaller alternating strips up the entire length. I also add an alternate color on each end, so that I don’t have to be quite so painstaking in my length measurements.

Now for the fun part-Flirt Pole Play! This exercise is good for dogs of most ages and abilities because you can control the speed and height. My elder guy has been playing Flirt Pole for quite a few years and while he’s gone airborne during chase in his younger days, I now recommend staying pretty close to the ground. Puppies can damage their growth plates and there are still a myriad of ailments that over exertion can trigger, but responsible play can be so rewarding.

Start with your dog in either a sit, a down, or just a regular standing “wait” which is my go-to. Once released they chase the toy which you can swing around on the ground and change distance with your excess string hand. Allow them to capture the toy and play with it after a few passes. Some dogs will play tug, some will just squeak and chew but after a few seconds, ask for a “trade” and trade a treat for the toy, reset the dog in “wait” and resume the game.

As I said, this is a good tool to expend both mental and physical energy but there are also times when you’ll want to skip play such as if your dog is sore, achy, injured, already over stimulated, too shy, doesn’t know some of these basic cues, or doesn’t think it’s a fun game, are good examples. With all training and play, you can customize to your circumstances and preferences, but remember to keep safety in mind at all times. Make sure your pet doesn’t over extend himself and if you’re playing in an unsecured or un-fenced area, you can use a long line attached to your self, be sure your dog has a super solid recall in place, and always keep an eye peeled for free roaming (“It’s ok, my dog’s friendly“) interlopers.

Video clip of Julius in his younger years playing with the flirt pole with bonus adorable granddaughter laughter.

https://www.facebook.com/Peaceabull/videos/776612972456296

Enjoy!