Positively Training

   Flirt pole fundamentals

   The BEST tool for teaching herding

Where to start?

How do you start teaching your dog positive herding? What does your dog need to know? What do you need to know? Maybe you are clueless or just confused as to where to begin.

I suggest preparing for training herding by learning to use a flirt pole. A flirt pole? If you have not heard of flirt pole training, let me introduce you.

There are two sizes of flirt poles that I use, small and large. They look like a whip with a toy or tug on the end. (The shaft and handle of the smaller one is 3 feet long and the larger one is almost 6 feet long.)

I use a "Tail Teaser" for my short flirt pole:

For my large flirt pole I use a lunge whip, as used with horses, with a tug or "rat" added to the end.

Why a flirt pole?

The main advantage of using a flirt pole is that it simulates prey that you have complete control of, like a sheep on a string that you can allow your dog to grab and tug with or snatch away to prevent self-reinforcement. I want to see you do that with a live animal!

Introducing your dog to the flirt pole gives you a head start on training positive herding.

Caution!

Danger: You don't you want your dog to jump or twist trying to grab the tug.

Keep the rat near the ground or high overhead as you loft it. When you whip the tug back to your hand, do it briskly so your dog is not tempted to jump to grab it. Have fun but keep your dog safe!

If you found this blog interesting, please tell your friends and spread the herd!

Barb

Come bye to learn more about herding!

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