The Fur and Feather Blog

Flirt Pole Rules

May 6, 2026 No Comments

A flirt pole is a powerful teaching tool.

Many dogs find the flirt pole so intensely exciting that if you don’t play with rules, they forget their manners. We want to make sure that your dog earns the reward of chasing the toy in exchange for a show of self-control. When done properly, this game teaches patience, good listening skills, fast response to cues, and impulse control even when really excited. It’s a great learning tool for dogs who are easily distracted or have lots of energy!

Safety first.

Do not encourage your dog to jump for the toy lure. We know it looks cool. Don’t do it. Keep the toy low on the ground – mimic the movement of a squirrel, not a bird.
Always play off-leash, so it can’t get tangled in the toy
Make sure your dog has good traction. Never play high-speed games of any kind on a slippery surface.
Make sure to alternate the direction of the chase so you don’t stress one side of your dog’s body through repetition

Now, the rules.

Before you make the toy move, ask your dog for a simple cue that they know well, such as “sit,” or “touch.” When he’s performed the behavior, immediately release him to chase the toy (“okay!” or “get it!” work well) and move the toy along the ground.

If he is unable to perform the behavior due to excitement, it’s time to put the toy away. Too much of an exciting game can lead to unwanted behaviors.
If he’s unable to perform the behavior because he is distracted or confused, make it easier somehow – use a hand signal, or a treat, to show him what you want.
If your dog grabs the toy before you’ve given him permission, ask him for a “drop” and then re-start the game with another simple behavior.

As your dog gets better with practice at following the rules, you can make the learning more complex by asking for more difficult behaviors, or asking for duration (for example, a “stay” to be released to get the toy), or ask for simple behaviors, but while the toy is moving (this is a great place to use your “leave it!”)

Pay for the drop.

Reward the “drop” (spitting out the toy) with a treat in the beginning until he willingly drops it solely for the reward of chasing it again. The more repetitions he has of dropping the toy and then having good things happen (like treats and more chasing), the stronger this behavior will get.

Ending the game.

If your dog is not able to respond to your cues, starts mouthing you or your clothes, or jumps on or barks at you to get you to move the toy, end the game and try again another time. It’s important that we don’t reinforce unpleasant behaviors with more play.

The flirt pole should be stored where the dog does not have access to it, otherwise they might destroy it.

Need some more flirt pole help? Ask us!

Hot Topic: Surviving Your Dog’s Heat Cycles

March 19, 2026 No Comments

As our understanding of the health benefits progresses, it’s becoming increasingly common for veterinarians to recommend waiting longer to spay or neuter young dogs.

If you’re unsure WHEN to spay your young dog, please discuss this in depth with your vet. But if you’ve decided to delay the spay surgery and are now facing the new experience of navigating your adolescent’s first heat cycle, this article is for you!

When should you expect your girl’s first heat cycle?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is wildly variable. Most commonly between six and twelve months, but it can take longer. If your dog is from a breeder, your breeder may be able to make an educated prediction based on their observations of your dog’s mother or other relatives.

What should you expect when your dog has a heat cycle?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is ALSO quite variable. But here are some general ideas of what to expect:

She may be more irritable, more lethargic, or more restless. Some bitches show significant changes in behavior when in heat, and others don’t. Our best advice is to be prepared and empathetic. She may be experiencing some pain or discomfort, and the impact of hormones on behavior is REAL. Don’t be too alarmed by changes in behavior during this time. If she is struggling with things she normally doesn’t, avoid those things and wait for her heat cycle to pass.
Other dogs may show more interest in her – both male and female. This is really not the time to have your girl around unfamiliar off-leash dogs. She may not appreciate the attention, and her presence can also provoke conflict between other dogs.
There WILL be discharge, typically for two to three weeks. Prepare your dog ahead of time by teaching her to be comfortable wearing panties. Pair short sessions of wearing panties with treats, toys, and other fun activities so she learns to associate them with good things. Also set up a confined area in your home where it’s easy to clean up the mess — she will need to have frequent breaks from wearing the panties.

Do’s and don’ts of having a female dog in season

DO take her for ON LEASH walks or hikes. As long as you stay observant and aware when in public, there is no reason to isolate your dog through her entire heat cycle. We recommend avoiding places where dogs are likely to be off-leash or out-of-control. Keep her on a leash or long-line at all times so she can’t get away from you or out of your sight. (No matter how much you usually trust her off-leash, remember that hormones can change behavior dramatically, so keep her on leash for now.)
DON’T take her to play at the dog park. As suggested above, avoid interaction with groups of dogs, unfamiliar dogs, or off-leash dogs during this time, even if she usually loves playing with other dogs.
DO keep her separated from other dogs in your household when you aren’t there to supervise. Even if your other dogs are neutered or spayed, it is safest to prevent interaction unless you are supervising and can intervene. Your bitch in season may be more irritable than usual and you don’t want a conflict to start that will plague you in the long run. Additionally, some neutered males will mount and attempt to breed. Although a neutered male cannot produce puppies, it is safest for everyone to prevent this behavior.
DO keep her separated from any intact males with a DOUBLE layer of separation. If you have an un-neutered male in your home (of ANY age) keep them separated with two barriers at all times. Dogs have been known to successfully breed through fences and crates! Don’t underestimate the determination and creativity of an un-neutered male and an in-season female.
DON’T leave her unsupervised in your yard. Again, don’t underestimate the determination and creativity of an intact male! Even if you think your yard is secure from other dogs, don’t take the risk. Many dogs are very skilled jumpers, climbers, or diggers, and the hormone changes in your bitch will create extra motivation for their creativity… and as previously mentioned, dogs have been known to successfully breed through fences.
DO bring her to class at Fur and Feather Works! Yes, you ARE allowed to come to class! We have invited bitches in heat to come to class alongside both intact and neutered males for a few years now. We view it as an excellent opportunity for the boys to learn an important part of being an upstanding canine citizen, but honestly, they mostly don’t notice because they’re too busy learning. All that we ask is that you let us know ahead of time, and that your bitch wear panties to help us keep the training center clean.

Remember: this too shall pass!

The advice to keep dogs intact longer is relatively new to the dog world, so many of us at Fur and Feather Works have ALSO had the experience of navigating having a bitch in season for the first time.

What we want to tell you is: it’s probably not going to be as big a deal as you think, and it will soon be over. In a few weeks life will return to normal! You and your girl will both be relieved.

Doggy School Photo Day: Retro Edition examples

January 5, 2026 No Comments

Doggy School Photo Day: Retro Edition is one in which we encourage humans to participate, too! Our goal is to recreate the awkward poses that were popular in the 80’s and 90s, but with you and your dogs! We’ll try to accommodate any requests you have as well, as long as we have enough time, and it doesn’t scare your dog. As always, you can choose between our themed background (this time, laser themed) or the classic neutral. Here are some examples of what we mean.

Email us to get on the list!