Flirt pole when dog is chained with heavy chain

[blackjackjr_9]

In another web forum site, someone mentioned that it is very useful for the dog's agility to chain him with long heavy chain when playing flirt pole! I have big question marks? Any advice, idea?

thanks in advance :)

[whiteyransom]

i could see where people would think it'd help, because of the extra weight and all. but i don't think i'd do it, to much of a chance the dog could get injured. i have some weighted collars i sell that would work just as well for that. i got 3,5,and 7 pound collars. let me know if ya want to order one!

but the flirt pole in itself is a hell of a work out, i'd make sure to work up to adding weight to that plan!

[Attila]

well keep in mind the force of that chain while the dog is jumping around and twisting in air. Maybe try it on your own neck for a moment to get the feel of it. It is allot of stress on the neck, shoulder and joints in the legs when jumping. But it is your dog and some people do it. I don't. I do use weighted collars during walks. Even a weighted harness. The flirt pole is great for indurance and agility training. Slow action is best for strength. Just my thoughts on the matter.

[blackjackjr_9]

Thanks for the inputs! That is how I was thinking!

Would you please send me a few links for your collars?
Thanks :)

[Attila]

Mr. Ransom's link is in his signature.

[tommy3]

In my opinion, there is too much movement involved with the flirt pole to be using something heavy. A chain should be used for containment and nothing more. I put my dog on a 1/4 chain while he is on the flirt pole but it isnt for added weight. It is to keep him from the strays that roam around here. The flirt pole is meant to build explosiveness, reaction, speed, etc. It is not meant for putting on muscle and I would imagine that a large amount of weight mixed in with fast movements can cause problems.

[calikeith]

Id work my last dog on the flirt pole with a weighted collar,it had no adverse effects,it built a bit of muscle but nothing to drastic.I see how the weight of the chain could build some muscle and provide a bit or resistance when jumping further working the back legs,i also see how a real fired up dog might get hurt.

[kane85]

i know people that use the flirt pole and have the dogs on a chain whaile doing it but its not a heavy chain.

[Pipbull]

The way I work with the flirt pole, there's no way I'd do it with a chained dog. Mine take such long leaps, there's no way I'd want some pumped up lunge to hit the end of a chain. There's no benefit at all of playing with him on a chain. Weighted collar at most, but that is a pretty quick and active wokout for the dog, so I wouldn't recommend that either (but that's just opinion, I know others on here have had good experiance with weighted collars)

[sedaliapitbulls]

the most exercise is probaly the swivel where the dog is running a good chain setup will allow it. I do not keep my dog on that big of a chain just big enough to keep it secure. I have herd of people using double and even tripple log chains to try to make their dog big and massive and later on their dog has back and neck problems.

[GSDbulldog]

No, don't do it. It causes too much undo stress on the dog, and the results will not be worth having a crippled companion.

I do not reccomend using any extra weight during strenuous activities such as flirtpole, springpole, etc. However, it can be beneficial during a brisk walk or hike.

[Saiyagin]

If you doing just maintanance excercises flirting him on the chain is ok but it does have some risks of the chain getting tangled on him or pulling him back if he happens to leap at the end of his chain etc. If putting one through a keep dont ever flirt your dog while on chain as I mention above about the risks. Its ok to use a weighted collar but you gotta start off light and gradually increase the weight not just throw on a 5lbs weighted collar and expect him to do it without some kind of injury so start off light with 1lbs and then after he use to that you can increase the weight another pound untill you reach 5lbs which is the max weight for a weighted collar I would use on a 50lbs dog any heavier you could hurt em unless he is a big dog like 60lbs and over then maybe 7-8lbs max.

[semo]

I personally wouldnt do that to an animal. It just doesnt seem right. To me this is a no brainer.

[tommy3]

Wow, I don't see what the problem is. As long as the chain is long enough for there to be no possibility that the dog will hit the end of it and the chain is at a low weight, there shouldn't be a problem. In my opinion, a heavy chain should not be used in any scenario. The chain should only be used as a containment tool and therefore, should be relatively small such as, 1/4. Most people without a fence, such as myself would be putting their dogs and the neighborhood animals at risk if I decide to use the flirt pole while he is unsecured. As a result, I keep my dog on a chain while he is on the flirt pole. It is not for added exercise. It is for containment. I have done this for around 6 months, 6 times a week, for varying periods of time and have never ran across a problem. The chain is not bothering him whatsoever during his flirt pole exercises. It is no different than when he is out there without the flirt pole and running around his chainspace. However, I am convinced that a larger chain or a weighted collar can cause many problems.

By the way, I am using a 24 foot 1/4 chain.

[calikeith]

All dogs are individuals,if you are responsable and also really know your dogs abilitys and limitations you can condition a dog sucssesfully with a weighted collar or a chain,but then again ive done alot of conditioning with my dogs that many would disagree with.You can work a dog and work them hard and still do it responsably.It is possable that a dog that shows crippling defects from such conditioning was a sub par animal anyways who was predisposed to such injurys...

[kane85]

Wow, I don't see what the problem is. As long as the chain is long enough for there to be no possibility that the dog will hit the end of it and the chain is at a low weight, there shouldn't be a problem. In my opinion, a heavy chain should not be used in any scenario. The chain should only be used as a containment tool and therefore, should be relatively small such as, 1/4. Most people without a fence, such as myself would be putting their dogs and the neighborhood animals at risk if I decide to use the flirt pole while he is unsecured. As a result, I keep my dog on a chain while he is on the flirt pole. It is not for added exercise. It is for containment. I have done this for around 6 months, 6 times a week, for varying periods of time and have never ran across a problem. The chain is not bothering him whatsoever during his flirt pole exercises. It is no different than when he is out there without the flirt pole and running around his chainspace. However, I am convinced that a larger chain or a weighted collar can cause many problems.

By the way, I am using a 24 foot 1/4 chain.see i agree with you on this the dog know how to move around in the chain is not like you have a stupid dog that when you pass it by that it will choke it self they can sense it when the chain is about end they will quickly change diraction.

[blackjackjr_9]

Thanx for the inputs. I wouldnt use this technique but I would use weight collars instead. I dont think adding a little more weight on the dogs neck will effect anything badly.