The exercise disclaimer.

Who I am

I’m Christopher Lee Moran. I’ve been working with dogs for ten years, with roughly 400 client dogs through my private training practice, which is the business I run. I designed the Whimsy Stick and I build it.

I have no formal certifications, no veterinary credentials and no academic letters after my name. I’m not a veterinarian, not a veterinary behaviorist (DACVB), not a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB), and not an IAABC, CPDT, KPA-CTP or CDBC member.

What I am is a guy who’s good with dogs. I understand them and I bond with them, and I learned what works by doing it for a long time with a lot of different dogs. So everything on this site comes from that experience. It’s not academic research and it’s not clinical authority, it’s just what I’ve seen work.

What this site is

It’s a working dog trainer’s practical references on prey drive, structured play, behavior basics and how to use a flirt pole responsibly. It’s the information I wish I’d had when I started.

It’s built around honest observation across hundreds of client dogs over about a decade. Where I bring up breed-specific health stuff, I link to real authoritative sources like the AVMA, AKC, OFA, Cornell Vet, Merck Veterinary Manual and ASPCA, so you can read the actual professional consensus instead of just taking my word for it.

What this site is not

• Not veterinary medical advice. If your dog has a health condition, or you think it might, go see a licensed veterinarian.
• Not a substitute for vet care. That goes double for cardiac, orthopedic, respiratory or behavioral conditions, where there are credentialed specialists for it.
• Not certified behavior consultation. If you’re dealing with a complex behavior case like a bite history, severe reactivity, separation anxiety or a compulsive disorder, consult a DACVB or IAABC-certified behavior consultant.
• Not breed-specific exercise prescription. Your dog’s individual health profile is your vet’s call, not mine.

Your responsibility as the dog owner

You know your dog better than anyone. Before any structured exercise program, flirt pole or otherwise, you are responsible for:

• Knowing your dog’s health profile. That means cardiac, orthopedic, respiratory, neurological and age-related stuff, and if you don’t know it, find out before you start.
• Consulting your vet before strenuous exercise, especially for puppies under 12 months, senior dogs (8+), post-surgical dogs, brachycephalic breeds (Boxer, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pug), giant breeds, and any dog with known joint, cardiac, or respiratory conditions.
• Watching the dog, not the protocol. Keep an eye on tongue color, how fast it recovers, its gait and its breathing, and if something looks wrong stop the session, reschedule it and see your vet.
• Knowing your environment. Think about the heat, the footing and any hidden hazards, and adjust the session or skip it if you need to.
• Using the right tool for your dog’s size. Standard for dogs 30 lbs and under. Rugged XL for dogs over 30 lbs. Using the wrong size is a structural safety issue, and not just a question of how long it lasts.

Where to go for credentialed advice

For breed-specific health conditions, cardiac and orthopedic screening, behavioral medicine or any clinical question, these are the authoritative sources I rely on, and I link to them all through the site:

• American Kennel Club, Health Resources for breed-specific information.
• American Veterinary Medical Association, Pet Owners for general veterinary guidance.
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Disease Screening for hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye certifications.
• Cornell Riney Canine Health Center for university-grade clinical references.
• Merck Veterinary Manual for the definitive professional reference.
• ASPCA, Dog Care for general care basics.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) for accredited clinical standards.

Liability and use of this site

By using this site and any of the products sold through it, you acknowledge that I am sharing personal training experience, not veterinary medical advice. Either way, you are responsible for the safety of your dog. Whimsy Stick LLC is not liable for injury, illness, or behavioral outcomes resulting from how you choose to use the information or products on this site.

For the full Terms and Conditions, see the Terms and Conditions page. Privacy details live in the Privacy Policy. Return rules are in the Refund and Returns Policy.

Contact

Got questions about this disclaimer, or about how to use the Whimsy Stick safely with your dog? Go to the contact page or email support@whimsystick.com, and I’ll answer you myself within one business day.