I am a working dog trainer, not a vet. This site is my experience, not veterinary medical advice. Before any structured exercise with your dog, talk to your vet. Especially if your dog is a puppy, a senior, post-op, brachycephalic, or has any known cardiac, orthopedic, or behavioral history.
Who I am
I’m Christopher Lee Moran. Ten years working with dogs. Roughly 400 client dogs through my private training practice, the business I run. I designed and build the Whimsy Stick.
I have no formal certifications. No veterinary credentials. 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, I bond with them, and I learned what works by doing it for a long time across a lot of different dogs. Everything on this site reflects that experience, not academic research, not clinical authority, just what I’ve seen work in practice.
What this site is
A working dog trainer’s practical references on prey drive, structured play, behavioral fundamentals, and how to use a flirt pole responsibly. It’s the information I wish I’d had when I started.
It is built around honest observation across hundreds of client dogs over a decade. Where I cite breed-specific health considerations, I link to real authoritative sources, the AVMA, AKC, OFA, Cornell Vet, Merck Veterinary Manual, ASPCA, so you can read the actual professional consensus instead of taking my word for it.
What this site is not
- Not veterinary medical advice. If your dog has a health condition or you suspect one, see a licensed veterinarian.
- Not a substitute for vet care. Especially for cardiac, orthopedic, respiratory, or behavioral conditions where credentialed specialists exist.
- Not certified behavior consultation. For complex behavioral cases, bite history, severe reactivity, separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, 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. Cardiac, orthopedic, respiratory, neurological, age-related. 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. Tongue color, recovery rate, gait, breathing. If something looks wrong, stop the session. Reschedule. See your vet.
- Knowing your environment. Heat, surface footing, hidden hazards. Adjust or skip the session accordingly.
- 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, not just a durability question.
Where to go for credentialed advice
For breed-specific health conditions, cardiac and orthopedic screening, behavioral medicine, and any clinical question, these are the authoritative sources I rely on and link to throughout 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. 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. For privacy, see the Privacy Policy. For returns, see the Refund and Returns Policy.
If the tool doesn’t change the dog, send it back.
Every Whimsy Stick is covered. Run the protocol for a month, if you don’t see meaningful change in your dog, return it for a full refund. The risk is on me, not you.
Contact
Questions about this disclaimer or about how to use the Whimsy Stick safely with your specific dog? See the contact page or email support@whimsystick.com. I respond personally within one business day.