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Whimsy Stick

4.9 average across 306 reviews on 7 platforms / 30-day money-back guarantee / Rugged XL ships free in the US
Across 7 Platforms · Updated 2026

306 Real Reviews. 9 Years Of Dog Work.

There are 38 product reviews on the Whimsy Stick, 66 reviews of me as a working dog trainer, and 202 Wag reviews going back to 2016. They’re all real, and the links below go right to where they were posted. I didn’t buy any of them or change a word.

4.9
★★★★★
306 reviews · 7 platforms
The product reviews are 4.9, and the one 1-star is shown right on the page. Yelp and Google training reviews are 5.0, Wag is 4.9 across 202 reviews, and Facebook is 94 percent recommend across 14 reviews. All together it comes out to 4.9.
202
Wag · 4.9★
45
Yelp · 5.0★
7
Google · 5.0★
14
Facebook · 94% rec
32
Website · 4.9★
3
Amazon · 5.0★
1
Etsy · 5.0★
306
Total Reviews
4.9
Combined Weighted Avg
9+
Years Hands-On Dog Work
~400
Client Dogs
Featured Authority · Google AI Overview

Google’s own AI Overview describes the work and the tool.

Google’s AI Overview pulled together what my clients have said about my training, and it named the Whimsy Stick on its own. I didn’t write any of it.

Quoted from Google AI Overview
“Stellar, 5-star feedback from clients for his focus on ‘controlled freedom’ and instinctual play. Reviewers consistently praise the specific techniques he utilizes, particularly the Whimsy Stick, to help dogs manage high energy, hyperactivity, and leash reactivity.”
Source: Google AI Overview · Search query: client reviews of Chris Moran’s training work

You can check every review yourself, the links go right to where it was posted.

Answer-First · Most-Asked Questions

The four questions buyers ask before they commit

People ask a lot of the same four things before they buy, so the short answers are here and the long versions are in the reviews below.

Q1 · Working Breeds

Does it work for Malinois, Border Collies, and other high-drive dogs?

From what owners say, yeah. David M. uses it with a Border Collie and says it wears him out. Ken R. has a working dog mix puppy that’s tired in 5 minutes, and Anna C.’s working dog mix does several 15-minute sessions a day. I built it for a chase game you run with your dog (stalk, chase, catch, win), and a lot of working breeds just love that kind of game.

Q2 · Real-World Energy Drain

Does it actually tire dogs out the way owners claim?

A lot of the 38 product reviews say about the same thing, 5 to 10 minutes to drain the dog. One owner who’s 74 says it wears her hyper dog out in 5 minutes. Border Collies, pittie mixes and working mixes, it’s the same story. The way I see it, your dog is thinking and running at the same time, and that’s what tires them out.

Q3 · Reactive & Anxious Dogs

Does it work for reactive dogs or dogs that don’t fetch?

Flavia G.’s dog doesn’t fetch and isn’t good with other dogs, and the Whimsy Stick gave them a way to get exercise in the backyard. A reactive dog still needs somewhere to put its drive, but a flirt pole isn’t gonna fix reactivity by itself, so if aggression is part of it I’d get a qualified trainer or behavior pro involved too.

Q4 · Which Model

Standard or Rugged XL, which one do I need?

If your dog is under 30 lbs I’d get the Standard ($55.95, 450-lb Kevlar), and at 30 lbs and up, or a dog that pulls hard, the Rugged XL ($74.95, 800-lb Dyneema, free US shipping). The bundle is $94.95 with three lures. Power breeds get the Rugged XL every time, and in my own use it holds up to a 120-lb power breed.

Patterns Across Reviews

Four themes every reviewer hits

If you read all 38 product reviews, the same four things keep coming up, and they’re the things I was going for when I built it.

01

Tired dog in 5 to 10 minutes

The number that keeps coming up is 5 to 10 minutes, whether it’s a Border Collie, a pittie mix or a working mix.

02

Lightweight in the hand

A reviewer who’s 74 says it’s easy for her to handle. A good flirt pole should be lightweight, and this one is long but still light, and there’s no telescoping section to rattle.

03

Better than fetch or other flirt poles

Jake K. compared it to the telescoping and bulkier flirt poles he’d tried and liked this one better. And people whose dogs won’t fetch finally have something their dog will chase.

04

Works across breeds

Border Collie, pit mix, working puppy, a hyper dog with an owner in her 70s, a pittie-lab. It works for a lot of different dogs. For more on keeping your dog busy, read AKC canine enrichment.

Customer Dogs · Real Sessions

The dogs behind the reviews

This is real footage from owners using the Whimsy Stick in their own backyards, no stock clips and nothing set up in a studio.

Pitbull · pure high drive
Corgi · full speed eye-stalk-chase
Mixed-breed retriever · full chase
Product Reviews

All 38 product reviews. Every one is real.

These come from the Whimsy Stick website, Amazon, Etsy and the Facebook product page. I didn’t edit them and I didn’t pay for any of them.

All 38 Product Reviews Website · 32 Amazon · 3 Facebook · 2 Etsy · 1 High Energy Working Breeds
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Website · 1โ˜…
“My dog doesn’t really like it. He prefers fetch.”
Daniel T.Aug 2026 · We don’t hide this
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Website
Well made, durable, and worth every penny! My Shepsky loves these lures.
AnonymousJun 2026
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Website
My doberman’s favorite toy. I have to wash it daily.
KimAug 2026
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Website
I absolutely LOVE this flirt pole! My dog absolutely LOVES this flirt pole! It’s so much better than the heavier, bulkier, or telescoping ones I’ve tried. I’m so glad a company has come out and made a lightweight one that’s so easy to use. My do obsesses over it, and will chase till he falls over if I let him. I would give 6 STARS if I could. I love it so much, I even bought my neighbor one. Great job Whimsy Stick on creating such an awesome flirt pole!
Jake K.Jan 2026
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Website
My puppy and my not so young puppy love the whimsey stick
Regina K.May 2026
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Website
Fantastic! My Shepsky (German Shepherd/Husky), loves her flirt pole. It’s an excellent way to burn energy, get exercise, and have fun together. Well made, durable, and worth every penny. Highly recommended for active dog!
AnonymousJun 2026
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Website
Very durable all together and so much fun to play with my doggos! Itโ€™s awesome to see them kick it into high gear and see them lock in on the lure. Very happy with it!!
Allison F.Jun 2026
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Website
5 stars! This toy is such a great value. We recently spent $500 on a lure course toy for our dog, and she loves the Whimsy stick even more (and it is a fraction of the cost!) We are customers for life ๐Ÿ™‚
Maureen G.Jun 2026
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Website
My dog loves the Whimsy Stick. Has had fun playing chase and reinforcing โ€œwaitโ€. Also, using to train for upland hunting and sitting on a flush. He is taking right to it.
Scotlon H.Jun 2026
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Website
My dog loves it. When I need to tire him out a bit, I use it for about 10 minutes and then put it away. Works like a charm!
Cheryl C.Jun 2026
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Website
Bar none the BEST toy I could of found after much searching. The flirt pole is not just fun, it’s science, neurology and so well made! Thank you Chris for your product. Above the rest in my opinion. Thank you for the amazing communication in real time, by none other than you the expert, and for putting up with my hundred questions! I love it, my dog loves it, what more is there to say? ๐Ÿ™‚
Lori M.Jul 2026
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Website
High quality build and materials. Works great and has helped tremendously with my dog. Would recommend to anyone with a dog.
Charles L.Jul 2026
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Website
I have tried two other flirt poles. Your product is my favorite. Even though yours can’t fit in my back pack and also more expensive. It’s engineered perfectly.
KimAug 2026
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Website
Excellent communication, service and product
ChristopherJul 2026
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Website
Two of my dogs love this! And to be fair the other three are old. One of my dogs has the whole drop it wait and ok sequence down pat. The puppy 7 months needs work on the impulse control part lol but we’re working on it
LynAug 2026
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Website
When outside, my 3 year old 90 pound GSD-X dog prefers to eat grass – he’ll kind of chase a ball, but loses interest after 1 throw. He’s better with tug, but he loses interest in that quickly, too. Grazing is his go-to outside. My last option to get him some exercise while I heal from a back procedure was trying a flirt pole. It was a pricey risk, but I had to give it a go. OMG! He LOVES this thing! It took a couple of times to entice him, but it did, and it did in a big way. It’s also helping with training outside with the “wait”, “drop it” and “leave it” commands, plus he’s learning “ready” and “go”. He let’s me know when he’s tired by carrying his “kill” to the back door to go back inside. It’s fantastic. My only issue is the rope that comes standard is far too short for such a big dog with a really big reach. I did extend it with the extra replacement cord that comes with this kit, but now I don’t have a back-up just in case (I could use something else, but he’ll rip through most everything else). Other than that, this has been an all-around huge help that’s worth every penny. I highly recommend this product if you’ve exhausted all other options.
Peri S.Aug 2026
★★★★★
Website
This thing is a game changer for playing with our dog. He’s a border collie, so lots of energy. He loves this thing, and it wears him out.
David M.Nov 2025
★★★★★
Website
This thing is a lifesaver. We have an extremely active working dog mix 6 month old puppy and 5 minutes of this tires him out. Lightweight, longer than other flirt poles, feels well made.
Ken R.Apr 2025
★★★★★
Website
Truly amazing! Life changing since our dog doesn’t fetch. She is also not good with other dogs so now we can get some exercise in our backyard. My dog is a pit mix, strong girl.
Flavia G.Apr 2025

Amazon, Etsy, and Facebook reviews

★★★★★
Amazon
I love this lightweight flirt pole! Our dog is super hyper and this pole wears him out in 5 minutes! It’s easy for me to handle even at my age, 74.
ShirleyAmazon · Apr 2025
★★★★★
Website
This has been a great outlet for our dog. It keeps him engaged, excited, and is one of the few things that can actually tire him out.
Ben R.Apr 2025
★★★★★
Website
This was a great purchase! It works great for my boyfriend’s pittie lab mix, she’s constantly overflowing with energy and this is one of the only toys that tires her out.
Molly R.Apr 2025
★★★★★
Amazon
Great training tool! We have used this with our puppy for the past six months and have found it to be very useful for his training as well as for his playtime.
D. RichardsonAmazon · Apr 2025
★★★★★
If you’re looking for a fun and very tiresome game for your fur friends? Then this is the toy for you. I’ve loved the Whimsy Stick since it was first introduced to me. Your pet bond will deepen with every playtime.
Mike Thomas Jr.Facebook Recommend · Aug 2024

Rugged XL owner reviews

★★★★★
Website
Bought two flirt poles from other manufacturers, both disappointing on quality and feel. Then I bought the Whimsy Stick XL. It is perfect. Very well built and easy to whip the lure around. I would buy it again and again.
Perry R.Rugged XL · Bull Terrier · Jun 2026
★★★★★
Website
Way more equipped to hold up to the body slamming my shepherd does. The string attachment is improved and my girl is VERY happy to have her squirrel back. Best purchase I ever made.
Alyssa T.Rugged XL · Shepherd · Jun 2026
★★★★★
Website
He loves his Whimsy Stick. He’s a working dog mix with energy to spare. We can play with him and his Whimsy for several 15-minute sessions a day. It definitely takes his high-drive edge off.
Anna C.Rugged XL · May 2026
★★★★★
Website
Neagley loves it. Engaging, exciting, fast-paced play that wears her out. She gets so excited just to see us pull out the pole. Two thumbs up. Highly recommend for high-energy play.
Brenda M.Rugged XL Bundle · May 2026
★★★★★
Website
Tough and durable. Neagley chases like they were real.
Brenda M.Replacement Lure · May 2026

More Rugged XL owner wins

★★★★★
Website
Dog loves this!!! Thank you!
John C.3-Lure Bundle · Apr 2026
★★★★★
Website
I love how much more streamlined this is, compared to other flirt poles I’ve used.
Jennifer H.Starter Kit · Feb 2026
★★★★★
Website
Durable and the perfect size. Our dog loves Unlucky so much!
David M.Replacement Lure · Nov 2025
★★★★★
Website
This was a great purchase! Works great for my boyfriend’s pittie-lab mix, she’s constantly overflowing with energy and this is one of the only toys that tires her out.
Molly RippStarter Kit · Apr 2025

Lure, bundle, and replacement reviews

★★★★★
Website
The stick is beautiful and very valuable. My feedback: the string could be about 3 foot longer, and the box that it sent in should be stronger. But the tool is wonderful.
Sehnaz PhillipsStarter Kit · Apr 2025
★★★★★
Website
Bought extras to have in case and worth the purchase. So far they are holding up great and haven’t had to use them yet but sure that day will come soon enough.
Ken RoseReplacement Lure · Apr 2025
★★★★★
Amazon
One of the best flirt poles I have gotten for my dog. He loves it.
Victor P.Amazon Verified Purchase · Apr 2025
★★★★★
Etsy
Very lightweight and good. My pups love it.
SamanthaEtsy · Jun 2025
★★★★★
Fantastic toy! My dogs love it!
Elaine AllemangFacebook Recommend · Jan 2026
Ready when you are

One tool, two builds. Pick the one your dog matches.

Trainer Reviews of Chris Moran · 268 reviews

66 training reviews + 202 Wag reviews across about 10 years of dog work

These are reviews of me, from Yelp (45 reviews, 5.0), Google (7 reviews, 5.0), Facebook (14 reviews, 94% recommend), and Wag (202 reviews, 4.9 since 2016). This is just some of them, so click any of those to read the rest where they were posted.

★★★★★
Yelp
Chris saved my life and most importantly my dog’s life. I inherited a beautiful Boston Terrier who had three previous owners in the first year of her life. Within the hour Gabi was standing by the young dog letting him sniff her. He turned our world around and in record time.
Victoria K.Yelp · Jul 2018
★★★★★
Yelp
Chris was the 3rd trainer we hired and I’m not exaggerating when I say he changed our lives. Our 10-month-old English Staffy doesn’t bark anymore, doesn’t jump on people, respects other dogs, comes every time we call him.
Meshelle F.Yelp · Oct 2018
★★★★★
Yelp
I have a large pit bull who was very aggressive towards dogs. He was so aggressive I was unable to take him on walks. Chris came to my home and within two sessions I was able to take Sampson on walks encountering many dogs.
Ky H.Yelp · Apr 2022
★★★★★
Yelp
We called Chris in a desperate attempt to get our 1-year-old Rottweiler Yogi under control. After the boot camp Yogi returned a different pup. He listens, takes corrections very easily. He doesn’t walk us anymore.
Jay C.Yelp · Jan 2025

More Yelp training reviews

★★★★★
Yelp
We hired Chris when we adopted a rescue Rottweiler 8-month-old pup in addition to our previously adopted Pitbull who had some major previous trauma. Since then our Rottie has become much more confident, from initially leash aggressive to a much more balanced dog.
Linzi N.Yelp · updated Jul 2019
★★★★★
Yelp
We recently adopted Atticus, a 70-pound German Shepherd/Lab mix, and needed help with impulse control and leash walking. In only a few sessions, Chris taught us how to walk Atticus in a calm, confident manner.
Greg R.Yelp · Feb 2021

Yelp reviews continued

★★★★★
Yelp
10/10 recommend. Chris is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. I have a 4-year-old dog-aggressive pitbull that has improved in ways I never imagined. We’re always one step closer every time Chris has a training session with Zeus.
Zayla B.Yelp · Jul 2019

More Yelp results

★★★★★
Yelp
Chris is the absolute best. I have a 1-year-old cocker spaniel mix who was acting horrible. He was jumping, barking, nipping, and had crazy separation anxiety. It’s been about a week and it feels like I got a new dog overnight.
Payton M.Yelp · Jul 2019
★★★★★
Yelp
I hired Chris to train my dog. I’m just blown away at the results. It was almost overnight, and I love the mentality Chris has. He’s so much different than all the other training programs I’ve seen. I love how he addresses the inner animal.
Samantha B.Yelp · Aug 2019
★★★★★
Yelp
Chris was great to work with. I was nervous with a young Wheaten Terrier puppy who needed basic control. Chris kept me informed and sent videos of her while she was away. The result was great. I am amazed she now comes when called.
Beth B.Yelp · Dec 2024
★★★★★
Yelp
Chris was incredible with our dog Wally. We used his 3-week bootcamp which helped reset Wally’s boundaries in our own home. He no longer jumps on the couch and we’re working on having him respect his own spaces.
Aaron M.Yelp · Jun 2024
★★★★★
Yelp
Chris is a one of a kind Dog Whisperer. He took in my rescue Odie and transformed my little pug into a pure gentleman. Odie has learned to listen, play with dogs and cats, walk on a leash happily. Chris does all of this with love.
Debbi F.Yelp · Jan 2024

Google, Facebook, and Wag reviews

★★★★★
Google
It was great having Chris help me with my new dog. My dog Rudra was excitable, would jump on strangers, and pulled on the leash. After the training Rudra was much calmer, walked well on the leash, and listened better.
Malaika IshaqGoogle · 2 years ago
★★★★★
Google
Chris is direct, understanding and in tune with dogs and their owners. My aussie doodle was walking me on the leash and Chris taught me exercises to take the control back while maintaining a mutual respect relationship with my dog.
Usama NoorGoogle · 2 years ago
★★★★★
Google
Chris is a marvel. He has helped us be able to bring into our home of 3 other dogs and 2 cats, a stray Great Pyrenees. Lou has become a wonderful member of our family. Chris’s kind, thoughtful, focused training gave Lou the structure he needed.
Hanan ChoudharyGoogle · 2 years ago

Facebook and Wag client reviews

★★★★★
After our first meeting with Chris and introductions, Diesel was a new dog. Chris is a pack leader at heart, immediately won our trust. By their second session together, Chris’ training has equally increased mine and Diesel’s confidence.
Isabel Cristina LealFacebook · Dec 2017
★★★★★
Deaf friendly and communicates well via text and plenty of pictures and videos which are so hard to take when you’re out with your fur kids. Starbright is worn out and happy.
Cody See SignsFacebook · Jun 2017
★★★★★
Wag
Chris is great. He sent numerous videos and replied to all my texts within minutes. I’ll be using him again very soon.
JasonWag · Sitting · ~10 years ago
★★★★★
Wag
Walked Ramby very well and even gave me the option to tire him with games.
AriannaWag · Walking · ~3 years ago
★★★★★
Wag
Amazing walker treated our dogs as if they are his own. Gave them water and treats.
CristianWag · Walking · ~10 years ago
Want to read the other 248? Every link up there goes to where they were posted. The Yelp profile has 45 reviews and the Wag profile has 202 going back to 2016. Names show up how people put them in, so click through and check for yourself.
Early client feedback · 2018

Two of my earliest client reviews.

These two are from 2018 on my Facebook page, from training clients, and they’re exactly how they wrote them.

★★★★★
I got the training stick 3 days ago and I can’t thank you enough for this. It’s absolutely the best training toy I ever purchased. My dog Sophia is a pit bull / catahoula mix with so much energy. Nothing got her as tired like this stick.
Flavia Buzelin2018 client · pit-mix
★★★★★
Chris is a great guy who genuinely cares about the animals he trains. We’ve gotten the chasing stick he’s come up with and our dog Zeus loves it. It’s a great way for him to burn off some energy.
Sam Bean2018 client · high-drive dog

That’s the pole that became the Whimsy Stick. I handed flirt poles out to clients, watched what broke, built my own and tested it on high-drive client dogs for years before I ever sold one.

Christopher Lee Moran, working dog trainer and creator of the Whimsy Stick, 9+ years of hands-on dog work across walking, sitting, adventures, and training
The Person Behind The Reviews

Christopher Lee Moran, about 10 years of hands-on dog work

I started out walking and sitting dogs on Wag in 2016. Then I built a dog-adventures service, and then I got into private training. Now I train privately and ship the Whimsy Stick straight to dog owners. No certifications, no veterinary credentials, no academic letters. I’m just a guy who’s good with dogs and learned what works by doing it, with around 400 client dogs. A lot of them were dogs other trainers had given up on, resource guarders, dogs with bite histories, shut-down rescues.

I bought the flirt poles I could find, handed them out to clients and watched what broke, so I built my own. My method, Controlled Freedom, comes down to giving a dog a way to satisfy its instincts with rules around it. The 306 reviews on 7 platforms are the public record of that work. For more on exercise and dog care in general, see the ASPCA general dog care guide.

9+
Years Dog Work
~400
Client Dogs
306
Reviews
4.9
Combined Avg
7
Public Platforms

Want more of this in your Google results? Add Whimsy Stick as a preferred source.

Reviews FAQ

Questions buyers ask before they trust the reviews

These are the things people ask most before they trust the reviews.

Are the Whimsy Stick reviews real?

Yes. Every review on this page was written by a real customer or client and posted on one of seven public sites, the Whimsy Stick website, Amazon, Etsy, the Facebook product page, Yelp, Google and Wag. Names show up how the customer put them in. Click any of the links on this page to read them where they were posted.

What is the combined review rating?

It comes out to 4.9 across 306 reviews on seven sites. The product reviews are 4.9, and the one 1-star is right there on the page. Yelp and Google training reviews are 5.0, Facebook is 94 percent recommend, and Wag is 4.9 across 202 walking and sitting reviews going back to 2016.

Where do the trainer reviews come from?

They’re reviews of me, on Yelp, Google, Facebook and Wag. Yelp has 45 reviews at 5.0 and Google has 7 at 5.0, the Facebook page has 14 at 94 percent recommend, and the Wag profile has 202 at 4.9, and they’re all public and linked right here on this page.

Performance and outcomes

Does the Whimsy Stick actually tire dogs out?

A lot of reviewers say 5 to 10 minutes does it, and one owner who’s 74 says her hyper dog is worn out in 5. Your dog gets to stalk and chase and catch and win, so it’s working its head and its body at the same time. What my clients tell me most is their dogs are a lot more relaxed and calmer after, and they seem more satisfied.

Does it work for reactive or aggressive dogs?

It can give a reactive dog somewhere to put its drive, but it’s not gonna fix reactivity or aggression by itself. The trainer reviews on this page are from people I worked with using the Controlled Freedom method. If aggression is part of it, I’d get a qualified trainer or behavior pro involved.

Product, sizing, and guarantee

Standard or Rugged XL, which one do I need?

The Standard ($55.95, 450-lb Kevlar) is for dogs under 30 lbs, and the Rugged XL ($74.95, 800-lb Dyneema, free US shipping) is for dogs 30 lbs and up, so if your dog is right at 30 I’d go XL. The bundle is $94.95 with three lures and free shipping. For a dog that tugs hard I’d get the Rugged XL, and Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, Mastiffs and adult Malinois get the Rugged XL every time.

Durability and refund policy

How long do these flirt poles last?

The line is 450-lb Kevlar on the Standard and 800-lb Dyneema on the Rugged XL, and the lures and line are wear parts that swap on and off easy. The pole is one piece with no joints, so take care of it and put it away after you play, and don’t leave it out for the dog to chew. If it breaks in play, I’ll work with you to fix it, replace it or refund it.

Is there a guarantee?

Yep, every Whimsy Stick order has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it isn’t working for your dog you can send it back, and you pay the return shipping unless the pole failed. I’m a one-man company and I want you happy with it, so I’ll work with you.

How long has Chris been working with dogs?

It’s been about 10 years now, and the oldest reviews on Wag go back to 2016, when I started out walking and sitting dogs. Now I train privately and ship the Whimsy Stick straight to dog owners.

Built On About 10 Years Of Dog Work

Ready to try it? Pick your size.

There are 306 reviews on this page from product owners and training and walking clients. If your dog needs somewhere to put that drive, pick the size that fits and give it a try.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee / Free US Shipping on Rugged XL / Designed By A Working Trainer
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