The $15 squeaky ball that changed my dog's park behavior

I always thought those expensive squeaky balls were a rip off, my dog would tear through them in one visit. But last month I grabbed one with a reinforced rubber core at a stall near the entrance, cost me 15 bucks. Three weeks later it's still holding up and my lab is way more focused on the toy than on chasing other dogs. Has anyone else found a specific toy that actually calms their dog down at the park?

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leohart1mo ago

That squeaky ball trick worked for us too, but honestly the real game changer was swapping to a flirt pole for twenty minutes before we even hit the gate.

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luna5191mo ago

Flip it around for a second. Everyone talks about tiring the dog out BEFORE the gate, but what about tiring YOURSELF out? I started doing the squeaky ball fetch line with my dog, then jogging the fence line once before we go in. If I'm already breathing heavy and my brain is off leash, I stop overthinking every little dog interaction. My pup picks up on my calm, tired vibe way faster than any toy change. Worked better than the flirt pole for us, honestly.

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