Where can you buy jute material in small amounts?

[Diamond Dog]

Can you buy just the jute material in a small amount so that you can wrap a dumbbell with it? If so where can you get it? Does leather work as good and is as appealing to the dog (maybe suede) or does jute provide the best results?

Or do you just buy a tug and rip it apart and use the material off of that (if jute is the material recommended)?

[Ilovemypuppy]

Your local craft store should have jute available in any amount you need :)

[zeejay77]

Originally posted by Diamond Dog
does jute provide the best results?

What do you mean by best results?

Originally posted by Diamond Dog

Or do you just buy a tug and rip it apart and use the material off of that (if jute is the material recommended)?

Thats what I did is just used a sac. I don't know if it's recommended, but I think it may depend on your dogs preferences. My male prefers a ball. My female will not eat or so much as blink if there is any jute around, and that can get really annoying. The only thing I don't like about it is it "splinters?" and makes jute "dust", obvious when it's sunny and bright. Also gotta be careful their teeth don't get stuck in it.

[Judi W]

Did someone tell you you have to wrap the dumbell? Or is it because your pup refuses the dumbell?

[Muckdogs]

If you have an old sleeve cuff around, you can use that. Or, you can try a burlap sac. Basically the same thing. If you use burlap, give it a couple fo wraps for thickness, but not so many that it will be spongy as you don't want to encourage chewing on the DB.

[Diamond Dog]

Judy,

I am actually doing a combination of the techniques you outlined and the Bernard Flinks motivational retrieve video.

In the video, they say to wrap the dumbell with jute or leather for a smoother transition as the wood is not as pleasing on the teeth for them. Eventually of course you would remove the covering.

[angel girl]

Diamond Dog.

I saw a bag of jute in a woman's shopping cart at Wal-Mart not too long ago. Might try there. Don't know where you would find it in the store tho.

[Judi W]

Unless he is showing an aversion to the wood, I wouldn't bother. You then just add one more unnecessary transition to the whole process. If he is, then just use a piece of old levis. Demin will suit the purpose just fine.

[Diamond Dog]

Thanks Judy, that makes sense.

We are close to getting a trainer and as you know we have been evaluating and trying to find one for a couple of months. The only real thing we have been working on our own is the retrieve and we are using that video and the posts in the working rotts thread. Since we don't know better and since we dont have a pro we can constatnly go to (yet), we get shy about deviating from what a video or what the posts may tell us to do.

Thanks for your help.

[Judi W]

Remember, there is as much art as science to dog training and even those who believe they have a fool proof forumla, adapt and adjust and invent with each dog as needed or indicated. You must do the same. Learn with and from your dog. The wonderful thing about a good dog is that, baring brutality, they are very flexible.