Bum bags (or fanny packs as my American friends call them!)

As you all know I am a big fan of bum bags. I never did figure why they are called bumbags, as they are neither shaped like bums nor worn on bums, but hey what do I know! Anyway, bait bags, bum bags, treat pouches whatever you call them are, in my opinion, an invaluable resource for training and living with dogs and cats.

From experience, I have found they provide you with instant access to reinforcers; be they food, toys, clickers, tugs. They are also instant access to distractions such as food, toys, tugs for puppies during bite inhibition training. Using portions of their meals mixed in the stinky good stuff and hey presto, training on the go without needing to set aside any time it's there, right there on your waist ready to dispense, the bar is open! What could be easier than that! If you wear it daily, it won't be cue to your dog that training is happening as they become 'conditioned' (used to) to you wearing it and you can pay good behaviour when you see it. Remember, animals do what works for them at the time and if we help them make good choices and set them up to succeed, learning becomes much more efficient for the learner, as well as more positive for the teacher.

Yes it takes some getting used to, wearing this bag around your waist literally all day! I love mine though, as it has so many pockets for phones, clickers, poo bags, food, toys, business cards, snacks for me...some clip onto belts, some act like clams, some have draw strings. Your choice, but just remember when you bend down, you don't want all the goodies inside falling out in a shower of joy for your dog to hoover up in one instant.

Here's how I fill mine and what with, for reference, inspiration, critique whatever:

As you can see, it's got my dog's' kibble inside it, with some chunks of freeze dried treats, dog sausages cut into tiny pieces and some bigger pieces for variety of tastes and textures, some liver paste (crack for dogs in case you've never tried it), a tuggy, clickers, bits of cheese and there's some of my chorizo sausage in there too. It's all different sizes but mainly small enough that they eat quickly yet still smelly enough they can play 'find it' in long grass. Yes rewards can be toys and mine love learning through play with me, even the cat likes playtime!

Pupdate - I have found so many lower calorie options that work, what with Ren being a pancreatitis dog and all that! Playing the “what’s this?!2 can help ramp up the value of even spinach stalks. I’ll do another blog on this another time.

Whatever you fill yours with, make sure some of it is their dinner so they can earn as they learn, because good behaviour doesn't come from a bow but here is the catch - if you train on an empty tummy you might accidentally cause some frustration so feed some first, reserve some for laters - have fun training and learning with your pet, mark and pay behaviour you want more of and they will repeat those behaviours.

You need not wear it forever though, mine gets worn for new dogs, pet or puppies and teaching new behaviours. Once behaviours are reliable in most places I want them, the bumbag is no longer necessary except for outdoor adventures!

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