Alright, let’s talk about something I’ve been messing around with lately – making a treat pouch for dog training. You know, one of those little bags you clip to your belt to hold dog treats? Yeah, that thing. I got a new pup a few months back, and we’ve been working on basic obedience stuff.
First, I tried just stuffing treats in my pockets. Big mistake. My pants ended up smelling like liver, and I was always fumbling around for a treat at the wrong time. The dog was getting confused, and I was getting frustrated. Treats are a great way to lure a dog quickly into behaviors and mark the behaviors. It allows for very quick communication with a dog as opposed to other methods if the dog is food motivated. Professional dog trainers often use high-value treats like small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese.
So, I started looking online for a decent treat pouch. Saw a bunch of options, all these fancy ones with different compartments and magnetic closures. Some of them seemed okay, but I wasn’t sure which one was the best. Then I thought, “Why not just try making my own?” I had some old fabric lying around, and I’m pretty handy with a sewing machine, so I figured it was worth a shot.
Finding the Right Materials
The first step was figuring out what material to use. I needed something durable, easy to clean, and, most importantly, something that wouldn’t soak up the smell of dog treats. After rummaging through my fabric stash, I found some leftover waterproof canvas from an old project. Perfect! It was tough, wouldn’t hold onto smells, and I could just wipe it down if it got dirty.
Designing and Cutting
Next, I needed a basic design. I didn’t want anything too complicated. Just a simple pouch with a drawstring closure to keep the treats from falling out. I sketched out a rough pattern on some paper, making sure it was big enough to hold a good amount of treats but not so big that it would be bulky on my hip. Then, I cut out two identical pieces from the canvas, along with a long strip for the drawstring channel and two smaller strips for the belt loops.
Sewing It All Together
Now for the fun part – sewing! I started by hemming the top edges of the pouch pieces. Then, I folded over the long strip of fabric and sewed it into a tube to make the drawstring channel. I attached this to the top of one of the pouch pieces, leaving the ends open. Next, I sewed the two pouch pieces together, right sides facing each other, leaving the top open where the drawstring channel was.
I turned the pouch right side out and added the belt loops. These were just simple rectangles of fabric, folded and sewn to the back of the pouch. Finally, I threaded a piece of cord through the drawstring channel, tied a knot at each end, and voila! My very own custom-made dog treat pouch.
Testing It Out
Of course, the real test was using it with my dog. I filled it up with some high-value treats – little pieces of cheese and hot dog – and clipped it to my belt. It worked like a charm! The treats were easy to access, the pouch stayed securely on my hip, and the drawstring kept everything from spilling out. My pup was much more focused during our training sessions, and I wasn’t constantly digging around in my pockets.
It’s not perfect. I might add a little pocket on the outside for poop bags or a clicker. Also, I am not professional at all. But overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a fun little project, and it’s made our training sessions so much smoother. Plus, I saved some money by making it myself instead of buying one online. It can make training sessions more fun and effective. If you’re a dog owner who’s into DIY stuff, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. You might be surprised at how easy it is to make your own custom treat pouch!
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