Mike’s Doghouse

After trying and disliking the Outward Hound bag, I ordered a Gentle Leader Treat Pouch from SitStay.com.

PROS: Clip for a belt or top of pants; ring for attaching stuff; waist belt is included (and removable); small zippered pocket in the back; small pocket in the front; VERY strong springs on the sides to keep the bag open or closed; made of very tough canvas.

This thing looks and feels tough. There’s a stiff something sewn into it along the front and back to keep the bag edge upright. The hinges/springs on the bag are extremely sturdy. As many times as I have snapped it open and shut during class or a training session, it still feels as stiff as when I first got it. It can be opened and closed with one hand, leaving the other free for the leash and/or clicker.

CONS: The front pocket is weird. Not quite sure what it is for since the clicker falls out of it too easily. The hinges may be too strong for some people with weak hand strength or hand pain. I get it open by pushing my fingers in then turning the hand to push it open.

Bottom Line: Excellent bag that does what it was designed to do. It opens easily, stays open and wide, and closes with a simple push. It is more expensive than other treat bags (SitStay.com sells it for about $12) but, in my opinion, the extra cost is worth it. If you have weak/painful hands, you might want to find a store that has one and try it out a few times. Clip it to your belt and open/close it repeatedly. The good thing is that it holds so much, that even if you bent over, not much if anything is going to come out. That way you can reduce the number of times you have to open it.

The bag is made by Premier under the Gentle Leader brand although it is sold as “Terry Ryan’s Treat Pouch”. I got mine from SitStay.com. It is found there under the “Carriers, Bags, and Packs” category instead of the “Treats” category.

Photos of the bag can be found in the Bait/Treat bags album in the Reviews album on Mike’s photo album. At the moment, there is only one or two. I’ll get more taken and uploaded soon.