I agree the side to side movement/changing of direction can't be duplicated on a mill of any sorts or road work. I personally like to think about the dog in the midst of competing. I try to factor in all the things he is doing as well as how he does them. I try to duplicate or mimic those movements in his work. The flirt pole accomplishes a lot of these. These dogs do not move from hold to hold at a snail's pace and the target is usually moving. You gotta get their quick. That movement is sometimes side to side, but a lot of times it is in a contorted manner. Body twisted in a certain way across the abdomen or along the spine. From these contorted positions they explode from spot to spot. If these muscles, in these positions and at these angles, are not worked and prepared then when they are used on show night those muscles will tire and leave him early. The flirt pole adds to cardio and targeting but it also adds to muscular endurance that a mill or a walk can't. EWO