To play tug... or to NOT play tug... :) (and when to not play tug?)

chelle · 11-01-2011, 09:47 PM

I've heard so much conflicting info over the years about the advisibility of playing tug.

Overall, tho, I hear to never let the dog "win" the game of tug. So I don't. (Though I've also heard with a shy pup, to actually let them win, with other personalities, to NOT let them win, etc and so on.) Bailey is not a shy pup and I feel I need to keep my control, leader position, especially as he firmly steps into adolescence.

Granted, Bailey is young and has been teething so I had to be very careful of how hard we played.

I also interject a "drop it" here and there to ensure he gives it up, and he does.

BUT WOW can this dude pull at this point. His adult teeth are in. He likes tug a lot.

I want to go buy a tug-toy instead of the various stuff we've been playing with. He loves it, he drops it on command, is there any potential harm???

doggiedad · 11-01-2011, 09:54 PM

what harm?? play tug with your dog. when i play tug
with my dog sometimes he'll win sometimes he doesn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chelle

I've heard so much conflicting info over the years about the advisibility of playing tug.

Overall, tho, I hear to never let the dog "win" the game of tug. So I don't. (Though I've also heard with a shy pup, to actually let them win, with other personalities, to NOT let them win, etc and so on.) Bailey is not a shy pup and I feel I need to keep my control, leader position, especially as he firmly steps into adolescence.

Granted, Bailey is young and has been teething so I had to be very careful of how hard we played.

I also interject a "drop it" here and there to ensure he gives it up, and he does.

BUT WOW can this dude pull at this point. His adult teeth are in. He likes tug a lot.

I want to go buy a tug-toy instead of the various stuff we've been playing with. He loves it, he drops it on command, is there any potential harm???

BR870 · 11-01-2011, 09:57 PM

Oh no... Absolutely play tug.

That whole "don't let them win thing" is garbage. Let them win everytime. It build confidence, and a confident dog is a stable dog.

Hunther's Dad · 11-01-2011, 10:03 PM

By all means, play tug...and let them win.

I don't play tennis because the idiot I was paired up with in high school tennis class didn't let me learn the game. He always won, so now I don't play tennis.

Emoore · 11-01-2011, 10:04 PM

Yup, let him win, especially if he has a good drop it. YOU decide when the game begins and when it ends, but let him win.

When Kopper was just a little guy, he played tug-of war with Rocky, and Rocky, a 75lb adult male, often let Kopper, a 40-ish pound 4 month old, win the game. To this day Kopper respects Rocky as alpha. All Rocky has to do is snarl to have Kopper flopped on his back, submitting like a little puppy, even though at 11 months Kopper is bigger and stronger than his older brother.

chelle · 11-01-2011, 10:26 PM

Ok yaaay I am really happy to hear that feedback!

I am so going to go get a proper tug toy. Tomorrow.

chelle · 11-01-2011, 10:50 PM

Ok, then. I shall be lying my precious George to rest, then.

George was purchased when I brought home my first pup eight years ago. He managed to live thru pup #1 and pup #2, but pup #3 has managed to remove a limb, due to our playing tug.

Surely the rest of his limbs will follow soon.

But really, that toy had more play time, with less damage than ANY I've ever bought!

RIP, George!

jetscarbie · 11-02-2011, 05:33 AM

hahaha^^^^^poor George.

I use to not let mine play tug when they were pups. My vet told me to...said it helps their puppy teeth fall out.
Mine prefer my hubby's white socks. He called me the other day from out of town. He had to buy a new pack b/c when he unpacked...all the toes of his socks were gone.

**jocoyn** · 11-02-2011, 06:11 AM

One thing I do know having some bloody hands
Play tug. Let the dog win. But always wind up with the tug after the game and put it away.

Also The dog needs to out the tug on request from you and work with the dog on taking the tug when offered and not grabbing it when you take it because the game is over. My dog and some team dogs have had to learn to be a little bit more controlled about not trying to grab the toy from the handler when the game is not on.

mysweetkaos · 11-02-2011, 09:02 AM

Great question Chelle! Thank you...I am so excited to go get a tug for Sherman as well!! Poor Kaos has spent 9 years never playing tug...that's what I get for listening to "know it alls"

11-01-2011, 09:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,863	To play tug... or to NOT play tug... :) (and when to not play tug?) I've heard so much conflicting info over the years about the advisibility of playing tug. Overall, tho, I hear to never let the dog "win" the game of tug. So I don't. (Though I've also heard with a shy pup, to actually let them win, with other personalities, to NOT let them win, etc and so on.) Bailey is not a shy pup and I feel I need to keep my control, leader position, especially as he firmly steps into adolescence. Granted, Bailey is young and has been teething so I had to be very careful of how hard we played. I also interject a "drop it" here and there to ensure he gives it up, and he does. BUT WOW can this dude pull at this point. His adult teeth are in. He likes tug a lot. I want to go buy a tug-toy instead of the various stuff we've been playing with. He loves it, he drops it on command, is there any potential harm??? __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 CGC Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

11-01-2011, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
BR870 Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 828	Oh no... Absolutely play tug. That whole "don't let them win thing" is garbage. Let them win everytime. It build confidence, and a confident dog is a stable dog. __________________ Rob Ezra von der Rennbahn Princess Abigail "Abbie" Kai (RIP) Loki (RIP)

11-01-2011, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hunther's Dad Master Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 609	By all means, play tug...and let them win. I don't play tennis because the idiot I was paired up with in high school tennis class didn't let me learn the game. He always won, so now I don't play tennis. __________________ "What's there to dominate when your dog is well trained and it does what you ask??" - DoggieDad

11-01-2011, 10:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	Yup, let him win, especially if he has a good drop it. YOU decide when the game begins and when it ends, but let him win. When Kopper was just a little guy, he played tug-of war with Rocky, and Rocky, a 75lb adult male, often let Kopper, a 40-ish pound 4 month old, win the game. To this day Kopper respects Rocky as alpha. All Rocky has to do is snarl to have Kopper flopped on his back, submitting like a little puppy, even though at 11 months Kopper is bigger and stronger than his older brother. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

11-01-2011, 10:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,863	Ok yaaay I am really happy to hear that feedback! I am so going to go get a proper tug toy. Tomorrow. __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 CGC Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

11-01-2011, 10:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,863	Ok, then. I shall be lying my precious George to rest, then. George was purchased when I brought home my first pup eight years ago. He managed to live thru pup #1 and pup #2, but pup #3 has managed to remove a limb, due to our playing tug. Surely the rest of his limbs will follow soon. But really, that toy had more play time, with less damage than ANY I've ever bought! RIP, George! __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 CGC Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

11-02-2011, 05:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
jetscarbie Master Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 746	hahaha^^^^^poor George. I use to not let mine play tug when they were pups. My vet told me to...said it helps their puppy teeth fall out. Mine prefer my hubby's white socks. He called me the other day from out of town. He had to buy a new pack b/c when he unpacked...all the toes of his socks were gone.

11-02-2011, 06:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,052	One thing I do know having some bloody hands Play tug. Let the dog win. But always wind up with the tug after the game and put it away. Also The dog needs to out the tug on request from you and work with the dog on taking the tug when offered and not grabbing it when you take it because the game is over. My dog and some team dogs have had to learn to be a little bit more controlled about not trying to grab the toy from the handler when the game is not on. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

11-02-2011, 09:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Great question Chelle! Thank you...I am so excited to go get a tug for Sherman as well!! Poor Kaos has spent 9 years never playing tug...that's what I get for listening to "know it alls"

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