Is tug-of-war bad?

brew1985 · 03-20-2010, 09:03 PM

Is tug-of-war with a rope toy the wrong type of playing for a young pup (7-10 weeks)? I was reading Leerburg's training advice and he says that it can lead to bad behavior and can eventually lead to an overly aggressive GSD while playing.

I'm having trouble deciding what the best games to play are without reinforcing bad biting habits.

LaRen616 · 03-20-2010, 09:05 PM

Sinister loves playing tug-o-war with his rope, we always played that with him, always. He absolutely loves all dogs big and small and loves people. We have no aggression issues with him what-so-ever

Raziel · 03-20-2010, 09:07 PM

Tug of war is fine. It doesnt make a dog aggressive.

brew1985 · 03-20-2010, 09:10 PM

Great, maybe that trainer, Leerburg, just has his own philosophy on those kinds of games

onyx'girl · 03-20-2010, 09:12 PM

I play tug all the time with Karlo, let him win most of the time. You are the one that controls the game, so if the dog is feeling a bit too macho, you win the game and end it.
It is also a confidence builder for the dog that needs to build that up by letting him win, prance him around with the tug and praise him.
The need to bite of a pup is fulfilled when they play tug, IMO, so they aren't so sharky.
When Karlo started to teethe, we took a break.
It is his favorite game and really wears a young pup out. I use french linen tug toys and have a couple of braided fleece ones. I like the two handled ones for more control.
My ring fingers are very sore constantly from tug.
When the pup is really young, it is fun to have the flirt pole or rag/string to play with them. Another way to wear out their never ending energy!

brew1985 · 03-20-2010, 09:33 PM

i like to run one of the knots into the side of his crate and let him try to get it out, winning that one has to make him feel good

SunCzarina · 03-20-2010, 09:57 PM

Nothing wrong with it as long as you control the end game. Sometimes I win, sometimes the dog, I make them sit and out so it teaches them control but when I say game over, that's it and I put it away.

It's a good outlet for getting out their aggression. Good for teaching control and focus.

A lot of what you'll see on leerburg is geared towards training a very hard dog. It's not for the average pet GSD.

Andy-jr. · 03-20-2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunCzarina

as you control the end game.

I agree, play with your puppy but watch his teeth while he is young. Teach him to "out" when you want the game to end or even in the middle of the game and then give it right back to him so he learns control.

onyx'girl · 03-20-2010, 10:52 PM

I never taught Karlo to out, I had no problem with it as I would let him win most often or trade.
At about 10 months I finally taught him to out, and he does it well on command at 12 mos.
I didn't want him to spit it when I took off the pressure as he is training in SchH, spitting the sleeve can be a problem, too and I didn't want to have to fix that later.

doggiedad · 03-20-2010, 11:08 PM

i play tug with my dog. i forget when we started
playing tug. my dog will play tug with anything
that's presented to him. i never try to
yank the tug toy out of his mouth. i pull the toy,
i lead him around with it, move it left to right, etc.
i don't try to reaaly take the tug from him because
i'm affraid i'll damage his teeth. often i
let my dog win the tug game. if i want my dog
to release the tug i say "leave it".

03-20-2010, 09:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
brew1985 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: kentucky Posts: 133	Is tug-of-war bad? Is tug-of-war with a rope toy the wrong type of playing for a young pup (7-10 weeks)? I was reading Leerburg's training advice and he says that it can lead to bad behavior and can eventually lead to an overly aggressive GSD while playing. I'm having trouble deciding what the best games to play are without reinforcing bad biting habits.

03-20-2010, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
LaRen616 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 10,582	Sinister loves playing tug-o-war with his rope, we always played that with him, always. He absolutely loves all dogs big and small and loves people. We have no aggression issues with him what-so-ever __________________ ~ Sinister 3 yr old black male GSD 3.11.09 ~ Malice 9 mth old black female GSD 6.19.11 Cats: Chaos, Monster, Wicked

03-20-2010, 09:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Raziel Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,938	Tug of war is fine. It doesnt make a dog aggressive. __________________ Kilo- GSD

03-20-2010, 09:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	I play tug all the time with Karlo, let him win most of the time. You are the one that controls the game, so if the dog is feeling a bit too macho, you win the game and end it. It is also a confidence builder for the dog that needs to build that up by letting him win, prance him around with the tug and praise him. The need to bite of a pup is fulfilled when they play tug, IMO, so they aren't so sharky. When Karlo started to teethe, we took a break. It is his favorite game and really wears a young pup out. I use french linen tug toys and have a couple of braided fleece ones. I like the two handled ones for more control. My ring fingers are very sore constantly from tug. When the pup is really young, it is fun to have the flirt pole or rag/string to play with them. Another way to wear out their never ending energy! __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo Last edited by onyx'girl; 03-20-2010 at 09:19 PM.

03-20-2010, 09:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
SunCzarina Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 12,031	Nothing wrong with it as long as you control the end game. Sometimes I win, sometimes the dog, I make them sit and out so it teaches them control but when I say game over, that's it and I put it away. It's a good outlet for getting out their aggression. Good for teaching control and focus. A lot of what you'll see on leerburg is geared towards training a very hard dog. It's not for the average pet GSD. __________________ -Jenn Otto von Hena-C 05/23/08 Morgan Donnermond 08/04/01 I have duct tape and I am not afraid to use it.

03-20-2010, 09:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
brew1985 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: kentucky Posts: 133	Great, maybe that trainer, Leerburg, just has his own philosophy on those kinds of games

03-20-2010, 09:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
brew1985 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: kentucky Posts: 133	i like to run one of the knots into the side of his crate and let him try to get it out, winning that one has to make him feel good

03-20-2010, 10:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	I never taught Karlo to out, I had no problem with it as I would let him win most often or trade. At about 10 months I finally taught him to out, and he does it well on command at 12 mos. I didn't want him to spit it when I took off the pressure as he is training in SchH, spitting the sleeve can be a problem, too and I didn't want to have to fix that later. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

03-20-2010, 11:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,853	i play tug with my dog. i forget when we started playing tug. my dog will play tug with anything that's presented to him. i never try to yank the tug toy out of his mouth. i pull the toy, i lead him around with it, move it left to right, etc. i don't try to reaaly take the tug from him because i'm affraid i'll damage his teeth. often i let my dog win the tug game. if i want my dog to release the tug i say "leave it". __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement