is it a bad thing to do to play tug-of war with your dog? not to the point of like pulling out teeth or getting the dog worked up to an aggresive stage?
2007-07-08 16:24:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I absolutely encourage tug of war with dogs barring of course dogs with issues with aggression and object guarding. It is a great co-operative game.
If you think about it the only time you see anything resembling tug of war in the wild in at dinner time. This is the period after the kill wear the pack divides the prey. When engaged with members of the dog's pack this is about sharing and tearing up dinner.
This can actually be very useful in bonding a dog to it's human pack. All my dogs love it and none have bitten inappropriately.
Many people don't play tug or wrestle because they are afraid of how "mean" the dog looks and sounds. These people don't understand that a dog communicates more then just aggression with these sounds. More often then not these sounds are all in good fun.
However I do recommend training to pick up , play and drop the toy on command. Anytime teeth touch you in this game you should cease playing for a few minutes.
2007-07-08 17:12:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is my lab's FAVORITE game. Other than when he gets his food, this is probably when he's at his happiest. Just saying the words "tug of war" will make him jump up and wag his tail. He's a very strong guy, but I'm stronger so I make sure to just use one arm, and to sort of move him around so that I'm not really pulling his teeth off, it's more like we're just dancing around and he just happens to have a rope in his mouth that I'm holding onto. He's actually the one who pulls hard and puts the pressure on his teeth, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all, just like it doesn't hurt my fingers to pull the rope.
I always let him win, because if I didn't, we'd end up playing forever. He never gives up. And it's not an alpha thing...he gets confidence from beating me, but he still respects my dominance and doesn't steal my food or anything like that. I've never been one to treat my dog like a lesser being ("Drop it!! No!!"), I've generally treated him like an equal, and we've had a good relationship as a result. He knows I'm bigger and stronger than him, and I don't need to prove that, I just have to stand up and he knows, so there are no problems.
2007-07-08 21:31:38 · answer #2 · answered by superman11978 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in general, yes, it is a bad thing...especially with a puppy or with a breed that has any aggressive tendencies. For puppies, tug of war can cause jaw and teeth problems because their bones aren't fully developed yet. It can also cause dogs of any age to lose a tooth. For dogs that have aggressive tendencies, tug of war, even if it is "non-aggressive" still encourages their aggressiveness. The word "war" says it all...it is a game that encourages the dog to "battle" with you...this can lead to problems if (when) the dog starts to battle you in other ways! Play fetch...it's better for both of you (exercise for you and teaches the dog to come when called!).
2007-07-08 16:37:13 · answer #3 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i do agree with you first answer if you do play tug a war make sure you always win especially if you have a bully breed like a Pitt or American bulldog or staffordshire terrier always win on them show the dog who is boss and the alpha sending you some website about tug-awars with dogs.
2007-07-08 16:32:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have you taught your dog the 'drop it' or 'enough' command? I will sometimes play tug with my JRT mix.. but when I say drop it, she drops it. She's a sniffer, so she likes to pick up whatever when we're out at a park or even just walking... so she learned 'drop it' pretty quick. Works with the toys too.
Remember, as ALPHA... all toys are YOUR toys. YOU decide when to play and when to stop. :)
2007-07-08 16:51:44 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I play tug-of-war with my dog but only with one certain toy and play fetch with a different toy. That way she knows the difference and doesn't try to play tug-of-war when I want her to fetch. I don't think tug-of-war is bad as long as you don't get too rough.
2007-07-08 16:35:43 · answer #6 · answered by somebody 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It depends on your dog and why you want to play tug. I play tug with my dog, and contrary to what others said here, I sometimes let her win to build confidence. But then, I don't have aggression problems with my dog. Letting her win is what my trainer (30 yrs of experience in shutzhund) suggested; it is what they do in shutzhund training. You do have to have rules for playing tug, but the human always winning isn't one of them. I recommend reading the following book:
http://www.naturaldogtraining.com/about.html
Below is an article with guidelines for playing tug.
2007-07-08 16:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by fergnclaud 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not bad. But one way of remaining "alpha" and always winning and preventing too much excitement is to teach your dog the leave it command.
Play with him, then say leave it, he must drop it (give works too) and then re-engage playing. But playing with a toy means that it is ALWAYS your toy and when you want to stop - your dog must stop. It is not your dog's toy, it is your toy. Play under your circumstances, and never let them get sooooo excited that they are out of control!
2007-07-08 16:44:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as you win the game, and you are the one that decides when it's over, it can be okay. I don't recommend it to people w/ kids, just like I warn them against wrestling with the dog.
2007-07-08 16:37:39 · answer #9 · answered by DP 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't want to play this game with a working retriever.
Also you must always be sure YOU win; that's an alpha thing.
2007-07-08 16:27:28 · answer #10 · answered by Karen W 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋