Tug of war

[TwoDogs]

Personally, I think that saying is crap! Done properly, tug is a great game. I run my dog in flyball and specifically taught her to tug. Just about everyone who does flyball (with just about all kinds of dogs) uses tugging as a reward and those dogs are not overly aggressive--they couldn't play the sport if they were. I do think tugging should be played after you've taught your dog an "out" or "drop it" command and only with a dog that has been taught bite inhibition and to not lay teeth on human skin.

As for not letting the dog win, I let my guys win all the time. It makes it fun for them and you can see the look in their eyes when they think they've gotten the prize. Then I just cue a "give" and they deliver it back to my hand--for which the reward is to play more tug. I do make sure that I win more often, of course!

 

[kathysboxer]

Tyson and I are always playing tug. He growls and just has fun. He knows when I say no more, that's it. He may try to get me to play a couple more times, but I'll tell him no. He is about as aggressive as an ant. I see no problem as long as you call the shots. He has a pull rope, and we braided a couple old socks together and he loves that one. I need to make a new one as it's getting pretty battered. But alot cheaper than a new rope :D

 

[dbetz]

Duke and Rudy LOVE tug of war, Duke especially. Like another person said, the dogs play on your terms. They have to always release the toy on command. When we are tugging and I say "enough" they stop tugging. I don't feel that it leads our pups to be more aggressive and I think it's good exercise for them.

 

[johann]

Johann loves to play tug of war. I'm pretty sure its his favorite thing to do. He growls, swings his head around, and has a great time. We scared people at Petsmart one day during a break in his training class playing tug. He was carrying on just like at home....complete with growling, etc. : But he's always quick to stop when I say "enough" or stop playing.

We usually end the game with me saying "drop it" and then tossing the toy for him to go get. Sometimes I just make him stop tugging, then let him have the toy.

He's pretty funny when he wants to play tug and we aren't interested. He'll bring a toy up and repeatedly hit your hand with it....over and over and over. : Even more fun if its a squeeky toy. :rolleyes

 

[EAO76]

my guy loves tug of war,but knows if he growls,the game ends,so its still a game to him not a dominant thing.

Growling during play is absolutely fine. You should never punish growling (whether during play or not). Outside of play, growling is communication that gives people a warning that the dog is uncomfortable. If you take away growling a dog could go directly to a bite. You want your dog to growl.

Now if a dog is growling too often (for example to protect his food from humans) then the underlining behavioral issue (like food aggression) needs to be addressed NOT the growling.

But with all that being written growling during play is totally normal. Your dog is just having a good time & communicating about it.

 

[XTNa]

I also heard and read that tug of war supposedly makes them aggressive, but my Haiduc loves playing it and never gets too rough and never growls.
To test him I wait for him to really get into it then I tell him to leave it, and he always leaves it, sits down, and waits for the game to resume. I even dangle the rope in front of him and he won't touch him unless I tell him "get it".

When Atlas was a puppy, he used to get a little aggressive with tug games, and I taught him to play tug exactly as HaiducAgnita mentions above: Atlas has to wait for me to be ready to play, and after we do, I'll tell him to drop it, and he does. Then he automatically sits and waits for me to be ready again. I also started to train him not to touch the rope until I say "take it" and then we start to play again. No problems with tug aggression ever since.

Good luck with your (oh SOOOOOO adorable) pupster!

 

[BoxerMom999]

I agree with the others. Maggie loves to play tug and she is not the least aggressive with people. I control the game - sometimes I let her win and sometimes I win. If I let her win she brings it back to me for some more. She enjoys playing tug so much!

 

[JinaU]

I agree with all of the above. Luke likes to play tug of war...we have a toy that consists of three rubber rings looped together. It works out good because we are able to hold the part that isn't that close to his mouth. We haven't had a problem with it. He knows when it is playtime and when to stop and settle down. Our 6yr old even plays it with him and it's like he (Luke) knows that he doesn't need to be as rough...he's only 7mnths right now.