Tug of war

[Oxley]

Hey gang, Loki loves playing fetch with his duck, it has an air bladder with a duck call whistle built into it so when he chomps down on it it quacks. It's his fav toy but when he starts to get bored of playing fetch he wants to play tug of war. I've read a couple of articles recently that suggests that allowing a dog to play tug of war is a way of allowing aggressive behavior... I've played tug of war with other dogs I've had and didn't think that made them any more aggressive.... Any thoughts, ideas, feedback...?

 

[JokersSoul]

I have played tug of war with all of my dogs. I think that your level of aggression sets the mood for the dog. If they know it is playing then they don't get aggressive.

Cooper and I wrestle and he growls like no tomorrow, but if he gets too aggressive with trying to bite, I just command him to settle. He listens.

I don't think you are making your dog more agressive with tug of war.

Just my .02 cents!

 

[ELubas]

Like any game, I think the key is you start and end it. So tug is fine-my girl LOVES it-but she sits to get the game to start and then I stop the game and put the tug toy away. So it is not tug that is the problem at all. Like everything else just think of it as a resource you control

 

[WAT]

I too have played tug with all my dogs, and never had a problem with them being agressive. So I say, tug away! But in order to save the duck which he is so cutely playing with in your avatar (aaww), you may want to get a ropey. My two love playing tug with it, with me or with each other!

 

[ELubas]

I too have played tug with all my dogs, and never had a problem with them being agressive. So I say, tug away! But in order to save the duck which he is so cutely playing with in your avatar (aaww), you may want to get a ropey. My two love playing tug with it, with me or with each other!

You are so right! Ducky will not be long for this world!

 

[catdogbird]

I've read lots of stuff about playing "tug of war" encouraging aggression, too. I feel that it depends on the dog's basic personality. Bailey LOVES tug of war games. I know it's okay with her because if I lose my grip she brings the toy back so that I can grab it again. She does this with our other dog, as well. She's not about winning - she just wants the game to continue. That said, when I had a very dominant female cattledog mix, I didn't play such games with her.

 

[DiverDiva]

I have heard that tug-o-war games are OK but the dog must not win. You decide when the game starts and stops. You may need some really good treats or another highly prized toy to get the dog to stop tugging, but you must always be the one in control of the game.

 

[argosrocks]

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.

 

[RoxDiezAlize]

Tug of war is Alize's favorite game. She actually taught Roxi and Diesel how to play. It was the cutest thing ever. She'd bring the rope toy over to them and dangle it in front of them. They'd try to grab the other end, and then they'd get pulled around the house. LOL Of course, I didn't let Alize get rough about it when palying with them b/c they were just babies then, but now, the rope toys stay out back. They are constantly playing tug and chasing each other to catch the other end.

Alize still loves to play tug with me too. If we're playing and I let go, she trys to put the toy back in my hand. I don't know if playing tug of war is allowing aggression. Alize is very protective, and can be dog aggressive, but she's never been aggressive when playing, with me or the pups. Of course, if she does start to get what I feel is too rough, then I stop the game.

 

[HaiducAgnita]

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".