Tug
Tug is a great way to exercise your dog because it gets their heart rate up
much like when they’re running. It is important however, to play the game with
the following rules:
1. There is a designated tug toy and a designated tug cue. We don’t want your
dog trying to play this game with anything other than the one special tug toy or
the special tug cue. So pick one thing he can use and give the game a cue like
“Tug Time!”
2. No takes or retakes. You are always the person who initiates the game. So if
your dog brings you the tug toy, don’t grab it and start playing. You can have
him drop the toy and then you can start playing the game, but it has to be on
your terms.
3. Frequent obedience breaks. It’s important to stop the game often and ask your
dog to do something for you like sit, stand or down. This is teaching him a very
important skill of getting into a drive behavior like tug and then out of it for
obedience.
4. The dog must out on command. Your dog must know how to drop and must do so
any time you ask during the game.
5. No teeth on you at any point. Even if you think your dog accidentally put his
teeth on you, the game is over. He must learn to be aware of his mouth while
playing this game.
The punishment for breaking any of these rules is simply that the game is over.
You can choose that the game is temporarily over, or you can choose that it is
over for the whole day.
(Back To Top)
Frequently Asked
Questions - Tug
Will playing tug with my dog lead to aggression?
This is a very common question and the answer is no.
Most dogs love this game. Tug actually makes dogs less aggressive because it
gives them the opportunity to exercise and get out some of their doggy behavior.
Keep tugging because it’s a great way to bond with your dog.
(Back To Top)
Green Paws Training Options
We teach and practice Say Hi in our
Puppy Manners and
Basic Manners group classes.
(Back To Top)
Books and Tools
There are no books or tools to recommend for this behavior.
(Back To Top) |
