How to Play Tug With a Dog

Contributor

By Eric Letendre
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (3 Ratings)

Dogs really enjoy a good game of tug.

Playing tug can be a great game for your dog. It gives your dog exercise and you can teach your dog the important "drop it" command. Tug games have gotten a bad rap and many dog owners have been told to never play it with their dog. I have a different take on the subject and teach that tug can and should be played--as long as you follow some simple rules.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Tug toy

Step 1

Always start the game. Never let your dog start the game. This is a very important aspect of doing it correctly.
Step 2

Remember that when playing tug your dog's teeth should never come into contact with your skin. If your dog's teeth touch your hands or arm, the game should immediately end,
Step 3

Frequently take obedience breaks during the game. As you are playing, stop and have your dog perform a command. Once your dog does the command you can start playing again.
Step 4

Make sure that when you are ready to finish the game you always make your dog release the tug toy to you. If you can't get your dog to release I don't recommend playing tug games. The releasing of the toy is the final and most important step.

Tips & Warnings

Toys can be a fun, useful game to play with your dog as long as you follow the rules outlined in this article.
Most dogs that like to play tug get very motivated when you bring out the tug toy. Have your dog do obedience before, during and after tug games.
Don't play if you can't control the game.
Don't play if you can't get your dog to release the tug toy.
Always make sure you win the tug game.

Resources

Free ebook: 101 Ways To Improve Your Dogs Behavior

Comments

eletendre said

Flag This Comment

on 6/5/2007 You need to think about Tug from your dog's point of view. To her, Tug is a strength game. When you play Tug together and she wins (you let go of the Tug toy after you get bored with the game) it communicates to her that she is physically stronger than you.

Now when she grabs something that she sees as very valuable (a piece of chicken or steak from the counter or that fell on the floor for example) and you walk over to her to take it away, this is what is going through her mind...

Hey, I've just won the last 257 games of Tug. I've shown you that I am strongest and I really want this piece of chicken. Don't even think of trying to take it away.

It can create a potentially dangerous situation. You can prevent that by always winning Tug and communicating to her in a way that she understands that you are the strongest.