Things You'll Need:
- A dog with a good temperment.
- Lots of dog treats.
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Step 1
First off, this guide is not meant for owners who have never spent any time training their dogs. Before you can hope to be able to play wrestle with your dog, you need to have taught them some basic commands and given them the association of cooperation with dog treats. Here is a good guide to getting your dog to sit: http://www.ehow.com/how_4718111_train-dog-sit.html.
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Step 2
Your dog should be at least a year old and should be at least a mid-sized dog if you expect to wrestle with them. A small dog will not wrestle with you and besides smaller dogs tend not to have the personality to wrestle anyway. The larger the dog, the more up it will be for wrestling with you.
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Step 3
The first step is showing the dog that you are being playful. Like all interaction with dogs, it is important to signal to the dog in the way that other dogs would signal. So, if you want to show that you are being playful, get on all fours and wiggle your back end. This might sound silly, but if you are contemplating wrestling with your dog safely, then you need to act like a playful dog to get the message that you are not being hostile.
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Step 4
When you do this, some dogs might just rush toward you. This is not what you want, at least not right away. Everyone has their own preference for how they want to wrestle with their dogs, so you need to think about how it is you want to wrestle. Factors to consider are such things as intensity, rules and whether you will allow your dog to bark whilst you are wrestling.
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Step 5
If your dog does rush at you, then get up and say "wrong!" loudly and disengage from play for a half an hour. Maybe you should teach the dog the stay command if it is having trouble with the start of play so that you can signal when you want him/her to come over to you. If your dog is playful as well, wagging its tail and sticking its own bottom in the air, then you know you are ready for play.
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Step 6
When you are playing with your dog, or any animal, you need to not be shy or apprehensive. Be direct, grab the dog, but do not pinch him or hurt him and encourage him by saying good boy. Make sure that whenever you grab your dog that you do so gently until you are sure that your dog knows that this is part of play. If this is your first time playing in this way, then reward your dog often with treats.
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Step 7
As you continue to play with your dog, you might get scratched, so if you want to play for extended periods or with high intensity, make sure to wear long sleeve shirts or a sweater that you don't mind being ripped and torn. Some dogs can handle gently grasping your arm in their teeth without biting, but again this is something that you will need to work up to. If at any point your dog does anything which you are uncomfortable with, get up, say "wrong!" and stop playing.
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Step 8
Remember that you are dealing with an animal and this means you cannot explain your intentions. This means that whilst you are wrestling you need to constantly signal that you are happy by saying "good dog" over and over, petting your dog often and in between "wrestles" and praising your dog when he/she is gentle with you. As you play more often and for longer periods, you should be able to safely up the intensity level.
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Step 9
Only you can judge whether your dog is capable of safe wrestling. Some dogs cannot do any more than "rough cuddles", but at no point should you ever set out to cause pain to your dog. You should always keep everything you do, including wrestling, positive.
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Step 10
Never encourage your dog to jump up at you when you are standing. This is not the way to wrestle and could lead to your dog pushing you, or someone else over thinking that he/she is just being playful. Always go to the floor to wrestle with your dog. In addition, never grab their tail or muzzle. This is disrespectful to your dog.
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Step 11
Play fair. Since you are wrestling, if your dog makes a move, don't say "sit" and the leap on them. Remember that dogs can sense when you are being unfair or teasing them, so treat them with respect, let them know that they are a "good dog" and reward them with lots of treats throughout.
