Dog Play: Developing Keen Tuggers

By Kris Hampton at Raintown Dog Training

At Raintown, we love a good game of tug-of-war with our dogs! Whilst there is no evidence that playing tug increases aggression in dogs, having some tug rules in place is a wise idea, especially if there are children around your pup. Read on for our tips to develop a safe and keen tugger in your furry companion!

Tip 1:
Prioritize rules

Kids will imitate if they see a grown-up playing tug, and a combination of intensity and kids isn't great for dogs. So make sure that you firmly install the following tug rules with your pup:

1) Start & Stop Cues: dog only grabs when invited ('get it!'), and lets go on cue (‘drop!’).

2) Accuracy: no sloppy mouth! Your dog must never put their teeth on humans (if teeth make contact, it’s immediately game over for the moment!).

3) Breaks: lots of breaks are important to practice obedience and test the system, as well as to keep the intensity manageable.

Tip 2: Handler Pre-Requisites

In order to teach and play tug, you must be able to:

• Simulate struggling prey: wiggle the toy, make it ‘live’ when cue-ing ‘get it!’

• Make toy dead/boring: the toy must go limp when handler says ‘drop!’

• Reward: treat when your dog drops the toy on cue, then give the toy back.

• Avoid rude retakes: if your dog grabs the toy uninvited or puts teeth on your skin, introduce infractions (‘too bad! End of the game!’).

Thought of the month

Final Tug Pointers

• Experiment with Toy Types

  • Try different types of toys, such as those with handles, chew toys, and balls with ends, to find what engages your dog best.

• Anchor Yourself with Strong Dogs

  • Ensure proper stance and control when working with strong dogs; consider using a chair for additional stability if needed.

• Careful with Small Kids Imitating

  • Always supervise interactions between small children and dogs; stick to safe activities like fetch, especially with large, strong dogs.

• Easier to Teach Puppies Than Adults

  • Puppies are generally more receptive to learning compared to adult dogs, making them easier to train in terms of building keenness and installing rules.

• You Control the Big Payoff

  • You have the power to influence the dog’s experience by how you imitate the struggling, live prey with tug toys. Have fun!