Welcome to The Dog Trainer’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Teaching and Caring for Your Pet. I’m your host, Jolanta Benal. If you’re tempted to play tug with your dog but have been holding back because you’ve heard that tug-of-war makes dogs aggressive, good news! It ain’t necessarily so. In fact, it really ain’t so at all.
Why Play Tug-of-War with Your Dog?
Playing tug-of-war is some of the most fun we can have with our dogs. Played by the rules, tug will strengthen your dog’s self-control and teach her to respond to you even when she’s amped. The consequence for breaking a rule is that the game ends, so dogs who love tug generally learn the rules PDQ.
Two quick cautions before the fun: if your dog acts possessive over food, toys, or space, consult a behavior specialist before you play tug. In fact, consult a behavior specialist anyway. Also, if your dog mouths hard when excited, keep tug-of-war games brief and low-key. Interrupt play often.
Tug-of-War Rule #1
First rule: The dog releases the tug toy on cue. Now, dogs aren’t born knowing what you mean by “Drop!” or “Give!” or “Dammit, Spot!” Here’s a way to teach the cue in the context of tug.
When you want your dog to release, stop tugging, but keep your grip on the toy. At the same time, gently take hold of your dog’s collar. Now wait patiently. Your dog can’t get much action going by herself, so sooner or later, she’ll get bored; she’ll open her mouth and release the toy. Immediately let go of her collar and encourage her to grab the toy again. With repetition, your dog will learn that releasing the toy almost always restarts the game. (Almost always, because you’ve got to go to work sometime.) She’ll also begin to release the toy as soon as you touch her collar – the touch is the cue.
You can leave it at that, or you can add a word cue if you want. Choose a release word and say it every time, just before you touch her collar. Eventually, your dog will learn that the word consistently predicts the collar touch -- the release cue she already knows. At that point, she’ll drop the toy when she hears the word.
Since you’re teaching this rule while you play, your dog’s release won’t be super fast at first. That’s okay. As you practice, she’ll learn to release the toy promptly. Remember that the more excited your dog is, the harder it will be for her to even notice that you want her to do something, so adjust your strictness about this rule to allow for how much practice your dog has had and how hot the particular game is. Do 50 or more fluid repetitions over the course of a dozen or so games before you expect an instant release.
Tug-of-War Rule #2
Second rule: The dog grabs her end of the toy again only on your okay. Choose a cue to give her permission to grab the toy. Whatever word comes naturally to you is fine. Keep the game low-key at first. When your dog releases the toy, ask her to sit while you hide the toy behind your back. Bring the toy out slowly, so as not to tease with fast movement. Say your permission cue and offer her the toy. You’re rewarding her sit by letting her play. If she does break the sit before your cue, immediately say “Oops” or “Too bad” – or whatever comes to your lips; just keep it consistent. Hearing the same marker whenever she makes a mistake will help her figure out what she did wrong. Drop the toy, walk away, and ignore your dog until she gives up on the game. Then you can pick up the toy and offer it to her again.
As your dog gets good at waiting for permission to grab the toy, you can up the ante – wait a little longer before you okay her to take it, move the toy a little faster, ask for a different behavior such as a down or even a brief stay. There you have it: doggy self-control, wrapped up in a bunch of fun. Nutritious, yet so tasty.
Tug-of-War Rule #3
Third rule: If the dog’s teeth touch your clothes or skin, even by accident, the game ends. Maybe you’ve seen those dog arguments that sound like all hell is breaking loose; the dogs’ jaws fly everywhere. Usually neither party to the squabble winds up with even a scratch. And those are angry dogs. They are that precise with their teeth. Your dog can certainly learn to show you the same care in play. I’m not a fan of zero-tolerance policies as a rule, but I make an exception here. Sloppy tooth manners can cost a dog her life if someone decides that the careless mouthing an owner has tolerated in play is actually a bite.
Mark every tooth mistake with a calm “Oops” or “Too bad,” just as you would if your dog grabbed the toy without your okay. Drop the tug toy and walk away, ignoring your dog. Leave the room if you have to. You can even end the game altogether for that hour or that day.
Tug-of-War Rule #4
Fourth rule: The human keeps custody of the tug toy and always initiates play. This rule is important for pesty attention-seekers and for dogs who for whatever reason need more structure in their lives than most. You should also put the toy away between games if you’re using tug formally as a training reward. Otherwise, this rule is optional if you’ve got no problems with your dog.
Final Tug-of-War Tips
A few last pointers. Many dogs get growly during tug. Look at your dog’s body overall – is he wiggly? Are his eyes soft? Does he look happy and playful? Good. Also, as a rule of thumb, play growls are relatively throaty and high-pitched; growls that mean business are deep and come from the chest. Finally, play gently with a puppy or adolescent: no pulling upward; keep the toy at the level of the dog’s head, or lower. Skip tug altogether while your pup is teething.
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