Is it ok to tug with our dogs or not! Ah, the game of tug. In a nutshell, yes… playing tug with your dog is not only ok, but it can be a very rewarding game for the both of you. No, it won’t make for a dominant dog, no it won’t make a dog aggressive…but like any game there are rules, and both you and your dog should follow them.
Rule #1 Use only appropriate tug toys. Long, non-stuffed plushies, cotton rope toys or rubber tug toys are all good choices. Don’t get in the habit of using just anything, designate toys for tug and use them for those reasons. If your dog tends to “cinch up” on the end of the tug toward you, get a tug toy with a spacer between your hand and the dogs mouth, often the spacer is a ball or knot
Rule #2 Humans start the game and humans stop the game. This is to prevent demand behaviors. If you have a dog that drops toys in your lap to initiate play, this is a dog that has you wrapped around his paws! Remember to ignore demand behaviors, simply get up and walk away.
Rule #3 If the dog does not give up the item when asked, work on teaching give and take before you engage in tug and fetch games.
Rule #4 It’s ok to pull the tug side to side, but not up and down. Up and down is too stressful on the dogs’ neck.
Rule#5 Have fun!
