Three playing tug

[excellrott]

I just read about 20 threads on playing tug, but saw nothing on playing the way we play it. I have a tug toy that puts me against both of my dogs (much fun for everyone) or they can play together. It has two pull parts and a handle for me. My question is should I let them play without me sometimes? The puppy is getting taller then the older dog and seems to be seeking better treatment by my big dog. (sometimes she gets bullied) I have two females (7m & 18m)and I don't want any problems later.

[Luvs]

If they are able to play without anyone getting hurt then I would think that playing without you is ok. Akasha and Keil play tug with EVERYTHING! If you are worried about the older dog getting hurt than I would be sure and monitor their tug games. Akasha plays tug with both our 14 yo Poodle (10 pounds) and our 3 yo Brussels/Poodle X (6 pounds). Akasha is very good about laying down and letting either of the small dogs take the other end of the tug. She is very gentle when she plays with them, although she does play to win and the poor small dogs rarely win against her. Maybe that is why she likes playing with them;) They won't play with Keil. The poor guy tries sooooo hard to get the small dogs to play with him. I think that because Akasha was smaller than Brylee when we got her at 8 weeks and Keil whom we got at four months was already ALOT bigger than them.
Since they are only allowed to play with the tug when I give it to them it is a game that is always monitored.

[excellrott]

I've read so many female to female stories in the forums, that even though I have never had that problem, I also have never owned two female Rotts before. Thanks for the support

[poohbearsmom]

Originally posted by excellrott
I just read about 20 threads on playing tug, but saw nothing on playing the way we play it. I have a tug toy that puts me against both of my dogs (much fun for everyone) or they can play together. It has two pull parts and a handle for me. My question is should I let them play without me sometimes? The puppy is getting taller then the older dog and seems to be seeking better treatment by my big dog. (sometimes she gets bullied) I have two females (7m & 18m)and I don't want any problems later.

I can only share with you how I handle my dogs, and it doesn't much matter if it's same sex or not.

As a rule, the only time toys come out is when we play one on one with the dogs. The dogs are free to run around the yard, play tag, and raise cane all they want during their romp time.

There are a couple of reasons for this:

I want my dogs to focus on me, so, I intersperse the play with obedience. This keeps things fun, while I am enforcing the rules of play, and kicking their good behavior up a notch.

In addition, sometimes our dogs have resource guarding tendencies....or, sometimes they can just get a little carried away...and it's all too possible for a warning to escalate into a full scale assault on each other... or aggression can escalate.

So, for me, it's safer to give high value treats (like marrow bones, pig ears...) in the safety of their crates, and keep toys and balls for people play time.

In a case like yours, excellrott, you have two young girls, very close in age.. You're 7mos old is comparable to a 13yr old teenager... and your 18mos old is maturing mentally. Both of these ages are trying in a pup, and (LOL) you are experiencing them at the same time.... :) It would likely be advisable to use the tug time for individual play and training.

It would really suck if the young girl decided she wasn't going to put up with your older girl's rules during tug of war, or over a bone left on the floor.... a tussle like this could lead to a lifetime of separating girls, and that's a lot of work (many of us separate dogs, trust me, it's a lot of work..LOL)

I would think it'd be easier on all of you to allow them to live without the added pressure of playing "queen of the toys" with each other.

Do each of the girls get individual house time, or trips in the car, etc...? Are they enrolled in obedience classes?

Hope this helps...

[excellrott]

I am always there when I let them tug between themselves, but I think I will just make sure I am involved in that play. They are both in class-my big girl is training to get her CD :D
They both get time with me training or running errands or exersizing, or grooming. though that doesn't keep them from thinking one is getting more then the other ;)