They won't play tug with me

[Tank's Grandma]

Okay, so I've read all the different threads about the different opinions about to, or not to, play tug with your puppies/dogs and such, but here's a different situation.
Neither of my dogs will play tug with me. Tank wouldn't before we got Jake, so it's not just that they have each other to play with. Either of them will make a half-hearted pull, no grumbles then let go.
They will play with each other as if it were life and death, and if I tell them "leave it" the rope is instantly mine.
Just curious why they won't play tug with me. Oh, and they won't play with my fiance either. We play other games, so it's no big deal to me. Just a curiosity.

[sophie's-mom]

sophie will NOT tug with me!

actually she doesn't play at ALL!!!!

HUH, go figure!

She won't fetch......she won't go for a tennis ball.........she just WON'T play!

not sure why?!!!

[flyballmom]

I'm not sure why either. (Lotsa help we are, huh?) And I know you didn't do this with the boys, but....Charleigh being my first Rottweiler and all, I followed advice to not rough house, not play tug etc. Then when we started flyball, and I WANTED her to tug, I had to convince her that it was OK. Later, she'd play crazy tug at home, but would never after a flyball run. Her reward was for me to play tug with the ball in her mouth. Blitz on the other hand LOVES to tug, but then again, I'm raising her differently.

Maybe your guys see you and Chris as too much the bosses of them, and don't want to tick you off?

[Patty1231]

I thought I remembered once in another thread someone saying something about this. They won't tug because they look at you as alpha and it is a show of respect. Don't quote me on that, I just thought I remembered something like that.

But both Perle and Skye would not tug with me at first. I had to keep initiating the play until they finally caught on that it was okay. Skye is still a little hesitant but she will play now.

[MontanaRott]

Guerin and Steve both play tug, it is actually what Phil uses as a reward. Scout is a tugging machine too!

[Tank's Grandma]

Patty and Beth...good thoughts, which I've thought of...and I do try and initiate, just to get a good workout myself if nothing else, and I try and make it "okay" for them...but, they just half-heartedly pull and let go.
However, and I realize this is another thing entirely, and their "no, look-at-me-not-him-mom" coming into play...if I get them BOTH on the same rope...it's game on. And I better have good traction.
Just an interesting dynamic.

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by Tank's Grandma

Patty and Beth...good thoughts, which I've thought of...and I do try and initiate, just to get a good workout myself if nothing else, and I try and make it "okay" for them...but, they just half-heartedly pull and let go.
However, and I realize this is another thing entirely, and their "no, look-at-me-not-him-mom" coming into play...if I get them BOTH on the same rope...it's game on. And I better have good traction.
Just an interesting dynamic.

What about trying to initiate a game of tug when they are already excited, like when the big bad volcano has them amped up?

[StephanieandToby]

Toby did it half-heartedly just to please me....although sometimes he would go "crackerdog" and jump around with a leash or toy and toss it in the air trying to tempt me into a game!

He liked playing tug with small dogs though....and he was a big enough gentleman to always let them win.

[Tank's Grandma]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

What about trying to initiate a game of tug when they are already excited, like when the big bad volcano has them amped up?

Tried it....Tank would rather play "hide the toy somewhere under the couch cushion and I'll find it" with me . I've tried after we play hide and seek, or run around the house which gets them going...but they'll grab it, I pull, they let go.

[SABELLESMOM]

Maybe it just suits some and not others. Sable initiated the game with me as a wee pup. I played. Then we moved to fetch and hide and seek...

When she was 3 we got Rave. Sable didn't quite know what to make of things. I could see her puzzling out the situation. Then having a kindly heart she marched over to the toy box for "snakie" and taught Raven how to play. She was rather proud of herself that day. (so was I)

But my thought is: Is it possible some just don't see it as fun? Maybe just different personalities? Like Raven is [b]nuts[/B about balls, tossing, fetching, catching, playing soccer with it, batting it about in a corner so it bounces back at her. Sable only plays just a little while with balls, and then it's mostly to tease Raven with it.

[gomer9855]

We never played tug with Frau when she was growing up, and we never let other people do it either. No wrestling, roughousing, anything like that. We still don't tug very often, as I don't personally enjoy it. Frau will tug with my mom and father in law, that's about it. If I try, she takes and pulls a TINY bit, then just looks at me til I tell her to release. If I shake it she lets go. She also tugs with other dogs.

I always just assumed it was becuase I'm her alpha and she's not allowed/doesn't want to challenge me.

[miccmill]

We didn't start playing tug with Hannah until she was about 2yrs. old and then she was very tentative about really tugging. I had to do everything but put an end in my mouth to get her going.

Now, she's really into it and I think part of that is that it's a special toy. The tug lives in the cupboard until it's time to play and when it comes out she knows what we're going to do but then again, she doesn't have another dog to play tug with which is probably more fun.

[dmoniz]

Jack won't tug, but he did start tugging with the other dogs. Logan will tug, but only at home. Logan also plays tug with Vic and lets her win, it is so cute!

[LynnS]

Bell has always loved tug and still does...I think you can get a dog to like any game if they have some play/pack drive and some motivation thrown in but I might be wrong.

For example the toys Bella loves the most are the ones that are always put away and she has to work for (I know I am a bad mom and leave a bunch of crap laying around that she never touches)

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by sophie's-mom

sophie will NOT tug with me!

actually she doesn't play at ALL!!!!

HUH, go figure!

She won't fetch......she won't go for a tennis ball.........she just WON'T play!

not sure why?!!!

Genetics. Lack of drive. Bort is the same way. He has recently started to play with toys for a minute or two a few times a week (he's now 9.5) and the first time I saw him do it, he almost went to the vet. "HELP!! My dog is playing!!! This dog does NOT play!!!"