Play tug or not?

[RJS30]

I'm a little confuse about something. My dog is a little over 6 months old and I have been told to play tug and let him win sometimes to boost the dog's confidence. I have also been told not to play tug because the dog may become aggressive. Am I doing the wrong thing by playing agressive with my dog or should I play a little tug with no agressiveness. He seems to get excited when we play tug or play agressive. I do have to correct him when he uses teeth but during tug he brings the rope back to me for more. Your thoughts please......

[Major]

While you are waiting for some replies you may want to do a search on "tug".

[Carina43]

Yes, play tug!
Use it as an opportunity to practice "drop" or whatever your release command is. You can mix it up with commands like down/stay/sit or whatever to make it all fun and stay in charge at the same time.

Many people feel that it's important to initiate and end the game, but I think it depends on the dog and your relationship with him.

[Judi W]

And there is a difference between playing tug, and "tug enough" and playing aggressively. Tug is tug, aggressive sounds like perhaps you are fighting with the dog. I'd discourage fighting with the dog but tug can be quite rewarding and fun.

[RJS30]

Yes, I'd have to say it may be called fighting what we do sometimes. He lunges at me and I push his face. I think I'll stop doing that and just play tug. He only plays rough with me though, and I don't allow clamping down with teeth but I thinkI'll stop that all together and continue to play "tug." Thanks for the comments.

[Patty1231]

Everything I've read about Rottweilers says NOT to play tug with them - but how can you not?? Mine loves to play tug - he's 14 months old and doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. He doesn't seem to confuse this "game" with any real behavior towards me or anyone else, including other dogs.

[CajunsMom]

I have played tug with Cajun since he was a pup. He is now 7 years old. He is not aggressive and has never bit me. But we play be my rules. No jumping in my face, no touching me with mouth and when I decide it's time to stop we stop. :)

[Judi W]

"how can you not"????

Well, if you have behavior problems, it is easy. You just don't do it until you get the leadership established.

[Patty1231]

Easy, Judi. If your dog has behavior problems, that's a whole other issue. Otherwise, leadership can be established as part of the tug game, as CajunsMom stated earlier about playing by your rules and ending the game when you say so.

[Judi W]

:D

[Gracie H.]

Everything I've read about Rottweilers says NOT to play tug with them - but how can you not??

I have heard the same thing about 'tug' with Rotties. But I can't not play it with Addy either. She loves the game and so do I!
I kind of take turns letting her win. She is pretty funny. It's 'our' game. However, Addy is a very gentle tugger. I too use it along with training at times. "give" and "sit", etc. We encorporate other things into the game. I add hide the tug and she has just as much fun finding it as she does actually tugging. When I ask her to 'play dead' she knows the game of tug is over and we move on to something else. (the tug is put away after the game so she knows we play on my terms -- also so she won't chew it up, as this particular Rottie is capable of biting through her Kongs!)

I'm glad to know there are others who play 'tug' with their Rotties.



;) ;) ;) ;)

[excellrott]

Originally posted by RJS30
I'm a little confuse about something. My dog is a little over 6 months old and I have been told to play tug and let him win sometimes to boost the dog's confidence. I have also been told not to play tug because the dog may become aggressive. Am I doing the wrong thing by playing agressive with my dog or should I play a little tug with no agressiveness. He seems to get excited when we play tug or play agressive. I do have to correct him when he uses teeth but during tug he brings the rope back to me for more. Your thoughts please......

If you are going to show your dog you may want to reconsider. This can pull his teeth out of line.