Teething and Tug

[sagoxsago]

I recently heard that playing tug with a puppy, or teaching retrieve with a dumbell etc around the teething age can put a dog off the article.

Playing of tug with a youngster can also damage \ prevent teeth developing properly from a breed confirmation point of view.

If so, what age should you avoid these games.

[Storm]

Good dentition getetically is good dentition. The only reason I would avoid tug around these stages is to prevent the dog from forming any bad associations with "biting" and any associated pain due to the mouth areas being sensitive where the dog could become hesitant to bite due to previous painful experiences. Everything in moderation.

[sagoxsago]

When would the dog pass the ' moderation phase'?

[lblax]

Originally Posted by sagoxsago

When would the dog pass the ' moderation phase'?

when its done teething....usually by six months of age they have most if not all adult teeth

[Judi W]

I play tug to help get those stubborn baby teeth out. I've not found my pups avoid tug or retrieve due to teething, but then that is probably because they self-limit if it hurts.

PS, correct dentition is actually a result of the jaw (structural) upper and lower. All this assumes you are playing "tug" and not swinging the dog through the air or something like that.

[samanthac]

I don't know if this helps, but I was taught that with puppies a game of tug should consist of letting the puppy grip the item, tugging VERY gently until the dog regrips and then letting go with praise. Then when they pup lets go of the tug, pull it away and start again. This requires a very light hand and certainly not the type of tug you play with an adult. It should be a game and be very postive.

[lcarothers]

[quote=Judi W]I play tug to help get those stubborn baby teeth out. I've not found my pups avoid tug or retrieve due to teething, but then that is probably because they self-limit if it hurts.

I agree, I may be doing the wrong thing(let me know if it's wrong!) but right now I am making sure "tug of war" is at least a 5 x's a day event with my female, Rosie, age 6 months.
"Tug of War" with the ropey bones is a game I have played with all my dogs to assist the teeth.
Silly to admit this in public but I do take 2-4 of the baby teeth that fall out and make a "shadow box" to display them. It's been a conversation getter, those 4 shadow boxes, soon to be 5!

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Judi W

. I've not found my pups avoid tug or retrieve due to teething, but then that is probably because they self-limit if it hurts.

.

i believe the op is going to do bite work with this dog so he should shy away from this until teething stops as he wouldnt want anything to happen to self limit for pain

[Squeaky2004]

We play a very calm game of tug with Squeak, she is starting to go through the teething stage (4 months old). We are never rough when we play with her, and it seems to help keep her mind off of biting everything else.