[GloverCharlie]

Hello all!

A quick question, what do you guys think about tug of wars?

I am getting so many mixed messages about this game, I read about alot of people saying this is an agression game and shouldn't be played with young puppies as it teaches them to fight or being agressive then I read that this is a great game to show them whos boss as you need to win 5 out of 1 or something similar.

Well Glover Loves tug of war and I have been leting him win 1x and then I win 5x. after doing this ritual a couple of times he gets bored and goes to play somewhere else... lol.

Glover still goes for me with the nipping although I do think he is getting better, he is after all just a pupp.

anyway, what do you think?

 

[Murphys Dad]

Well, I was thinking about this too, and spoke to a trainer I know. He said that it's fine to play it, as long as you know how to: You can play it, and even let the dog win, but the dog needs to know who the boss is /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[beagletails]

I've always heard the same thing that it teaches them to be aggressive, but if there is another dog around they are going to play it with them so why not with us?! I just say you need to win sometimes and let them win sometimes.

Be careful though, my dog Sam can rip your arm out of socket while he is playing. They get real strong...real fast. lol

 

[BeagleBabe]

We play tug of of war sometimes. What I was told was be sure that I win more than half the time. Like Chloe Abby knows the "drop it" command.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I play tug of war with Jersey. I just make sure that I win more than she does. I usually mix it with a game of fetch. Whenever I "win" I throw the toy and make Jersey go fetch it. She has fun and has gotten very strong! It's a little harder to get the toy away from her than it used to be. We worked on the "drop it" command, but Jersey never got good with it. She'll only do it if I have a treat in my hand. She's a bit stubborn sometimes. :hi:

 

[Guest]

Me and Chase play also but he usually just gives up after awhile or start tugging at something else! LOL

 

[russjor]

Quote:Originally posted by jen-n-jersey:
I play tug of war with Jersey. I just make sure that I win more than she does. I usually mix it with a game of fetch. Whenever I "win" I throw the toy and make Jersey go fetch it. She has fun and has gotten very strong! It's a little harder to get the toy away from her than it used to be. We worked on the "drop it" command, but Jersey never got good with it. She'll only do it if I have a treat in my hand. She's a bit stubborn sometimes. :hi:

I do the same with Shiloh ! Make it a game of tug-of-war & a game of fetch. I think Shiloh likes the "fetch" part more. Sometimes he will grab the toy from where I throw it and zoom all over the house so I can't get it. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif But eventually he will bring it back to me so we can play somemore. He loves his tug of war but for a small dog,beagles sure are strong ! :thumbup:

 

[doggonit]

We play it sometimes, but not very often. Derby knows "drop it", also.

 

[K & G]

We play too, and like most of the other beagles, Gage knows the drop it command too.

 

[GloverCharlie]

excellent! then Ill just keep on what Im doing! doesn't seem to be doing any harm!

Yes I do mix the two games togeather too, because if I don't throw the toy when I win, Glover gets bored like Chase and starts playing with something else lol

Ill have to figure out how to teach him to 'drop it'though!

 

[Guest]

Charlie and I play Tug a war.

Not for to long though, and for him to drop it, I kiss the top of his nose, Or I put my finger in his mouth and tickle the roof of his mouth *lol*
and everytime he drops it for me.
this is something we do together.

 

[K & G]

I taught my beagle to drop it by giving him something he wanted, then something he wanted even more, and saying Drop it! when he dropped the first thing for the new thing. You put a favorite toy on the floor, and let the dog pick it up. Once he has it, pull out a treat. As the dog is dropping the toy to get the food, give the command, and praise. Once he gets it, then you start giving the treat every other time, then every second or third time etc. until the treat is mostly phased out.

 

[Smeagle]

I play tug of war to get my dogs interested in a toy - if they are prey driven a toy can be very useful in training!!! I use the tug game to 'rev' them up a bit and get them excited.

I get the best heel work and commands work really effectively when I use the toy firstly as a motivator and then as a reward.

I always "win" and I also have a "give" command that I use so the dogs know that when I say "give" they must let go. It's not going to make your dog aggressive.

 

[Jennifer]

I'm not a lover of this game because so many things can go wrong in the wrong hands. There MUST be rules and you must stick to them.

Never play it if your dog already has an aggressive or dominant nature. Never play it if your dog does not understand the "drop it" command. Stop play the second you feel your dogs teeth touch your skin, if he starts growling too much or if when he wins he runs away with the toy and doesn't bring it back.

If he runs off with the toy then you aren't playing it correctly because he is hoarding it. Don't chase him, if he doesn't bring the toy back to you for another game then he isn't interested in the "game" in the interactive way it's supposed to be. Choose another game where his hoarding prey instincts don't come into force so much. Not all dogs are suitable for all games. Find one that your dog loves and plays properly.

Keep just one toy for this game and don't play it with anything else. This way you minimise the risk of him thinking that anything you or anyone else (small child) has in their hand is a tug-of-war toy.

The game must be fun, not a constant pit against each others strength. Played correctly it's a good energy burner and incorporates some obedience training as well...which can't be bad /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif But I have to say I don't ever play it with my dogs as it's not a game I enjoy.

 

[GloverCharlie]

Hi Jennifer!

thank you for that! certanly got me thinking!

I have a new question now, how do you know the differents from a domminant agressive pupp from just a normal puppy behaviour?

 

[Jennifer]

Hi there /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I haven't been around much recently so I don't know how old your pup is etc.

Play is a very important part of bringing up your pup and all games should be tried out so to speak. All pups go through a period of challenging their owners and the more ambitious and confident dogs will be better at "taking control" of situations and this is true of dominance/possession related games like tug-of-war. I think while playing with your pup you should kinda get a feel for whether he is being playful and loving every minute of it or is not treating it as a game anymore and becoming overly dominate and niping/biting at you and growly.

All pups are different, some are shy and retiring while others take advantage of every situation. I'm not saying that you shouldn't play this game but keep in mind that all games need to be controlled to a point while keeping them fun. Un-controlled play with a pup where the pup is allowed to do what he likes, nip/bite, growl, run off, not respond, hoard/guard toys etc. can lead to an adult dog that plays aggressive or is hard to control.

 

[GloverCharlie]

Glover is 3 months old

I think he is enjoying the game, he likes me throwing the toy away and brings it back each time although sometimes he gets bored and goes away lol as I win most of the time.. big meanie!

anyway he is starting to growl as we play, he doesn't nip when playing but if I am not playing with him he nipps alot! but 'Ive got alot of advice on that and am trying them out lol it seems to be working..

thanks again jen!
x
K

 

[Jennifer]

Awww Glover is just a baby still...bless him. I've looked at your profile and the pic of him is sooo sweet.

At this age everything is fun and new so keep it lighthearted and be gentle.

Try to stop before he gets bored or tired, that's why he's walking away. You can let him win just make sure that you are the ultimate winner. This means when the game ends completely the toy is YOURS not his. Don't just leave it on the floor, put it away somewhere where he can't see it. The next time you want to play this game you produce the toy and it will give him some renewed interest.

 

[RhodaTse]

I'm not a big fan of this game too. Everytime when Charlie starts a tug of war game, I'll drop the toy instantly, that would tell him I'm not interested. Then right after I'll give him the "drop" command. I must have him drop the ball to me, which I'm still trying to do hehe.