Dog Training - The Tug Game

[crysania4]

This is the only one so far I'm not in total agreement on. My understanding of tug is that it's more of a game of cooperative "killing" of prey. I don't think they see it as being physically stronger. I let my dog end up with it many times and other times I ask her to "give it."

As for dropped food? I teach "leave it" with dropping food on the ground and I've done it enough so that when it drops she looks at ME when it drops.

Tug does not teach resource guarding.

[CarsBoobsPoker]

I'd be interested to hear further in that seminar, it was just getting interesting on how to deal with the stand-off with the dog and the chicken bone.

[RCCFanatic]

is it bad if you let a dog win once every month or so or is it bad? Nice video by the way!

[StLCardsGuy]

Have you ever worked with service dogs?

[aes620hb2]

thank god i watched this after about 2 days of lettin my pup win, i thought it was bad for his self esteem to lose

[SuperStarMal]

Okay what if when the dog gets older and he's a pit bull

should you stop playing the game, since the dogs stronger ?

[billeybop]

Good analogy.

[raiders2034]

this was a helpfull video

[chico3mendo]

LOL when i want to win i just swing him around like a balloon then he get tired n lets go.

[tthomas022]

Good video

[kevNchris445]

Check out my dogs doing tug of war! its awesome :)

[ultraboydude]

kool

[MzTexasRaised]

Great Video !!!!! You did a great job explaining what not to do and why !!! But you didn't explain what to do and how ??? would u please make another explaining those .......

[paperkiller25]

+1 Needs a resolution. So are you saying win every time at tug? Thats easier said than done as my Boxer goes from 12 weeks to 12 months. This little girl is going to be a 90lb monster with jaws breed from holding onto large game.

[MzTexasRaised]

Absolutley , if I can't win , then I don't play ...... all u have to do is swing ur dog around ... hmmmm well u have a Boxer , I don't know if they can do that or not .. If I want the toy , I tell him Drop it ... Simple !! But this is only for Dominate dogs ... if ur dog is submissive, it doesn't matter .....

[wolfydan121]

couldnt agree more, teach your dog to drop it, its a very handy command, say incase the dog gets hold of something he shouldnt have. and a dog can be taught boundaries at any age, but the younger the better. that way they respect you.

[cowrunning]

What I have done, I have a 18 week old AmerStaff. I used to have a pit mix, well I taught my dogs a command "release" when they were young every time I won at tug a war...that was every time I never let them win, well I say release so then they learn the word for dropping something from there mouth, my pit was 90 lbs and I won easily by saying "release" becouse he new the command, then I threw the toy for a game of fetch so I wont the strength game

[MatthewWiddison]

then dont do it

[marlio21]

I am a Jamaican and i really didnt know it was that simple to train dogs in fact i think that alot of Jamaican dog owners dont know these things, continue making these good videos im also thinking about getting your book.

[MythicalVirus]

Good video. We got a Golden Retriever puppy a few months back and while talking with a guy at work he advised not to play tig of war, but after reading your emails and watching videos im glad I do. He now understands im in charge and what I say goes. Keep up the good work.

[thevillaman]

cool videos. i made a video. Me training dog casper video. but its not as good as your videos

[mandirigma74]

bravo, mabuhay!!!!!,,, more, more.......

[thevillaman]

I play tug a war with Casper my dog I win 70% of the time but it is with my sox

[CrookedSpunk]

If you play tug of war with your socks, I would advise you not to, unless you don't mind him chewing up your regular socks. Dogs can't tell the difference between socks that are OK to bite and tug and socks that are not. I would play it with one of his toys. Therefore, when you win, you claim something that is his (which you should be able to do all the time)which makes you even more powerful.

[jesserai]

if that dog ever gets a hold of a sock when your not around and he thinks its ok to do this you might end up with a hefty vet bill to do the surgery it takes to remove a sock from a dog's insides. not to mention your dog will have to indure a length recovery time

[PreciousPitty]

what about interesting your dog in tug, or other types of play. one of the dogs we rescued has no interest at all in play. Not to mention this girl is work.

appreciate the videos

[coolsunglasses101]

so that's why they growl at that point

thanks

[chiliZtaSteGoOD]

Great Video!

[eletendre1]

Thank you.

[eletendre]

It is a good game to play. A lot of dogs love to play tug games. The most important part of playing this game is to control the game. You need to win the game by having your dog release the tug toy when you are finished playing.

[PrometheansFires]

That's wrong. If you read the scientific literature on this you will find that winning/losing is irrelevant. They see tug as play, which means it's a cooperative interaction.

[azureshadow12days]

I disagree with u prometheanfires , my dog and I play tug a lot and used to think that it was irrelevant who had control over the object, sadly lately he is becoming less responsive to my commands and testing why, my bf and I find out it was the game, he always keep the toy, now he want to do his will in other activities, like barking to strangers which he didn't do before

[PrometheansFires]

You can disagree all you want. There have been studies both controlled and case studies done on this subject. The results support what I stated.

[crysania4]

@PrometheansFires I just found this video and commented with much the same thing. I'm glad to see someone here agreed with me! Playing tug has increased my dog's confidence and drive and sense of fun. She often ends up with the toy and usually runs around and comes back to offer it to me to play more (tug is no fun on your own!).

[BHAV2GURU]

when u are playing tug of war sometimes u win and sometimes u let the puppy/dog win does that mean when u win u are letting the puppy/dog know u are stronger...meaning he will afraid of u?

[eletendre1]

You always want to win the tug games. Don't let your pup win. There is more information about tug games at my website:

AmazingDogTrainingMan dot com.

Best,

Eric

[anarchist99999]

Don't agree, if your puppie don't has a strong self-confidence you need to let hem win now and then to increase itactually it's the only reason why you should play tug of war with a puppie, you're authorithy comes later in training, theirs only one way to get food did it with different puppies, they al work now as rescue or policedog....

[cluelessjohnny]

I have a son that is just a year old and a pit bull puppy that is only 8 weeks... should I not let them play tug on account of she will soon out muscle him even tho there is only one alpha male and he naturally wont be any discaplining..

P.S. will be ordering your online training course this payday

[eletendre1]

Great question! I don't recommend children playing tug games with their dogs. The dog will quickly mature and become stronger than the child. Tug games should be left to the adults.

Thanks,

Eric

[eletendre1]

Great question! I always teach dog owners to keep the tug toy when they are done playing. The tug toy is the one toy that you want to keep in your possesion. At the end of the game the tug toy gets put away. I would toss a different toy to your dog.

Best,

Eric

[Stevenlk]

would it be okay when playing tug o war, u get the rope from him and then toss it when u dont want to play anymore for him to go fetch and naw on it in the corner; or is that tell him he still "won"?

[SugarFree61]

i learned to clicker train my dog cuz of him.....hes awsome

[deco2kill]

kool im the first to watch this vid i like this man he good my dog learned how to bring the ball back