Dog Training Tip of the Day- Tugging with your dog

[Tatedog357]

That's cool I like that i will try that

[prancingrobot]

I can't even get my dog to mouth traditional tug toys, or build interest in the those toys, but she's extremely interested in balls. recently I made a ball tug toy that she will hold on to but she refuses to tug, I'll gently tug or shake the toy and she just lays down with her ears back looking at me. How do I get her to tug back and have a good game to play inside

[kikiveto123]

hello! I'de love to get some help with the tricks "take it" , "handstand", "put it away" PLZ :D

[appelsin]

Decent video on introducing tug games to an untrained dog and a novice dog owner, but any well-trained dog will willingly give or drop no matter the state of "arousal".

[Morthund]

@appelsin

guess thats kinda the intention of this video huh?

I can play a pretty bad-ass game of tug with my english bulldog to let him do what the breed was once bred for, I just gotta have some pretty damn splendid treats to get through to that bad boy;) but no steak dinner for me after tugging :(

[appelsin]

@Morthund not really since the video says that you "never want to build over arousal". The dog is barely tugging on the toy before she stops the game, because he's "too aroused". Many breeds, like my JRT are highly excitable and fiercely tug and snarl while doing so. It doesn't mean he's being aggressive, it just means that he's very into the game. The key is to teach your dog a reliable "off" or "drop it" command, not to have to worry constantly that the dog is becoming "too aroused".

[Morthund]

@appelsin

Thanks for your reply. However, I didn't mean the 'ol boy was getting aggressive, just hard to "switch off" because of his natural innate English Bullie tendancy to focus very single mindedly

Feel like I've got a bloody silly and pointless desire to defend the boy fom from any inferences, so I just have to mention that he's sharp as a tack, and a really quick learner, and we can now even play inside, and switch off or calm more or less instantly. He lerans pretty fast ;)

[ilovecanines]

Good video, Emily - I am going to share with my students.

[StLCardsGuy]

A well trained dog is such a joy.

[brownsteel2008]

for how long do we have to continue giving treats... should we reduce the frequency gradually till my dog just catches on the cue, and doesnt expect treat everytime? please reply.

[MWcrazyhorse]

"T-dog"? Because he has only one front limb and hence looks a little like a T?

[WilkinatorGladiator]

Did anyone else watch this video with Tugging meaning Masturbating?

[nikiosko]

I know that you can train your dogs to perform special tricks and such, but can you train them not to bite or not to be agressive while around other dogs or persons?

[lizblue159]

my dog likes to play tug of war with my pant leg and other things he shouldnt be chewing on. if i try to take it away he runs. what should i do? he also likes chewing on chords. any help with that?

[Corollaboi]

Did she say put food in his nose? I can't really hear what she says.

[jameskopacz]

@Corollaboi she said put it at their nose, i think that's so they go after the treat instead of the toy and that action also makes them release the toy too.

[clicker4life9]

I love your video, but just a quick question. If your dog gets too excited, what should you do to "end the game"? If my dog gets the toy and gets too excited, she refuses to let go and I'm not sure how to get the game to end. Thanks!

[NormyPie]

@clicker4life9 You can 'end the game' by not playing!

[BJsHappyHour]

This looks like fun - must try

woof!!

but sis doesn't like clicker - she's afraid of it. ;0{

[navaxtina]

Thanks for the video! really good job!

I'll try to do it with Lua!

[TokioHotel197]

Wow, amazing video and job!

[KrazyKai0905]

Thanks for the "drop" tip! Kai lunges after the toy once she lets go, so I think the treat will slow her down :)

~~*Harper & Kai*~~

[k9mpmak]

Do you have much experience with teaching "service dog tasks" such as picking up small objects like coins, as well as opening heavy doors?

[DogsAreMyBestFriends]

Wow, this video was indeed very informative! Thanks Emily, Anyways, your border Collie, Slash, is she a Merle Blue? Did you rescue her?

[KPMasher]

Awesome! I worked on this with Claire (One of my Tzu's) She has improved! She knows how to let go, Already! :D

Thank-You!

[monroeroadrunner]

Very cool video! Will use with Tippy, my JRT!

[Felisism]

I would be very grateful for a response, however, I also want to say thanks a million times for doing those great videos and getting me thinking. And hopefully get us started into a new life! :) Bye then, ~Felis (sorry btw that my comments are the wrong way around)

[kikopup]

Hmm... well from the sound of it, it sounds like you have a very normal BC. Yes, the environment has reinforced the dog for doing certain annoying behaviors, but you can change that. Figure out what you DO want the dog to do and start reinforcing those things instead, while not letting the dog practice the behaviors you dislike (interrupting the dog, having them on leash, in the crate) What you mainly have to do is counter conditioning- creating calmer behaviors around certain stimuli

[Felisism]

Hi Emily! My name is Felis, I'm from Germany and I've been watching all your training videos over the last few days. And I have to say that Ive been very deeply moved, because I've realized that Ive done so much wrong with my dog!! :( As you were saying somewhere, I keep thinking "if only I'd known this before". I have a two-year old Border boy, and though most people say he's very well behaved (we do obedience) I think he's not very well trained at all! He doesn't have fun during training, ..

[Felisism]

gets totally aroused over toys, has a fear-based dog aggression, (would) likes to chase running kids, is very annoying around visitors (constantly nagging them to play with him) and more. Although Ive never harmed him physically or anything Ive used all the traditional methods of dog training. I think our relationsip isnt the best, nothing like yours is with Kiko and Splash. Were using the clicker during training (well, you had a video on that). I want to change all that!

[Felisism]

I just dont know how to start!! Ive read books and will do more research, but I just wanted to ask if there is anything, some advice you could share with me. Should I just start teaching some new tricks? Should I start using the clicker in all difficult situations at once? How would you go about it (say, if you got a new difficult dog who didnt know the clicker)?

[eldonfarms]

Thanks for this Emily. Good information. I have trouble with my pup getting him to drop the toy, I have occasionally used food but not the click. I'll work hard on that now. Also he jumps up and grabs it so I now have a plan for that too. Loved seeing Kiko, I've missed your videos.

[mrducklumps1]

Great video!

I'm subbing! =D

[bluevspink]

hah...wish I knew this beforehand.

[FishApprentice]

Your relationship with your dog is beautiful!

[claudiahoyle]

another great tutorial ty Emily

[julz63]

Love your videos. Found your site by accident a few weeks ago & love your attitude to dogs. Keep posting as I appreciate the info & so do my 2 beautiful chi dogs

[hdsheena]

i would absolutely LOVE to see a video of you working a green dog on the "tease them with it, but they can't get it until you say so. if they go for the toy, don't let them get it" part!!! I've been working on this, but I have a horrible time being faster than my dog!

[kikopup]

(not sure if the other post was posted!) I know I should have had a green dog- but this was thought up in 30 seconds as I came in the door with a new tug toy for Splash.

Basically- you could click treat click treat click treat, constantly as you have someone else wave the toy at a distance and then gradually bring it closer. And or you could start proofing with something the dog doesnt initially like, something metal, some toy they are completely bored with etc

[hdsheena]

Great Ideas!!! Thanks. Do you blog or write anywhere else? Or just videos? Email lists??

[kikopup]

Youtube is my main project :) I have a website and blog, but am focusing on the videos at the moment... :)

[wmlgts]

Great ideas and tips! I love the portrait you have hanging of Kiko. Is it a photo?

[kikopup]

nope, I painted it. Yes, I am dog obessessed

[wmlgts]

Wow, I love it!

[rogersmmr]

Great video, Emily. Thank you for posting!

[AnimalLoverLizzy]

Wonderful, Emily! Sparky is very much into tug toys lately, we've just learned this last week at a Superdog seminar. Thanks for the video!

Lizzy & Sparky

xxxx

[kikopup]

Cool! What was the Superdog seminar about? Is it from Mary Ray?

[AnimalLoverLizzy]

Oh it was a dog training seminar with the Superdogs, you may have heard of them, the perform all over Canada and in other countries too... The come to my city for a couple weeks every summer, and I had been talking with them about performing with Sparky, so they invited us to their first seminar, and now we've been accepted into their dog shows. Today was our first day, performing in front of about 5 thousand people... SO scary, yet amazing at the same time. :)

[kikopup]

Wow! Well done! I bet Sparky was the star of the show!

Now yes I do know Superdogs, but I for some reason because it was a seminar, thought of Mary Rays book Superdog. :)

[AnimalLoverLizzy]

Thank you!

Ah no, it was not by Mary Ray, but I'm glad you do know of the Superdogs. Sparky was only there for two days to see how he could do with the lights and music and crowds, he did excellent. I was shocked that there were 8 thousand people watching each show! He's slowing down now for the races and things, as he is getting older now, but they want Sparky back next year again as a freestyle dancer, so we're going to keep working on that. ;) It was a wonderful experience to be there. :)

[zsianz1]

Wonderful as always! I like the idea of being able to wave the thing in front of them and the game is to only get it when you say!

[TherealAshman]

great tutorial!

this is also great because it teaches the dog to drop stuff out of their mouth, not just a toy, which is very useful when they pick up stuff you dont want them to have (like food they might find outside while you walk with them)

[pogonipnv]

Another great tip!

[KeenCan]

Great tutorial! However, I have an Aussie that came hard wired! She is fanatical over toys, frisbees, etc. I can't make it out into the backyard without practically being mauled and her jumping for the toys and sometimes getting the hands that are holding the toys! LOL I have tried all the "calming" approaches and even written you an email about this, but would really like to know your advice on how to calm the naturally OVER-aroused dog. Keen is very smart, but very rowdy, too! :) Thanks!

[kikopup]

Walk into the yard with a toy hidden, ignore Keen completely during the 'mauling' sit down, read a book (or sit up high if you will get mauled), when Keen gives up and goes and sniffs something, or lays down completely not thinking about anything exciting, that is when you can click or say 'yes' whip out the hidden toy, and toss it for him (not to excitedly mind you! Then leave if he gets too excited! :)

[KeenCan]

Thanks Emily! I will try the ignoring Keen thing AGAIN. LOL I forewarn you, I might be out there for months waiting for her to give up and find no interest in it! LOL Determination is a very strong character trait in Keen :) Maybe I am going about this all wrong, maybe you should be teaching me patience instead of me trying to teach them to Keen! I will try to get a before and hopefully after video of her behavior for you to critique. You are great, thanks for all your help and great videos!

[kikopup]

You also want to practice going to the back yard to do calm things like settle. you dont want him to think that you going through the door is the predictor of something exciting because he might be over aroused before you even get through the door.

[ChillyAndClover]

What is your definition of over aroused? Do you mean barking, jumping up on you and endless stare at the toy? I know that some trainers train their dogs to do this purposely because they want their dog to work harder for it. If we decreased the arousal over the toy could that also decrease the value and drive your dog has for the toy? I am very curious to hear your reply. Great video, by the way. =)

[kikopup]

I believe that if you can first get impulse control, and calmness around reinforcers, you can THEN build the drive with reliability. Its really easy to get a dog aroused but its very hard to go back and teach them to not be aroused... A lot of agility fans will build drive first, because its pretty easy, then they sometimes end up with a super fast dog, but the dog also is reactive, attacks other dogs, spins, doesnt listen, jumps the ring....

[kikopup]

This vid was more for the av. pet owner. I myself have created calm dogs, so I do a lot of games to actually build drive for toys and food. There's nothing wrong with building drive, just keep an eye on- are my dogs eyes dilated, do they look stressed, are they able to follow cues? A tell tale sign is a dog that can't look away from the toy to look at you, or they do it with hard unblinking eye contact,not soft. It's sometimes hard to tell with certain dogs.

[kikopup]

p.s. yes, at first the 'drive' for the toy will decrease, but you can rebuild it, editing out barking spinning and jumping etc. You could also have diff toys that have diff levels of arousal too.

[ChillyAndClover]

thanks for the reply. =)

[nikkitoni01]

I totally love your videos. This one is GREAT!

[hunkymonkeykaine]

Tug is one of the best games to play with your dog and certainly one of our favorites too! 5* for a pawsome video.

Happy Clicking!

Ashley & Kaine

[muschio]

:) great video, I appreciate the summary at the end, very handy.

[Adipatus]

Greatly done !!!!

[instagasm]

awesome tips. thanks for sharing!

[fredimesper]

hahah great video !