How to play the perfect Tug of War game in 3 steps
1. Bring out the tug toy, shake it a little, and see if the dog will grab it. Pull gently on it to encourage them to resist. Always pull side to side and not backwards as you could hurt your dog. When they start to play reward them with “Good dog, tug!” As they get more enthusiastic about tugging, keep telling them “Good dog, tug!” and get more energetic with your tugging in response.
2. After five to ten seconds of tugging, stop moving. Still holding on to your end of the tug toy, stand still, and in a calm but happy voice say “Drop it!” or ‘Mine!”.
Remember: You are not intimidating the dog into giving you the toy—you’re just giving then information and asking the dog to respond with the appropriate behaviour. Because you have already trained the dog to give what they are holding to you when you say ‘Mine’, they will let go of the toy. When the dog releases the toy say ‘Yes!’ as a verbal reward.
3. Wait a second and then give the verbal command ‘Tug’ and continue to play the game.
Repeat 1-3 until you’ve both had enough!
Interactive Play Keeps Dogs Healthy & Happy
Playing a game of tug of war with your dog is one of the easiest ways to engage in meaningful play with our canine companions. It’s great exercise for dog and owner alike, and it’s mentally challenging for our dog.
Recent studies have found that the more play a dog engages in the less likely he is to exhibit behavioral problems. Dogs that engaged in tug with their owners were also found to be more playful and were more likely to come when called.
Tug Can Be Used as Positive Reinforcement
Many professional dog trainers use more than just treats when working with their dogs. If you’ve watched dogs being trained for K9 police work, military dog training, or agility you’ve likely seen the trainer holding a tug toy in their hands. When the dog completes the desired behavior he’s rewarded with a quick game of tug.
If your dog enjoys a game of tug try using it as the reward in your next training session. For Laika it’s much more rewarding than dog treats – many of which she’ll spit out in favor of a game of tug.
Will playing tug of war make my dog aggressive?
Laika and I play a game of tug of war nearly everyday — it’s physically tiring, mentally stimulating, and just plain fun. And despite an old popular myth, tug does not cause aggression in dogs.
If you’re looking for a fun game to play your dog try adding in a game of tug to your dog’s daily routine. Tug is mentally and physically tiring for dogs, and it’s a great way to strengthen the bond you have with your dog. Here’s the benefits of playing tug with your dog.