Tug without Rules is a disaster waiting to happen.
Tug without Rules teaches posession when the dog is allowed to have the toy and run off with it in victory and can lead to guarding and possessive behaviors with toys.
TUG WITH RULES is a GREAT game and can help build a positive relationship with you and your dog.
Rules to TUG
1. ) Dog must enjoy the game
3.) Dog must drop it when you ask
How do I accomplish these rules?
Put your dog on a leash and start with holding the end of your dogs leash. You want the leash to be loose and for the dog hardly to know its there.
Start playing tug with your dog. Get your dog engaged in the game. It should be give and take but keep tension on the tug at all times. Don't allow the dog to thrash their head around.
You let go of the tug but hold onto the leash and back up and encourage your dog to bring the toy to you. Keep backing up until the dog brings it to you. You are holding the end of your dogs leash so that your dog cant run too far away but dont reel your dog in you want your dog to want to come to you. If your dog takes the toy to the ground i encourage him to bring it back up. As soon as the dog brings it back up tug again then repeat letting it go.
I want to create the idea in my dogs mind "Wait we were playing" and want the dog to run back at me with their toy not running away from me in victory of "winning" the game.
Once your dog is doing fairly well with this then mid play with tug i will take the toy to the dogs level hold onto the toy on both sides of the dogs mouth where he is holding the toy and hold the toy still. When the dog lets go - don't pull the toy away yet hold it still wait till the dog actively backs up. Release the dog to play again. The faster the dog lets go the faster you get to play again.
Furyk playing with Rules: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhqMdAU3W4Y&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUcqW_f8ZqmHni8Pk0Eq7GQ
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