#The ultimate game tug how to

If your puppy refuses to follow commands, like dropping the tug toy when you ask them to, remove the toy for a day before reintroducing it. If they suddenly latch on to your clothing, an arm, or a leg, suspend the game until they’ve calmed down.ĥ. Don’t let your puppy’s mouth touch any part of you. Make sure that you’re always the one saying when to play – never let your puppy initiate as this can lead them to believe they’re in control of your relationship.Ĥ. While people worry that this will cause aggressive and dominant behavior, they will quickly lose interest if they know they don’t have a chance of winning the game.ģ. Remember that your puppy’s jaw hasn’t fully matured yet and they still have baby teeth, so you want to be very gentle with the puling and tugging and keep games short.Ģ.

While playing tug of war with your pup can be a whole lot of fun, there are a few rules that are worth keeping in mind:ġ. The combination of your child’s excitement mixed with your puppies can make it difficult to control the game and train your pup correctly. If you have young children in your family, we recommend that your puppy only plays tug of war with an adult. When the game is finished, place the tug toy out of sight and reach of your puppy. Eventually, delay your presentation of the treat after giving the ‘drop it’ cue.ħ. Including the ‘sit’ or ‘down’ command helps to control your puppy’s arousal.Ħ. Add the cue ‘sit’ or ‘down’ and reward the behavior with ‘take it’ and the presentation of the tug toy. Reward with the treat when they drop the toy. Give the verbal cue ‘drop it’ and follow the command by holding a puppy treat directly under your pup’s nose. Stop any tugging and toy movement and freeze. Reward his interest in the tug – but only verbally at this stage.Ĥ. When your puppy has the toy in his mouth, engage him in a gentle game of tug. Move the tug toy back and forth slightly to get your puppy interestedģ. Give the verbal cue ‘take it’ and present the tug toy. If they bring the toy to you and try to get you to engage, walk away.Ģ. Always be the one to initiate the game of tug of war with your puppy. Once you’ve got your toy ready to go, follow these easy steps from the book Puppy Start Right (opens in new tab), authored by vet power couple Debbie and Kenneth Martin to help make sure your puppy gets off on the right paw with your game of tug of war:ġ. There are some fantastic rope toys online or you can check out our guide to DIY puppy toys for a few inexpensive options that you can whip up at home. Who knows, it might even help you sleep better too! Teach your puppy to play tug of warīefore you take your puppy outside and get them all excited about a rousing game of tug of war, you'll want to make sure you have the right toy for the job.

#The ultimate game tug how to

Games like tug of war are fantastic for teaching your pup about rules and boundaries.Īnd if you’ve been reading up on how to make puppies sleep, there’s nothing better than a high-energy workout before bed to send your furbaby quickly off to the land of nod.

It’s a great way to keep your furniture in one piece by channeling your puppy’s instincts to want to chew and wrestle into something that’s not going to destroy your home or belongings.There’s no better way to bond than with a game that encourages lots of eye contact and lets you get up close and personal with your pooch.While it may seem simple, the humble game of tug of war has a surprising number of positive side effects that make it a great choice for you and your pup: But for all other puppies, tug of war is a mentally and physically stimulating game that your little one is sure to love. If your puppy is already showing signs of aggression, then tug of war is a game you'll want to steer clear of until you've got this issue resolved. What is worth noting, however, is that these results occurred when pet parents started the game and there is a question mark around whether there could be a potential link between tug-of-war and aggression if dogs are the ones to initiate. If anything, the team found that engaging in tug of war games made the dogs more confident engaging with their owners and deepened their level of attachment. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (opens in new tab), researchers observed 50 dogs and their owners playing tug of war and other rough games and found there to be no impact on the dog’s levels of aggression. But, to ensure you're not just relying on our word, we've made sure to back up our comment with research to put your mind at ease. While this is a very common story that floats around, it's just that - a story.