Many of the dog training books and dog trainers advise against playing tug with dogs because they believe it promotes aggressive behavior and teaches the dog to be dominant. I’m going out on a limb to say this is not entirely correct with a couple of exceptions (I’ll expand on this later on).
Let me give you an analogy (not sure it’s the best but I’m going to try). Is it fair to say that those people with body tattoo have a tendency towards violent behavior or are publicists or are addicted to tattooing once they get started? We know that these are generalization claims.
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FYI:
I don’t have any body tattoo; would love to have a tiny one if only I’ve the courage to face needle and endure the excruciating pain. I bet my scream will be more excruciating to the tattooist than the needle poking onto my skin. :X
Similarly, it also applies to playing tug-of-war with our dogs. For some dogs, if played properly, this game is fine. As a matter of fact, if you play tug with rules, not only it is a great energy diffuser for your dog, it also teaches him self-control and to give in to you. I’ve known many owners, including myself, who routinely play tug with our dogs because our dogs love it. We’ve never had a problem.
Which Breed Is Not Suitable To Play Tug With?
It’s quite impossible to list all the breeds that should be excluded in a tug game (like some situations, there’s always exception), but the general rules are never to play tug with dogs who…
can easily overpower you or the person who is on the end of the tug. Usually they are powerful large and giant breeds.
are highly dominant, aggressive, and protective. i.e. Bull Mastiff, Doberman, Boxer, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, Puli, Staffordshire Terrier.
Who Should Avoid Playing Tug With Dogs?
Children and Elderly:
Although playing tug with small- to medium-sized dogs doesn’t require enormously amount of strength but it does need a good judgment on strength distribution especially if they are taking cbd oil for dogs.
Anti-Alpha Owners:
I’ve spoken quite a bit on being the Alpha Dog over here and here. Basically if you don’t see a need to establish yourself as a top dog (whatever your beliefs are) or having problem doing so, then I’d advise you avoid playing this game.
Unfamiliar People:
In this case, the word unfamiliar people doesn’t imply to strangers. It actually encompasses a few groups of people such as your family members, relatives, neighbors, or acquaintances. They are usually not familiar with your dog’s temperament nor do they understand the rules of the game, hence the word unfamiliar.
You may feel a bit confused as to why I picked these three main groups of people. It will become clearer to you when I list the important rules of the tug game. I will cover this and how to teach your dog to play tug in the following series. So keep your eyes peeled!
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