Should you play tug with your dog? Will playing tug-of-war make your dog aggressive? I added the second question because it’s usually why I’m asked the first question. In my experience, those asking the question have a reason for asking.
Here’s what I have to say about whether you should play tug with your individual dog–
Does your dog already exhibit aggressive behavior toward you or others? If you don’t have a quick and easy and definite NO answer for this question then you’ll want to address the issues you’re concerned about before playing any competitive games with your dog.
Here’s my safe and ethical answer because safety is always first–
NO, you should NOT play tug with your dog if your dog has ever growled, snarled, snapped or moved toward people when in possession of a prized object or defending a space or has already ‘nipped’ or bitten you, your children, your visitors or strangers on the street.
Get immediate, in-person professional help. If you’re in the Boston area, I can help you. If you’re not in the Boston area and cannot find anyone to help you, I can help via skype. It’s more important to work on the specifics of the issues already on board than to jump to something new. It’s also important to not take advice from even well-meaning dog owners and dog professionals online.
Playing TUG OF WAR will not MAKE your dog ‘aggressive’. How you play tug matters though. It is very important that you teach tug (and any other game) in a consistent, humane manner because the stakes are too high to risk playing too rough. Remember that dogs make mistakes too. How you respond to the accidental ‘miss’ that connects with your skin may have a negative affect on your dog’s perception of the game of tug. It’s never a good idea to allow or promote, even through play, the use of a dog’s teeth on human skin.
Who should play TUG OF WAR with their dogs? If you AND your dog enjoy playing tug and you happen to be an adult, then of course you should play tug of war with your dog! Having fun with your dog is part of why you got your dog in the first place, right?!
Who should not play tug with dogs? Children should not be encouraged to play tug with dogs. My definition of who is a child? Anyone under age 18. No exceptions.
If your dog doesn’t enjoy playing tug of war, why bother? But perhaps your dog suddenly doesn’t want to play tug-of-war… what then? Well, consider that your dog isn’t feeling well as your FIRST THINGS FIRST query. If you don’t see a limp or obvious first glance reason, check to see if your dog is having a problem in his or her mouth or teeth since gripping a tug toy when having a toothache wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun.
That I advocate playing tug with dogs shouldn’t be a surprise to you given that found this blog post on my website dedicated to playing games with dogs or the associated Facebook page, YouTube channel, Instagram or even in my private Facebook group.
Come on out and have fun with your dog!