Tug-Oh!-War: Sometimes It's Not Just a Game

by Jodi Andersen. Jodi Andersen, a New York-based professional trainer is the founder of Training Works for Dogs and the author of The Latchkey Dog.

Copyright the American Kennel Club, Inc., 2007. No portion of this article may be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. Reprinted with permission from AKC Family Dog, January/February 2007. To subscribe: http://www.akc.org/pubs

When it comes to the games we play with our dogs, the list of options is long and varied. Dog related sports such as agility, flyball, and disc dog are growing in popularity, and many family dogs are becoming cross trained athletes. While few would argue with the truism that the more we do with our dogs, the better, there's one game that warrants a closer look: tug-o'-war. Although it's an acceptable-even necessary-practice among specialized canine work forces such as K-9 units or search and rescue dogs, the negative side effects that tug-o'-war might have on your dog's overall behavior are shocking. Simply stated, I believe tug-o'-war is not a game for family dogs. Here's why.

As recently as a century ago, one could reasonably conclude that a dog's jaw was his most important survival tool. While it may have been necessary then for a dog to track, grab, and tear his own food, the majority of our contemporary canines are now happily being served breakfast in a bowl, immediately and conveniently after it's been poured from a bag. Suffice it to say, in most cases a dog's grabbing and tearing skills need no longer be honed but, instead, must be softened.

Admittedly, training instinctive behavior out of a dog is no easy task, and in some cases it can be nearly impossible. But taking the time to soften your dog's mouthing instincts will be well worth the effort, especially if the same pup who gently licks our children's hands and faces can-thanks to the innocent practice of tugging a rope toy, day after day--become a grabbing, pulling, snapping, croc-o dog.

Although seemingly a harmless game, tug-o'-war simply strengthen the muscles of your dog's jaw. In your dog's mind, Darwin's "survival of-the-fittest" theory still rules and good game of grab-and-pull can be won only by the strongest mouth. But times have changed, and in our homes it's the sweetest and gentlest who get the prize, not the strongest and toughest.

So many contemporary families have to juggle several schedules at once, running from activity to activity when out of the house and from room to room when at home, and it easy to see why a dog who snaps at and pulls whatever passes in front of him would not be a good fit as a pet Why, then, do we continually cultivate the most egregious of all behaviors biting? I daresay it's because we were not aware-until now-of the harm a game can cause.

As a dog trainer, when addressing canine behavior issues I try to see things through the dog's eyes. Not only is it the best way to figure out the origin of a behavior problem, it's often the best way to solve it. Notwithstanding the fact that some dogs are naturally and genetically predisposed to certain behaviors-i.e., terriers dig, retrievers retrieve I'm starting to see a disturbing number of snappish family dogs who are not that way instinctively, but are being taught to snap. The fact is that we are the teachers and tug-o'-war is the curriculum. Whether the results are relatively harmless, such as a torn pants leg, or the more harmful puncture wound, this game of grab-and-pull is best left out of the family dog's repertoire altogether.

But if you and your dog are regular tug-o'-war players, and the
game is yielding less-than-desirable results with your family, you can train him to stop. The best commands for solving tugging behavior are give and drop. Although each has its own particular meaning, both will help teach your dog that a relaxed, open jaw (not a tight, closed jaw) gets him the attention he craves.

First, take all the toys that were designed for pulling. Shake them, one at a time, in front of your dog's face. When he grabs a toy, instead of pulling it-as you did in the past-simply let go. While the toy hangs from his mouth, hold out your hand and ask the dog to give it to you. Expect him to hesitate at first; after all, this is not the game he's used to playing. Just patiently hold out your hand, and the closer your dog gets to your hand, the more you praise him. When he eventually gets close enough, gently put your fingers around the toy--do not pull--and say drop. If he pulls (as he has been previously taught), simply let go and ask again for him to give the toy to you. If he drops the toy before reaching your hand, praise that behavior, too, by saying, Good drop. When he finally either lets the toy go in your hand or drops it at your feet, praise him lavishly while you simultaneously pick up the toy, toss it, and ask your dog to get it. Eventually he'll notice that the game that was based on pulling is now based on retrieving and giving.

The Up Side: Your dog learns, through give and drop, to be gentle with his jaws, and with get it he gets more of the valuable exercise he needs.

The Down Side: There is none.