“When he would get stressed and anxious, you could feel him releasing it during a game of tug.”įor dogs that struggle with impulse control, tug is a fantastic way to work on this. Instead, it was like “let’s just go and play”, so he can see it is fun and, also, he learns to engage and focus on me versus being all distracted in the environment,” she says. “One of the things I did with my dog when he was younger, I would just put him in the car and take him to different environments, and I didn’t focus on obedience. She has used tug games with both her Belgian Malinois from an early age. Boling is a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT) and owner of Northeast K9 Conditioning. Tug can also build confidence and help your dog to focus on you in distracting environments. ![]() This is liberating to the dog and can take your relationship to the next level!” Instead of the handler nagging their dog for the toy or the dog hoarding it away from them, the dog chooses to bring it back to play some more. “It sounds so simple, but this is a huge shift from most interactions between dogs and handlers. Allowing a dog to win means they can celebrate with their prize, but it also presents them with a wonderful opportunity: to choose to bring the toy back to you on their own!” she says. “I love the description of “shared holding” when it comes to tug. Santos (KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CNWI) is the Owner and Lead Instructor at the Dog Sport University. Instead, you’re nurturing a solid rapport and teaching them that engaging with you is fun and rewarding. It is also a great way to burn off excess energy and keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated.īy letting your dog “win” during a game of tug, you aren’t letting them dominate you. ![]() It’s an activity that taps into natural drives, making it a motivational, reinforcing, and high-value training tool. Tug can promote impulse control, build confidence, and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. Does your dog love playing tug-of-war? Maybe you’ve stopped this type of game after hearing the mistaken belief that it encourages problem behaviors? However, speak to any top dog sports competitor or qualified trainer, and they will tell you that well-managed tug games have many benefits, and there are even scientific studies confirming they don’t promote aggressive or dominant behaviors.
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