![]() ![]() Based on their research, though, you should still be thoughtful about letting certain dogs keep the toy after a tug game. ![]() They found that “winning” the toy in a game of tug had no impact on the relationship between the human and dog. The concern was that there would be bad consequences if a dog felt they had just triumphed over the person.Ī scientific study by Nicola Rooney and John Bradshaw addressed this issue. Later, tug was considered fine for most dogs as long as they were not allowed to “win” by keeping the toy at the end. The earlier dogs learn the lessons that tug has to offer - such as impulse control, mouth control and cooperation as well as skills like “take it” and “drop it” - the safer and more fun the game becomes.įor a long time, experts advised against playing tug with dogs for fear that it would create or increase aggressiveness in dogs. Many trainers share this view and actually teach tug in puppy classes. The Truth: Tug is a great game for most dogs, and they can learn a lot from playing it. It’s part of what makes them dogs and us human. Keep playing with your dog well into old age. Many older dogs stop playing only because they no longer have buddies to play with. The Truth: Dogs and people remain playful into adulthood, which may partially explain why we’ve been best friends for thousands of years. Additionally, play is reinforcing, so playing with your dog may be better than the best treat. Using chase games to teach recalls, playing follow to build a base for heeling, using tug to practice “take it” and “drop it,” and practicing stays with “find it” games or hide-and-seek are all great ways to blend training and play. The best dog training occurs when the dog views an activity as a game rather than a lesson. The Truth: It’s actually great to incorporate play into dog training sessions. Myth #1: Don’t mix dog training and play. Just remember to read to the end for the real “don’ts.” Dog Play Dosīusting the top 3 myths. While I agree with some of these prohibitions, there are three common dog play “don’ts” that are in fact myths. When it comes to playing with dogs, many strong opinions exist - especially around what you shouldn’t do. See our privacy statement to find out how we collect and use your data, to contact us with privacy questions or to exercise your personal data rights. ![]()
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