[cakaiser]

I know it's a big no-no to play tug with puppy, must confess we always have and have seen no ill effects. We also let them play with other dogs, have squeeky toys and sleep on bed at night. So, maybe we are just lazy, or, are some of these things just myths that we follow because someone said so?

 

[AmiableLabs]

I have experienced it first hand -- playing tug of war can (not necessarily "will") cause hard mouth.

Take it or leave it. But I KNOW it.

My pups are just as happy to play fetch a toy as they are to want to play tug with it, so I just play fetch.

 

[kiddcline]

For me it has always been a myth. Tug-o-war has seemed to increase the pups drive. I teach "out" at the same time while playing that way I am still in control.

 

[blakegober]

i cannot speak to the tug-of-war b/c I have never done that. If it is in fact a myth than my wife will be very happy to find that out, I have told her not to play tug with any of the dogs. I have however, let my dog have rawhides, and one or two toys. I think it is much more important not to play with bumpers or let them chew on those, that goes without saying really. I let the dog sleep on the bed if he wants, but the truth is he never will, i guess he just loves the crate more. He grew up with it and that is really the only place he will sleep at night. So that has not been an issue either. I know some people wont let the dog have any toys, rawhides or anything. but I think the dog is teething and he is going to chew on something, I would rather it be a rawhide than a chair leg!

Blake

 

[rainsmom]

One of the myths is that tug-of-war is about "dominance." Myth. Among wolves, tug of war was a cooperative behavior used to pull carcasses apart. If you have a supoer pushy dog, then put rules on the tug game -- teach the dog to stop tugging and drop the toy on cue. If you have a less confident dog, tug is a GREAT way to increase that dog's confidence. With less confident dogs, letting the dog "win" the game is great for boosting confidence.

As for teaching a hard mouth, well, it could. But dogs are discriminators. They can learn to tug with all their heart and soul and then to carry a stick of butter without leaving teeth marks. Not playing tug doesn't necessarily mean that your retriever will have a soft mouth with everything, so I don't see the point in depriving the dog of such a beloved game.

Tug is also a great way to increase motivation -- to jazz a dog -- and to get the dog focused on the handler.

 

[Losthwy]

I play tug of war with my dog WITH A ROPE at the house. I never would do it with a bumper, out in the field and I make sure I always win. It's fun for both of us and have experienced no problems of any kind.

 

[Leddyman]

I play tug with my pups. Rainsmom is right, letting them win builds confidence, and setting boundaries helps them learn to turn it off. We only play with a towel or a rope, in the house, when they are puppies. I quit when they are about 4 months or so. I have never had a dog with a hard mouth. 5 so far, I'm waiting on number six,,,he's three weeks old.

Lisa, I'm waiting on those pictures!
Terry

 

[Losthwy]

If you have a less confident dog, tug is a GREAT way to increase that dog's confidence. With less confident dogs, letting the dog "win" the game is great for boosting confidence.

Good point, my dog has almost too much confidence.

 

[22899]

Just dont play that game using the duck ya just called in and I thinks you'll be fine!


Gooser

 

[Howard N]

I don't do it but one of the people I train with does play tug with a lead. Her dogs are no more hard mouthed than mine.

I think I would watch it with a puppy though as they might try tug with a bumper or bird. Dogs are situational and I feel they'll learn the difference of what's allowed with what items fairly quickly.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I tug with my Chessie, but I taught him 'drop' before we started. I occasionally interrupt the game with 'drop' to insure I'm not creating a monster. I've had no problems in 2 years, and it's really great exercise on those evenings after work when you just can't get out and train.

I teach my OB students how to do it properly - after the pups/adults learn 'drop'. Seems to work. But, you do have to watch out for what happens after the 'drop' i.e. pup leaps and lunges after the rope.

I've had many a great game with my Chessie.

 

[2tall]

All very good if you already know how to train a pup. If you do not know how to train for Drop or Out, you are in trouble. Add that to a true high test pup and you end up in the emergency room with a nick in a vein. Not because pup went after you, just those sharp little teeth slipping from the grip and hitting the wrong place! Been there done that. In my dogs case I wish I had never allowed the toys or tug games. Just didn't know what I had.

 

[Bud]

Because of the myth or reality I did not with my current pup. But funny thing is I have in the past with no ill effects. They would out on command but never concentrated on it nor taught it for playing tug.

 

[Lynn Hanigan]

Play tug if you want but if you want to avoid hard mouth problems you need to LOOSE THE SQUEAKY TOYS. Give your dog nothing that makes noise and that includes bumpers with the valve missing.

 

[DEDEYE]

I play tug-o-war with a sweeet knotted rope. They know its a game and they learn the command "drop" when they are puppies playing it. Plus you can get a bit of a work out if you play with Darla. She isn't hard mouth and so far neither is Spanky. Have also played it with husbands labs with no hardmouth....

 

[etfremd]

It is probably not a great idea- I never played tug of war and at 10 weeks old I knew I had a hard mouth retreiver- it was in his blood- We shot a quail for him and he took it and decided it was his bird- I had a big training problem at that very moment- he could not win- I had a 5 foot rope he was dragging and I had to give chase and jump for the rope many times before I finally got it- he would not let it go- I could not pry it from his mouth? What was I suppose to do? My friend was with me who had some experience training and he lifted him with 2 fingers on his gonads- as soon as his hind legs went off the ground he spit the bird out and I gave a ton of praise- we trained it out of him for the most part- he could pick up a water ballon then transition it so he could hold it by the knot...but give him a fresh bird or cripple and he was a mallard muncher- he never caused a problem at the line in a hunt test-but has destroyed a few birds- like doves- I had to battle him over a dove and literally reach down his throat to get it one time- he knew better- just the retrieve before he did a blind retrieve 60 yards out and chased down a cripple to bring it back without missing a feather- then we drop one stone cold but don't watch him retrieve since more birds were coming in and he pounded it...he snatched one out of a buddies hand leaving only the head in his hand...so if you ever to do play pull use only materials that won't be associated with work- don't use a rope since you attach a rope to bumpers- I think a towel would be best...It may be good for some dogs as a cofindence boost- my dog did not need any more confidence- he was already too confident and always wanted to tell the judges how to set up the test...

 

[Kirsty Gray]

I make sure I always win. It's fun for both of us and have experienced no problems of any kind.

Hi there,

I wonder why your dog would want to keep playing tug-a-war if it always loses? In my experience tug-a-war is used to to build drive and confidence. Therefore the dog should win at least half the time. I haven't had a problem with the dog not outing a dummy or bird because of it but then I restrict tug games to toys and the lead not dummies and birds...

 

[Devlin]

I was always religious about "no tug of war"...for me or anyone else interacting with Sadie. Note that I say "was." Once I was confident she knew "drop" and "give" and didn't challenge the command, I got...well...lazy, I guess. We (but only just Sadie and me) now play a little tug of war occasionally in the house, but it always ends with a "give" or "drop." And I haven't seen any ill effects in the field, either training or hunting.