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P J

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have a 10 week old FL that wants to play tug-a-war. I can get her to release toys, but often she would rather play tug-a-war.

Will it create problems later if we allow her to play tug-a-war now? I do intend to train her for hunting and possibly hunt tests.

Thanks for any advice,
Paula
 
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#3 ·
golden dude said:
Personally I do not let puppies play tug-o-war until they have been FF'd (6mos. or so) just to avoid any stumbling blocks along the way.

Steve
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Yup

Why are you playing tug of war with them?? Just dont do it thats the end of that problem. Just let the pup play with its toys on it own no need to be involved. You shouldnt be throwing these toys so there's no reason to take them from the pup.
 
#4 ·
No tug o' war with anything. It can create the wrong mindset for the dog. Whatever the dog brings to me is released to me. The dogs can play tug o war with each other to their hearts content - as long as it is not a bumper or has feathers.

Good luck with your pup.
 
#6 ·
Lynn Hanigan said:
Right now he needs to know you are a playmate.
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Playmate:confused::confused:
Right now they need to learn that your are the pack leader, master, boss. Not a playmate that they will fight with for dominance!!!
 
#7 ·
Again, playing tug-o-war is in my opinion a BAD idea with a pup. Some people, perhaps have never had an issue with it. IMO its a foolish chance as there are plenty of other ways to "play" with a puppy that will not adversely affect training..

Steve
 
#8 ·
I play tug-of-war with my pups. However, I only use tug toys and I have specific rules. I'm the boss of the game. I always win, she drops when I say drop and she will not tug or mouth the toy until I giver her the command 'ARGGGGG'......

Also now that I have two pups, they play tug with each other all the time and I allow this.

I do not know if this is the RIGHT thing to do, but it seems to work alright for me.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Pas Bon said:
Everything I have ever read about retriever training specifically says NO TUG OF WAR!!!
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Who wrote the books or articles? A dog person who trains dogs and actually has experience on what they write, or a professional writer?

There was a quote going around a few years ago: "Those who can train train, those who can't train, write books about training."

Take what you read with a big grain of salt. Lots of BS in the dog game written and unwritten.

I've seen adult dogs who do tug of war and also retrieve to hand with no problems.
 
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#11 ·
If you are going to do this, Jennifer has the right idea. Conventional wisdom is not to play tug. However, I had a Golden that played tug. I used the same general scheme as Jennifer when raising her.

Fast Forward....

When she'd done well in a test, she'd grab the lead and play tug. When she hadn't done well....no tug. This game was initiated by her. I always assumed it was a return to her puppyhood and it was sort of a release of tension and emotion...like the celebration after a touchdown.

It seems to me that the key is to make the tug game be a reward for good behavior so that it is an end, not a means to an end.

Eric
 
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#12 ·
Well Iam new on here and dont know it all by any crazy stretch of the imagination (LOL) but I would just think that I would not want to create any bad ideas or habbits that may interfere with any training concepts or good habits that Iam going to be working on in any future plans for our partnership between the dog and myself. I think tug of war at a young age before any formal training could wind up creating some confusion later on. So for me I have enough challenges getting things right so I think the less problems I create the smoother the training will go when the pup is ready for formal training. just MO not gospel for sure, but I think if you ask any one who has started a pup from the begining will tell you that they have made errors or mistakes with something, I think the Less errors or mistakes we make and the more consistant training is the better for the dog to respond, the clearer the picture the easier it is for you as a handler/trainer , and the dog I think. So if your teaching tug of war now how clear is the picture later on when you just want him to fetch it up?
 
#13 ·
As long as the dog knows the boundaries I really don't see an issue. How I do it is simple: In the house Reno is free to play tug of war with toys only, however: DROP means DROP no matter what. He has figured out that when the collar goes on, the bumpers or gun comes out then playtime is over no matter what. He is not yet a year old, so there is a little puppy still in him, but I have never had a problem with him trying to play tug of war with a bird (real or training), I set the rules up early and enforce them. Simple: Inside with a toy OK (as long as he obeys the drop command), hunting and training, no way!!
 
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