YNP #101: Can I Play Tug of War With My Dog?
Tug of war is a game that dogs LOVE to play. Yet I always get asked the question “Can I play tug of war with my dog?”
The short answer is YES! Tug of war is great game for you and your pup. It’s easy to play, they love it, it burns lots of energy and tires out those heavy chewing jaws and nipping puppy teeth.
So why is this a question? Well, there’s some misconceptions about tug of war that have been going around for a while.
In this episode, I debunk the common myths about tug of war, like the idea that it’s a dominance game or that you can’t let your dog win.
The vast majority of dogs can play tug of war with no problem. There are some pups that need some rules to reduce any over stimulation or excitement (because tug of war is just so fun!).
No worries, I walk you through what to watch for—like vocal escalation or raised hackles.
Plus, I’ve got a special video for you that shows how to use tug of war to teach your dog important skills like drop it and impulse control.
So, grab your dog’s favorite toy and tune in to find out how you can safely enjoy this fun game with your pup!
How to Use Tug of War toTeach Impulse Control
Tug of war is not only a fun game that your dog loves but you can use it to teach your dog to control their excitement (also known as impulse control). As a bonus, I also talk a little bit about “drop it”
It’s a two-minute video that will give you and your pup hours of fun!
In this episode I talk about:
- Can you play tug of war with your dog?
- Why this is even a question.
- Signs to look for if you need to put rules in place.
- How tug of war can benefit your dog.
- Free resource on how to teach your dog impulse control with a game of tug of war.
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Other resources mentioned and related to this episode:
YNP #087: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You?
YOUR New Puppy: My signature new puppy course that has helped hundreds of new puppy parents raise their puppies into well-mannered, happy dogs.