As most of us know training a dog to tug is a great reinforcer when training new behaviours.
The old myth that tugging turns a dog aggressive has long since to be defunked.
BUT..........there are rules to tugging.
The most important rule is also teaching the dog to release, THE FIRST TIME YOU ASK.
That the dog isn't allowed to grab the toy or tug without permission.
That the dog isn't allowed to jump around like crazy trying to get that tug.
That the dog be careful of our fingers and flesh.
Tugging is also training your dog SELF CONTROL.
And that we don't whip our dogs around causing neck damage.
And when we are tugging with our dogs that they have our undivided attention, that we are not chatting or being oblivious to how our tugging is effecting the other dogs around us.
I know somebody, they taught their dogs to tug for dog sports, but it was absolutely ridiculous the efforts that they went to, trying to get their dogs to release!
The dogs on many occasions made mistakes and ended up nailing the owner.
This person had been warned many times about their violent tugging with their dog/s and by many people. Instructed that they needed to train the dogs a release, but they didn't listen.
This person was badly bit recently, during training, the dog flew through the air, grab their upper arm and DIDN'T let go. Needless to say the damage was pretty good, they didn't dare go to the hospital for fear of the dog being put down or reported.
Some people just have to learn the hard way................and its a good example of someone not fully understanding or learning how to do something correctly and thinking that their training is 'Good Enough'.
The old myth that tugging turns a dog aggressive has long since to be defunked.
BUT..........there are rules to tugging.
The most important rule is also teaching the dog to release, THE FIRST TIME YOU ASK.
That the dog isn't allowed to grab the toy or tug without permission.
That the dog isn't allowed to jump around like crazy trying to get that tug.
That the dog be careful of our fingers and flesh.
Tugging is also training your dog SELF CONTROL.
And that we don't whip our dogs around causing neck damage.
And when we are tugging with our dogs that they have our undivided attention, that we are not chatting or being oblivious to how our tugging is effecting the other dogs around us.
I know somebody, they taught their dogs to tug for dog sports, but it was absolutely ridiculous the efforts that they went to, trying to get their dogs to release!
The dogs on many occasions made mistakes and ended up nailing the owner.
This person had been warned many times about their violent tugging with their dog/s and by many people. Instructed that they needed to train the dogs a release, but they didn't listen.
This person was badly bit recently, during training, the dog flew through the air, grab their upper arm and DIDN'T let go. Needless to say the damage was pretty good, they didn't dare go to the hospital for fear of the dog being put down or reported.
Some people just have to learn the hard way................and its a good example of someone not fully understanding or learning how to do something correctly and thinking that their training is 'Good Enough'.