I think this would be a very helpful segment, something from Jean Donaldson's 'Culture Crash'.
All rights belong to Jean Donaldson and JK Publishing. (Atleast, thats what I assume is the publisher as the back on my book has been ripped off.)
Tug-of-War
Dog owners have been admonished for decades by trainers, breeders, and veterinarians to never play tug-of-war with their dogs because it risks increasing aggression or dominance in the dog. I think they've muddled predatory behaviour, which tug actually is, with agonistic (conflict resolution) behaviour, which tug is not. Played with rules, Tug-of-war is a tremendous predatory energy burner and good exercise for both dog and owner. Like structured roughhousing, it serves as a good barometer of the kind of control you have over the dog, most importantly over his jaws. The game doesn't make the dog a preadtor: he already is one. The game is an outlet.
Tug, or any vigorous activity for that matter, played without rules or functioning human brain cells is potentially dangerous. But the baby has been thrown out with the bath water in this case: why deprive dogs and owners of one of the best energy burners and outlets there is? It's good because it is intense, increases dog focus and confidence, and plugs into something very deep inside dogs. The owner becomes the source of a potent reinforcing activity, and there is a payoff in term of lowered incidence of behaviour problems due to understimulation. It's also extremely efficient for the owner in terms of space and time requirements, and it can be used as a convenient reinforcement option in obedience.
The "tug might make him more dominant" argument is extremely lame. The implication is that dogs or wolves ascertain rank by grabbing the ends of a object and tugging to see who "wins." If anything, the best description of tug is that it is cooperative behaviour. It's not you vs. the dog, it's you and the dog vs. the tug-of-war toy. When you're playing tug-of-war with a dog and he "wins," ie., you let go, a tug-addicted dog will try to get you to re-engage in the game rather than leaving and hoarding. You have control of the supreme, ultimate reinforcer here: the ability to make the toy appear to resist, to fell like living prey. The dog learns this.
When dogs do leave and hoard, it's often because the owner has made simple tactical errors. With a dog who tends to run the other way after getting control of the tug object, playing hard to get is an infinitely smarter owner strategy than chasing the dog. Avoid battles with dogs involving speed and agility - you cannot win. Psych-outs are much better. Pretend you couldn't care less and usually the object will be brought back much more quickly. Once the dog learns that playing with the toy with you makes it come to life, you gain this extra leverage.
Drs. Peter Borchelt and Linda Goodloe have conducted the onlyn study ever performed on owners who play tug with their dogs vs. those that do not. The study yielded zero correlation between regular tug of war games and increased aggression. I will definitely come to full alert if anyone comes up with some hard, well-controlled data to the contrary, but so far all there has been is the attitude that, well, it must be bad because the dog gets so revved up. People have such a hard time witnessing real dog behaviour.
Tug-of-war intensity is similar to the gusto seen in dogs engaging in flyball, lure coursing, herding, field and den trials: activities that plug into the predator in the dog. But remember, when dogs are playing tug, they are not playing against you - they are cooperating with you to make a kill. Watch footage of wolves or African Wild DOgs killing large prey animals. A few pack members will have hold of the animal, maybe one on the tail, one on a hamstring and one with a nose hold. They are all pulling like mad (rank unlikely on their minds). This portion of the hunting sequence in social carnivores is indistinguishable from a dog pulling on a tug toy with his owner or another dog.
I would even go so far as to say that this cooperative "killing" is a bonding experience for pack members. It's an intense, pleasurable experience the dog with intimately associate with you. That said, it is absolutely critical that tug games with pet dogs incorporate the following rules.
Tug-of-War Rules
1. Dog "outs" on cue.
2. Dog may not take or retake until invited to do so.
3. Frequent obedience breaks.
4. Zero tolerance of accidents. (teeth on skin or clothing.)