Playing together with the dog - Tug games

August 08 2023
7 min reading time

Enhance your customers’ shopping experience with expert advice on the right toys for their dog. Discover valuable insights to strengthen the bond between owner and four-legged friend and prevent unwanted behavior.

Playing with a dog is fun. It strengthens the bond between dog and owner and makes both dog and owner happy. Playing in general is one of the most bond-building activities between dog and owner. There is a lot of social contact and it strengthens trust. So playing really has an important function for the well-being of the dog. It provides both physical and mental challenge. There are all kinds of games that can be played with a dog, but this blog is specifically about tug.

A tug game is a game where both the dog and the owner hold the dog toy on one side and pull it. Dogs can also play this game with each other by both pulling on one side of a toy.

Can every dog play safely?

We get questions like, does a dog become aggressive from tug games or does the owner always have to win the tug game. Does a hunting dog learn not to bite too hard, which is not good during hunting training. They need a 'soft bite' in order not to destroy the prey. We can answer all the above questions with a "no".

Dogs do not become aggressive from tug games, but it is important to pay attention to how the game is played. See the explanation later in this blog. The owner does not always have to win the game. In the past, this was often said during training, but if you always lose, the game is no longer fun. Playing should be fun, so it is good to find a balance here. Sometimes the owner wins and sometimes the dog wins. That makes the game fun.

For hunting dogs, tug games are definitely good. They can learn when they can bite something hard and when not. Fetch games (a toy is thrown away and the dog fetches and brings it back) are an example where the dog learns not to pull and therefore to be gentler with what he/she has in his/her mouth.

With tug games the owner can also teach the dog the commands “hold” and “release” in a very playful and fun way. These commands can be used in all kinds of circumstances, so the owner can also make it a fun exercise.

For many dogs, tug games can also be used as a reward. Playing together is really one of the most fun things for the dog to do, so the dog will see it as a reward.

So tug has many functions. Every dog, of any age and regardless of breed can safely enjoy a tug game.

How does a dog learn to play tug properly?

Tug games increase the dog's excitement. It is important not to let this excitement get too high, because this can lead to stress or, in some dogs, aggression. It certainly does not always increase aggression, but in some dogs (especially if there is already a lot of stress), it is important to stop a tug game sooner to prevent aggression. Playing a tug game well teaches the dog (and the owner) to stop in time and to prevent aggression from flaring up.

A tug game is not meant to be a competition. It should remain a game. That is why it is important to let the dog hold the tug game itself every now and then without the owner pulling it directly. The dog will then offer the toy to the owner again, to continue playing. This is 'playing together' and in this way the dog and the owner invite each other.

It is also important that the dog learns the tug game, good toys are important. Especially in the learning phase it is important that there are rules for tug games.

The right toys

To prevent the dog from biting hands, it is wise to choose a toy where the distance between the owner's hands and the dog's mouth is large enough. Most dogs do not bite hands on purpose when pulling. But when the excitement is too great, they may come too close to the hands. To prevent this, you can play with the West Paw Bumi® , the West Paw Zwig® or the West Paw Skamp® . With the Skamp, the hands are already a bit closer to the dog's mouth, but there is still enough distance and you can also switch to the other end with one hand.

All these dog toys ensure that there is sufficient distance between the dog's mouth and hands, so playing together remains safe and fun. Of course, there are several toys that can be thought of that provide this distance, such as a ball in a sock or a sturdy plush toy.

If the game is too rough, the owner will stop the game. In this way, the owner clearly indicates the boundary between fun and not fun. It is important that the game is ended in a fun way. For example, the owner can let go of the toy and no longer respond to an invitation to play. This indicates to the dog that the game is no longer fun, so it stops. After a few minutes, the game can be played again. Keep the game shorter than the previous time, in order to stop the game at the right moment (i.e. before it gets too rough). Then end with something tasty (this is then exchanged for the tug game, which is put away).

Practical Tips:

Provide 2 or more tug toys nearby. So that they can be swapped for another toy if necessary. The commands “release” and “hold” are then practiced by swapping for another tug toy.
Depending on the dog's enthusiasm, the dog can be encouraged. This way the dog learns that they are doing it right.
If the dog becomes too excited or tense, the owner can also sit on the floor. This is often more relaxing for the dog, because there is no one standing over the dog.
Avoid shaking the toy too hard, stay at the height of the dog or move over the ground. Especially with puppies/adolescents that are still growing, it is better not to shake the tug toy back and forth too much. This can even injure the dog. Because the toy is at the same height as the dog, jumping (and associated injuries) can be prevented. Keep a light tension on the toy, but try to avoid pulling too hard. This will give a puppy/adolescent more self-confidence.
Also for senior dogs with arthritis it is important not to move too much from right to left. The owner can best let the dog take the initiative and then follow this.
Prevent pain during play. When playing hurts, the dog will often connect this to the owner and not to the playing itself. They then think that playing with the owner hurts and are less likely to want to play together. Trust is then damaged.
For puppies that still have to change teeth, it is important to choose good material. A floss rope can be too painful, because they can get their teeth caught in it. As a result, playing is no longer fun. Choose material that fits the life stage.
Preferably do not play on a smooth floor. Better to play on carpet / a good lying rug or outside on the grass. This prevents injuries and unpleasant experiences.
Build in breaks and don't play too long. Sometimes 5 or 10 minutes is long enough. A start and stop signal can help with this. Such as the commands "hold" and "release".
The owner can also regularly take the initiative by calling the dog to play together. Responding to the dog's invitation is also important, this ensures a good balance.
Move the toy across the floor and walk backwards, most dogs will surely come after the owner to play.

This blog was created with input from Rita Viel, export manager of West Paw Inc. With over 35 years of experience as a dog trainer and behavior specialist, Rita is the expert in dog education. In 2004, she founded Hondenschool Kwispel, where she and her team work on improving behavior in puppies and adult dogs through positive reinforcement and play.