The Best Way to Play Tug-of-War with Your Dog

Playing a classic game of tug-of-war with your furry friend sounds simple, right? Well, tug-of-war can actually get dangerous fast if you’re not careful. In order for you and your pooch to both enjoy each other’s company and have fun while playing, you need to be ready to set some boundaries to prevent injury or the game from going too far. Read on to find out the best way to play tug-of-war with Fido!

Release Command

Teaching your dog a release command that they can recognize as a time to stop what’s going on/the game is a great start to playing safely! A command like “drop it” will indicate to your dog that playtime is over and they need to let go. You need to make sure that your dog will be willing and able to drop the game whenever you command in order to keep your control of the situation. Be sure to teach and master this command before attempting to play along with tug-of-war!

Toy Time

Choosing a dog toy that is right for tugging and your dog’s size and strength is essential for safe play! You can also use this same toy for other games like long or short-handed fetch. The tug-of-war toy should be durable, but not too stiff, be made of a tooth-safe material, and have a sold-grip handle to make sure your hand is far enough away from your pup’s mouth.

Play Area & Playing

Tug-of-war is best played in a larger area that is free of clutter. Outdoors or indoors is ideal for this game, just make sure there’s nothing that will set the tone off as aggressive or intimidating for your pup! You should also be careful to select an area where either of you is able to back up and out when necessary.

It’s important to set the tone as calm and gentle when initiating play, and you should be the one initiating tug-of-war! Don’t let your dog play an unwarranted tug-of-war when you’re just picking up their toy as this may lead to a pattern of aggressive play behavior.

Taking Play Breaks

Your dog love playtime and they might get too excited they start showing behaviors that aren’t comfortable for you, like growling. This doesn’t necessarily mean your dog is getting aggressive, they could just be overly excited! But, in order to keep boundaries, don’t be afraid to take a break when your dog shows signs of being over-excited or potentially aggressive to make sure play doesn’t get out of control. Signs you may need to stop and take a break from tug-of-war are:

• Growling (if their tail is wagging it is likely okay, but it may still be a good idea to stop)
• Teeth baring or coming into contact with you in any way
• If they misbehave due to not winning (like barking at you or charging)
• Aggressiveness or intimidation (to you or if they’re playing with another dog)

To initiate a break in play, use the command you taught previously. You can either step away from the area or utilize other commands like “sit” to let your dog know they need to calm down.

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries with your dog during playtime as playing should always be fun and safe! Your dog should know that you’re the boss and when to end the game. Be sure to encourage good behaviors and play with positive reinforcement and step away when necessary!