Tug Playing Tips

TIP #1 LET THE DOG WIN

This is super important. Imagine you sit down to play a board game and you lose every time you play it. You'd not only be unmotivated to play it, but you would have had your confidence shaken as well. I actually let my dog win every time. Instead of asking your dog to drop right away during tug, give the dog a legitimate win. Wait until the dog pulls hard, let go of the toy, and then let the dog chew it for a few seconds before asking him to drop it. 

TIP #2 TUG AND RELEASE

To simulate prey and increase drive, tug on the toy, then make your grip go limp, and repeat. It'll feel to the dog like an animal trying to escape. This will make a dog more and more motivated to play tug, especially if you combine Tip #1 and Tip #2, it'll feel like your dog killed prey. 

TIP #3 REWARD THE OUT

A lot of dogs will be hesitant to drop the toy if they think that every time you ask them to drop it, you make them work again for a few minutes before they get it back. To get a quick and effortless drop, work on Drop-And-Play drills. Have your dog drop the toy, then immediately say "Yes" and allow your dog to tug on it again. Do this for a few minutes every day and eventually, during your training sessions, do this a few times randomly so the dog still gets rewarded for outing.

TIP #4 BE EXCITED TO PLAY

If you aren't having fun playing, dogs pick up on this and it can lower their drive. I find that if I don't feel like playing tug, if I'm too tired, if it's too cold out, I just don't do it. I find that if I do end up doing it regardless, my dog seems bored, is slow to respond to commands, and he just doesn't have fun. Tug is a team game since it takes two to tug. I mean, would you have fun playing a game with someone who was clearly not enjoying it themselves? 

TIP #5 TAP YOUR DOG'S SIDES

Lightly tap your dog's sides as you play tug. You will probably hear him growl and he will tighten his grip. He's not angry, you're just motivating him. This increases a dog's drive and makes the game more fun for the dog. 

TIP #6 END THE GAME BEFORE THE DOG GETS BORED

This is super important. Don't play the game until the dog isn't wanting to play anymore. If your dog loses interest at 5 minutes, play for 3 minutes. End while your dog is still at his peak of excitement and leave him wanting more. Eventually, the dog's drive will increase and you won't have to stop after 3 minutes, you can increase to 5 minutes. My dog never enjoyed tug but now I can play it for 15 minutes and he still jumps around like a nutcase when I end the session. I started out just doing 30 seconds of tug. Yes, just 30 seconds, he would get bored easily and after 30 seconds he was still excited so that's when I ended the game, initially. Over several months I was able to build up to 15 minute sessions because I would never play until he got bored.