Tug of War Rules of Engagement

[CarlosRivero]

Hi y'all!

My wife and I recently (last week) adopted a 1-year old German Shepherd/Akita mix from our local shelter.  He's been a great addition to the family and has settled in quite nicely.  We signed up for the training program since we noticed he is incredibly intelligent and could benefit from games that stimulate his brain.  He loves to play tug of war and often brings me his toys to play with.  I enjoy playing with him, but worry that I may be reinforcing aggressive behavior when we play.  What are some 'rules of engagement' that I should follow when we play tug of war?  

Thanks,

Carlos

[Adrienne]

Hello and welcome to the forums,

Congrats on your newest addition! I am glad he's settling in so nicely and you are considering training him and providing him with mental stimulation. 

I strongly agree with your perspective on playing tug. While tug-of-war can be a great game to play with a dog, it is crucial that some rules are followed.

 I believe that a game of tug of war should always be initiated by the owner and ended by him as well. In order to remain a positive game, I think it's also crucial that the dog knows how to drop the tug toy on cue and take the tug toy when invited. These parts are covered in the main course:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/drop-it/

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/take-leave-it/

In a game of tug, we may therefore stop tugging, freeze and present a treat. The dog will likely drop the tug toy to get the treat. The moment the dog drops the toy, praise, reward with the treat, then ask the dog to sit and then invite the dog to play again. After some time, the dog should drop without even seeing the treat, and then later, the treat can be intermittently replaced by the life reward of resuming to play tug.

If the dog isn't interested in tugging anymore after eating the treat, this often happens because the dogs find the treat more valuable than tugging. In such cases, it may help to lower the value of the treat and maybe try using kibble instead. 

The game of tug is played by moving the tug back and forth, side-to-side (avoid up and down as it may hurt the dog's teeth) for about 10 to 20 seconds at a time. A dog should not be scolded or intimidated for failing to release the tug; most likely, the dog just needs a bit more training on learning the "drop" command. It's important to keep the game fun and upbeat. These guidelines can turn a game of tug-of-war ultimately into a great way to teach a dog self-control when excited.

Now, it is quite normal for a dog to growl as it tugs since the game stimulates predatory drive, but the level of arousal is too high or the dog is taking the game too seriously, or if one has any doubts, it would be important to simply put a stop to it (basically, once should stop tugging, ask to drop and give a treat as the tug toy is collect) and one should resume when the dog is calmer or skip the game altogether in the future if there is any suspicion that the dog is no longer playing. 

Important is to always monitor the dog's body language.  Are the dog's eyes soft? Is the growl high-pitched and throaty? Is the body wiggly? If so, most likely the dog is just play growling. Signs of trouble are stiff postures, hard stares, deep growls coming from the chest area, and snarling. If one is unsure, it's important to don't punish the growl; rather, one should stop tugging, ask to drop and give a treat as the tug toy is collected. Next step would be consulting with a dog behavior professional for an assessment as the dog may be resource guarding rather than playing. 

With new additions, resource guarding tendencies may not always show right away.  In resource guarding specifically, we may notice specific signs  such as:

Carrying an object in the mouth and moving away from the owner
Running away and hiding the object
Laying down with an object kept tightly in the mouth
Tensing the body
Hunkering over the possession
Showing the white of the eyes (whale eyes)
Eating faster as the owner approaches
Swallowing edibles/non-edibles fast to protect them
Rushing towards a valuable before the owner can get near it
Sudden bout of intense barking upon approaching something valuable
Growling in a deep, guttural tone
Snarling (showing the teeth)
Snapping (quickly biting the air)
Biting

I don't recommend playing tug with dogs who tend to guard food or toys and adult dogs who haven't developed good bite inhibition and tend to bite when aroused. These cases may therefore require the intervention of a dog behavior professional for safety. 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Happy training!

Best,

Adrienne 

Disclaimer:  If your dog shows signs of potential aggression (lunging, barking, growling, snapping) for safety, please consult with a dog behavior professional who uses force-free behavior modification techniques for direct in-person guidance.