Any ideas on stopping "tug-a-war" ?!

[rrosenberry]

So Obedience School started last night... Well they advised us that Tug of War is the worst thing you can do,, it teaches aggression, which I already knew,, But he LUVS is SOOO much, it is all he wants to do,,
So we get home,, and here he comes with his toy banging it in my leg and jumping in my lap,, and I keep saying " drop it" to throw it for him.. Well you can imagine how well that worked,, about 2 hours later,, he's like " what is going on"
How do you guys feel about this.. tug of war or No tug of war,,, or ideas of how to make him stop..
I know it does make him aggressive, cause when you do get the toy and throw it he runs and growls, and attacks it,, and brings it right back to do it again!
Any advise would be appreciated.... I need it!
Meanwhile Bailey is ....

[orinskye]

Toby isnt aggresive at all, when we play tug o war he does growl and do that, but we do this all the time....... IMO tug of war isnt a bad thing, it actually helps loosen their baby teeth so you dont have to have teh costly expense of the vet pulling their teeth

[Yorkie Owned]

I read in a yorkie book one time (I don't remember which one...) that although tug-of-war is an aggressive game, because of a yorkie's size it really isn't an issue. In fact the book said to go ahead and play!
My dogs love to play tug-of-war. They know it's a game between us and they are not aggessive toward me. I 'm not afraid of them over-powering me I think I can take them...

[RustysMom]

Yorkie Owned, we must have read the same book because it says that with a Yorkie it is perfectly ok to play tug-o-war. They love the game, so I play along. It does help with their baby teeth.... If I don't want to play I just walk away and Rusty will drop the item and move on to something else to do.... ( I know I shouldn't but I play it with my gentle German Shepherd too with no ill effect. Sometimes I let him win!)

[Israel]

Almost every behavior in the canine world is linked to dominance and or position in doggiedoms hierarchy...tug o war is a "game" to us...but to the dog it is trying to assert it's dominance...which is why it is definitely unwise to engage some breeds in this, cause when you "lose"...and the dog wins...it is a sign of the dogs supremacy...which most of us can hadle in a 5 lb package...but unwise in a Rottweiler...who eats first, who preceeds the other through the door, who gets to sleep nearest the "alpha", even who gets down the stairs the fastest...can all be a jockeying for position in the pack...of course with our poochies we don't have to be concerned about who has the newest BMW on the block , or which female is wearing the biggest rock...but that's for another discussion all together...

[LoveBug]

Caesar loves tug too. Some toys I can't get from him, others I can.
I started with a toy that I could get from him and put my finger up close to his face and said stay or wait. He started taking a few jumps back and waits for me to get the toy and throw it. He always jumps and grows/barks at it when he gets it.
Since they are extremely smart and short attention spands I always mix it up. Let him play tug then do the finger thing to make him give it up.
He seems okay with doing both. He wins and I win.
I started working on making him give me the toy when his teeth were still baby. He just hurt too much.
But now his front teeth are adult and it isn't as bad.
I agree with others about since we can overpower them it is fine to play along but also think they need both just to mix things up.

[Marlee]

I understand that some book say that tug of war is an ok game, but research has shown it isnt. Now yes I do have larger dogs as well, which is the bigger of the two problems when it come to tug of war, but tug of war does teach aggresion. It does in fact let the dog express it dominace and encourages the dog to try and achieve it over you. It can lead to problems such as biting, growling and snapping for nothing more than removeing their feeding dish to feed them. It can lead to the dog attacking other smaller dogs or children. Yes, I can exsert my power over my yorkie, but my youngest child may not, espically when you add in sharp teeth. Many dogs that owners feel are great family pets ofeten turn on the unsuspecting child, over something as small as placing a hand by their feeding dish, or picking up a toy they want to use to play with the dog.

Tug of war encourages agresion and violence as a way to get what they want, IMHO it is a bad idea no matter what their size. I wont chance my kids, grandkids, or other peoples hands, or my own dog for that matter. It isnt worth it, esp. if it comes down to something like playing a game with my dog, or having my dog later taken away from me because it was to aggressive somewhere else. ( I have known people that have lost thier dogs never imagining it could behave that way, all because of this stupid little game)

I would reccomend when your dog begins to tug at a toy tell them no. Gently remove the toy from them and drop it to the ground. They will realize in time if they pull at the toy, you will stop playing and will eventully give up for other fun times like fetch. Encouage them to find other ways to play, and avoid tug of war.

Like I said this is my oppinion, but I wont lose my dog for something that could be avioded, and thinking they are to small to do damage to anyone is ignorant. There are people smaller, weaker and with problems like thin skin that could be hurt by my dog if I am not careful. I wont encourage any dog to play this game, it is really just a bad idea.

[browniesmom622]

my to guys play tugofwar together its just a game they play all the time i even have the cat grab on end with her claws and they dogs on the other side brownie is 3 and does not get agressive with his toys i can take anything out of his mouth i think this is nuts i have never heard of it

[Marlee]

the diffrence is you encouraging it, versus them doing it on thier own. It is a proven fact that it can cause aggression.

I personally would feel as though I was stupid if something went wrong.It may be rare that it happens, but one dog being taken away and put down would be something I wouldnt forgive myself on esp if it could be prevented. I guess it is a personal choice what you do.

They also may never show aggresion to you, but there is a chance it could happen to soeone else.

I have one more for instance.(not really about tug of war though)

We had a neighbor that had a german shepard as a family pet. We lived next door to them for 2 years. In that time we had been introduced to their pet several times, it was not a watch dog. On day I was walking home from school, I just happened to be 8 moths pregnant at the time. I was walking up my own driveway to my house when all of a sudden their dog ran grwling and barking into MY yard. I was pushed to the ground and biten several times on the legs, arms and back. I covered my belly and hunched over to protect myself and began screaming for help. My dad saw what was happening grabbed a bat and came out to help me.
This dog had never attacked anyone, and had no reason to attack me, I was only walking up my own driveway. The dog went on to bite several other people and was put down due to the attacks.
No one knows why it changed, no one could explain what set it off. It just happned a sweet loving pet became so vicous to other people that no one could even get near their property or ours without taking a chance of being bit. I never walked home that way again, instead got a drivers licence and drove up to my door and ran inside until the dog was gone.

I guess my point is you never know. But why encourage it. Yes they did play rough and other stuff with the dog, in the end their beloved pet was forcfully taken away and put to sleep. In the process 4 people got hurt, myself included. I never did anything to that dog except be nice to it and give it treats now and then(somthing I was told I could do)That day, never even got near it until it attacked me.

if nothing else, becareful and dont act surprised if your dog does end up biting someone out of aggresion. It only takes one time, one bite and yur dog can be gtaken away. To me it isnt worth the risk.

I am not trying to be mean, or hurt feeling, just my feelings on the subject, and yes they are strong. Sorry if I stepped on toes

[rrosenberry]

I am not trying to be mean, or hurt feeling, just my feelings on the subject, and yes they are strong. Sorry if I stepped on toes- QUOTE by Marlee

I dont think you stepped on any toes,,,, I appreciate all the advise I have gotten , It has ALL been helpful... Thanx