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Originally Posted by lynzy420  Donna, if you have ever had a large dog, you would know that you should only play tug with them under certain rules....and never put yourself in a competition with a dog in a win/lose situation...you should always be the most alpha...
my point is big dogs and little dogs are the same in all ways...the only difference is how we view them and train/tolerate from them...Lola bit you by accident because you allow her, because of her small stature, cutsie cutsie self to be powerful...we Yorkie owners are all guilty of that...if it were a big dog you would know better than to allow them to become like Lola??? The problem is that many big dog owners don't know the rules and are uneducated in owning big dogs...like your friends, they should have known better than to allow you to engage in tug with their dog...I certainly wouldn't have allowed anyone to play tug with my large dogs, not my labs, not my pit, not any of them...
Here is a video of which I've not seen but am sure it is based on what I already know of how to raise big dogs. Tug of War with Your Dog | Cesar Millan |
Very very true. My big boy signalled early that he was going to be a handful, and thankfully I had two very good trainers to train with. At Mike's a working dog specialist he got huge experience in dog and ppl socialization from the time he was 12wks old. And he learnt his place as a small puppy interacting with bull mastiffs, neos, rottys and the leader of the pack a small female Aussie. He loved that girl, and she put him in his place until he was 3yrs old. LOL With Ilona he trained with Yorkies and other Blackies for competitive obedience training. IN his early first year he was at formal training a minimum of 3times a week up to 5x a week. He was not per say dog and or ppl aggressive, just a very dominant boy who wanted to be in charge of "me".
In terms of tug o war, which in the BRT breed is a very useful training tool; here is how we worked it. Learning the "out" command or drop it. Lots of rewards for obedience treats/pets, and the ultimate return of the beloved tug toy. As a way to strengthen the back end of the dog. Tug is kept low to the ground and the dog must use their back legs to pull back against your pressure.
You never, ever let them "win". And believe you me Magic as he got over one year old could have "won" it from me. If you are thinking you are losing it, you have one of two options; the OUT command or DROP IT or you let go of the toy and you turn your back with a delighted you good boy you! IF that sounds contrary, all I can tell you is that it works. I guess rationally it signifies that "you" have gotten bored and are not playing anymore.
The other beauty of the Tug is teaching a CDX level obedience skill of Take it and Hold it. This is a prelim step to the retrieve a dumbell over a high and or broad jump.
And to your point Lynzy only my trainers or a very select few mature BRT owners have ever played tug with Magic. And all have asked what is the "safety command". Oh yes that is trained in at a very early age; the safety command. I use STOP IT as the penultimate command. Never ever to be disobeyed.
In terms of LOLA, Donna's dog, I have found Lola to be a good citizen with dogs and ppl. Did Lola make a mistake when grabbing for the toy, sure. Perhaps it was the first time. Correction is necessary.
Magic has a habit of getting over -excited for food treats. Still we work on this. For strangers I say use open hand for giving treats. For Dave and I we work three times a week with close fist and the Easy command. What can I say but he is a Masterpiece in Process.
