[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