Does Playing Tug O War Make Them Aggressive?

[Laura]

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=47

I found this great article. Ammunition for the next time you meet this lady at the park. You can kindly thank her for the information and explain that as you have researched it yourself and found that 'circumstantially, it is fine.'

[wendybee]

my brother plays tug of war with rosie its so funny she takes it to him when we go to visit and both growl at each other its so funny and she loves playing it so much so that she wags her tail all the time and when the game is over rosie will follow my bro everywere theres not a nasty bone in her body shes just a sweetie


wendy and rosie

[I luv Miko]

I say yes! my husband bonds with my little miko like that. He just loves it, and I think that's why he always looks for my husband alot more than me.
Miko knows that it's a game!! I agree that you should not let them win all the time.

[lnovack]

Everything I have ever read or heard from experts says not to play tug of war as it can lead to aggressive behavior. However, we play tug of war with just about every toy my beasties have. I am not so sure I believe the experts.

[teri88]

I don't think you can "make" the dog aggressive. If they already have a dominance issue, then it might bring it out, but if they aren't of that personality playing tug of war isn't going to make them so. Tucker loves the game. He growls like a rottie when he plays, but then when it's over he's done.

[Ashantay]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

I have read in dog training books that it can make them aggressive and that you should not do it. I think it has to do with, if you give in and let them have the toy, they will feel dominant at that time and it may carry over to other activities. But Rowdy loves it and he is the least aggressive dog I have ever seen. So, I really think it depends on the personality.

yup... if they get the toy off you then they win and are the more dominant one. I play it with my dogs but never ever let them "win" and I only play it with them when I want to play it with them. They try to interest me in it but I will not play unless I initiate it because in the pack it would be the dominant one who initiates these things.

[yorkieusa]

We've played tug of war with our little one's since I was a little girl. Our first little chihuahua had a rubber bone that she liked to play tug of war with - for some reason. Anyway, it broke in two. That was her favorite toy and she wouldn't really play with anything else except balls and it's kind of hard to play tug of war with a ball. We got her another rubber bone, but she wouldn't touch it, so we put a wire inside it and glued it back together. She never touched it again.

[YorkieRose]

The Dog Whisperer was opposed to it..but I watch my pups play that way naturally..I guess with anything it depends on your dog..some may already be aggressive and not need encouragment..Yorkies are terriers and like fiesty games.