Did you know that playing tug with your dog can be a fantastic way to strengthen their training?
Watch our video below about the best way to play tug with your dog. As certified dog trainers, we love playing tug–both with your own personal dogs as well as our clients’ dogs when it’s appropriate. The way we play tug, though, may be different than how you’ve seen it done or how you have done it yourself in the past.
When we play tug with dogs, it’s not a crazed play session that careens out of control. When we play tug, there are certain rules in place for the game. It’s important for your dog and you to have fun while playing tug, but also to have clear rules so that the play and your dog’s energy remains manageable.
When playing tug like this, it’s a fantastic training tool for your dog and can be awesome for high-energy dogs! It gives dogs a job, so to speak–something to focus on. It also gives them the ability to express themselves via physical, energetic play without the pet parent or trainer losing control of the dog. And, just as importantly, it gives dogs boundaries that help motivate them to have manners and to listen to your voice even when they’re having fun or feeling distracted.
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