A game of tug is one of many rewards that can be used when training a dog. It’s also good to use with dogs that aren’t very food-motivated. It is best to play tug for short periods of time. Three 5 minutes sessions will be better than one 15 minute session. To maintain a high value for this game, leave the dog wanting more. Quit while you’re ahead and it will be more of a reward. Always tug gently when playing and allow the dog to do most of the pulling. Caution: Avoid playing tug with younger puppies that are still teething as this can be painful and may cause injury.
25 Responses to “How to use ‘TUG’ as a reward in dog training!”
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how often should you play tug with your dog to make sure that it’s still special?
Hi Tab! Your videos are fantastic, thanks for posting them! About tugging – what do I do if my dog initiates tugging with her leash when she is feeling playful? This doesn’t happen often, but when it does I have trouble communicating to her that her leash is not a tug toy. Thanks for your help!
Dogs like to chew pully-ropes, I find. Putting it away is also a way to keep it ‘alive’.
Generally, I prefer gloves over pully-ropes so you can get a little rougher and it’s more fun for both parties. But use thick gloves like gardening gloves and stuff like that. SOOOOOO much fun!!!!
Hi, dude, I followed dozens of your videos. Among a numerous dog training videos on YouTube, yours are the best without doubt. From your videos, I can see you are a lovely, smart, patient, and willing-to-help person. By following and developing your instruction, I can teach my dog do any thing, and maybe he can go to college someday. Btw, it would be better if you can post a video to tell people which order to follow your videos so that they can train their dogs step by step.
if i will teach this game than they bit all the an thing where we keep
@gooconz Thanks lol i wish my dog liked fetch more but he loses interest right away and would rather tug
@MrOGJMoney I wish my dog enjoyed tugging that much… another method, try starting with an uninteresting toy the dog will barely take and tug, present it to your dog while holding it loosely and let go as soon as the dog grabs it (no tug game). Just let the dog pull it out of your hand. When the dog drops it, play tug with the toy. Start each game this way until the dog will drop to start a new game. When you want to quit, just walk away.
@MrOGJMoney , while holding the toy gently, try following the dog’s mouth with your hand so that there’s never more than a very soft hold on the toy, and not a feeling of tugging – if you hold onto the toy hard, the dog can still play tug. Alternatively, you can let go of the toy and wait until the dog lets go of the toy to resume playing – sit still and look uninteresting in the meantime. 3. With some dogs, you can hold the toy hard on each side of the dog’s mouth so the dog can’t move itat all
I quit tugging and talking to my dog and he kept pulling for 45 minutes, im not exaggerating lol. I finally gave up and pried his mouth open. How can I teach him to let go? I tried treats as well but that didnt work either
Hi, when I play this with my dog, he simply catches it and he run away from there and also when I play to fetch ball he catches the ball but when I called him he leave the ball there and come near to me without ball. ….
I can make this with the clicker?
hey i want to know if there is anything else that i can make to do a TUG toy
your videos are great by the way keep it up
AWESOMEVIDEO!!!!
Sorry, by AB I mean American Bulldog.
I’ve watched so many of your videos, and i must say, you are a great dog trainer, and teacher. It’s quite refreshing to see things done in this way with such positive methods. I am curious about the tug as a reward, I am really interested in the AB, and I know these dogs can have some serious prey drive, and do like to bite on a lure. Do you think this would be a great reward to use for them- after teaching them something new-especially if they only get to play with it, when you let them?
nice dog!!
Wait! Whats that floor? I want that tile in my bedroom! Liberty hates to tug
She likes food. But shes old so her teeth might not feel like they used to.
amazing.
You are amazing!!! I love how you break your videos into parts and setting a target!
Great training. I also use these methods. Excellent!
great video ! I love your training methods 5*
Realy you are amazing one not only in the cool method you deal with your dog with it but also in awasome way you prouduce this vedio !!
I like your way man keep going
this deserves so many more views!! this is so helpful
Very useful!
I haven’t really used tugging as a reward. I’ve used fetching toys as a reward, but never tugging with them. Great tutorial, this really inspired me to start using this!
Thank you! 5 stars and a fav!
- Nenne, Della, and Cherie
5 *’s!