“Won’t playing Tug-of-War with my dog make him aggressive?”

In short, no. I have lived with dozens of dogs of different breeds, personalities and intensities. I have played Tug with all of them. Not one of them ever became aggressive or guarded items from me. Instead, they usually brought me items more readily because I am apt to suggest a game with them! I have counseled hundreds of dog owners to safely play Tug with their dogs. You can, too, so long as your follow some basic rules, listed below. But first, let’s discuss why you should play Tug of War with your dog. Then we’ll cover the how’s of tug and finally the rules to remember.

Why Tug?
Ever watch a group of puppies play? Aside from wrestling and biting at each other with mighty puppy growls, a favorite pastime is to grab an item and initiate “chase me” or “tug”. Since puppies naturally enjoy playing tug, I believe it’s important to use the game as a way to teach them self-control and to have soft-mouths toward people. Additionally, some dogs prefer a game of Tug to any food treat or praise reward. For example, my golden retriever earned his agility titles for the simple prospect of a great game of Tug at the end of each of his course-runs. It was the best motivator for him!

Tug can be a great tool to teach bite inhibition. If a puppy is enjoying a tug game and it ENDS the second his teeth touched your skin and you yell, “OUCH!”, your puppy will learn that, in order to keep the fun going, he’d better be more careful with his aim. Attention to this detail carries over to his entire relationship with you… people HURT and fun STOPS when you bite them! A great idea for your puppy to get cemented in his head, early.

Finally, I teach impulse control using Tug. Once a puppy understands to release the toy (which I teach simply by exchanging for a treat or by saying “give” and gently removing it from the puppy’s mouth), I ask the puppy to release the toy and then, Sit. The second the puppy’s rear hits the floor, I quickly bring the tug toy out in front of me, hands far apart, and say, “Get it!” The game resumes. Once puppy understands that his good behavior starts the game again, you can lengthen the duration of the sit, or ask for other behaviors (such as great leash manners, polite greetings and so forth). If the puppy gets up or bites at the tug toy before I give permission, I raise it high in the air or hide it behind my back until the puppy sits again and waits patiently. The puppy learns to wait, to not jump up and grab immediately. This message carries over: If I want something, I am more likely to get it by sitting and waiting, not grabbing.

How To Tug
First, start with the right toy. Fleece is easier on young puppy mouths. Older dogs can usually handle a firmer grip such as that needed with a rope or rubber tug. I like visiting Goodwill or Salvation Army to purchase used fleece blankets. I cut the fabric into long strips and braid them together to make tug toys several feet long. Smaller tug toys can be found, but if I can hold my hands 2 feet apart, the puppy will have a better chance of grabbing the fabric and not my skin, teaching appropriate bite-targeting, in the beginning. If you aren’t “crafty”, you can purchase fleece tugs through your favorite pet supply retailer.

Pull the tug toy along the ground in front of your puppy to get him interested in the item. When he grabs it, give it a gentle shake back and forth. Be careful to keep his front feet on the ground at all times and avoid potentially harmful jerking motions. Young puppies aren’t as tough as they seem, and older dogs are at greater risk of injury.

During tug, it is normal for your puppy to clench his teeth firmly and even to growl. Some sound mighty fierce! Usually, though, it’s just play. To be sure, check the dog’s body language. If the dog’s body remains supple and bendy, wiggly and loose, then it surely is play. However, if his body suddenly becomes stiff, if hackles (the hair between the shoulder blades or on the rump) are raised or if your dog become white-eyed, hard-staring or grabs back a dropped tug with frightening intensity, it’s best to quit the game and consult with a professional. Tug may not be a good game for this dog.

To teach your puppy to grab at the tug and not your hands, begin by having your hands very far apart. You want your puppy to enjoy the game, not to fear doing something wrong. As your puppy gains experience and becomes a tug-enthusiast, work your hands closer together, making the bite-target area smaller until your puppy has to find the bite-target within only 8-12 inches of tug space between your hands. When he is proficient at that, you will know you have a much safer dog for tug games and can begin including other people in the play.

Rules of the Tug Game:

1. Dogs with possession issues, guarding behaviors or bite histories should never play Tug.

2. Children under 11 should never play Tug. Generally, they lack the wisdom to keep the game safe. Children older than 11 should be closely supervised by a responsible adult to ensure safety for both dog and child.

3. Human must always be the Tug game initiator. Dog should not offer “Tug” on an item without the person suggesting the game. Tug should only be on a particular type of toy, not all toys.

4. Tug toy must be at least 18 inches long for safety.

5. Dog must immediately release toy when asked. Once a dog has been taught how to do this, failure to release immediately ends the game for at least an hour.

6. Dog must intermittently obey obedience commands (such as Sit or Down) in the middle of a Tug game, in order to earn the right for the game to continue. Failure to comply ends the game.

7. If dog teeth touch human skin (or clothing), the Tug game stops immediately and the toy is put away.

8. Dog should win the toy and bring it back to you. If dog wins the toy and runs away with it, Tug is not a game for that dog without further training.

9. Keep your body loose and supple during tug. Avoid staring into your dog’s eyes or challenging him for a dropped tug toy. Remember, this is FUN and should remain PLAYFUL for all involved.

So, on these wintery days when walks are painful, enhance your relationship and training with your dog by including a fun, safe game of Tug. It won’t make your dog aggressive any more than playing football makes your son a mugger.

Yesterday we brought home an 8-week old Australian Shepherd puppy. I am a firm believer that your puppy is ALWAYS learning, so make the best use of the time from the beginning. Here’s what our puppy has begun to learn in her first day home:

1. I can “potty” outside, in the woods, like the big dogs.
2. People yelp when I bite them; I guess they’re wimps and I must be careful with my teeth.
3. My crate is an alone place, but I will be okay.
4. I like the chewies I get in my crate.
5. I like getting fed by hand – those hands are sure neat when they come filled with food!
6. There are a lot of nice boys here… I met several boys of different smells and colors.
7. I can Sit.
8. I can Down.
9. I can Release (chase a treat).
10. I can Fetch.
11. I like to play with the big dogs and the Vizsla is particularly fun.
12. My new mom will protect me if I get scared by barking dogs in the backyard, or anything else.
13. I like running to my new mom. She scritches my rear so nice!
14. My mom’s slippers are off-limits, but there are tons of fun toys nearby.
15. Naptimes are necessary.

New puppies are a great joy – and a lot of work. Keep focused on the behaviors you want your adult dog to do… and don’t allow puppy “cuteness” to rule the day. Your puppy will be an adolescent in just a couple of months! How nice will it be to have great routines and boundaries in place when dealing with the ups and downs that come with becoming an adult dog! Finally – take LOTS of pictures!

Free Educational Resources and Chats
with Pet Training Professionals in January 2012!

The Association of Pet Dog Trainer's annual campaign in January, "National Train Your Dog Month," promotes the benefits of positive training and socialization for all pets.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of pets are turned into animal shelters because their owners couldn't find a reliable resource to help them with their pets' behavior problems. The APDT has designated the month of January as National Train Your Dog Month to bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training for all pets! January was selected as the perfect month because so many animals are adopted and brought home during the winter holidays. We hope to help families and their pets start the New Year off right with information on the behavior needs and training of their pets.

To help the public, animal shelters and others in the pet care industry, we have recorded free webinars for the public with many well-known pet training and behavior professionals. These will be available starting in January on the event website and are completely free. We have also set up a calendar of Facebook "chats" with professional training and behavior consultants throughout the month of January on a variety of topics focusing on the training and care of dogs, cats and even rabbits! Anyone with behavior and training questions can join the chats to learn more about their chosen pet. Visit the event website, www.trainyourdogmonth.com, for full schedule information, as well as fun downloadable resources on training and behavior.

The APDT believes that a better understanding of our pets' behavior can lead to happier, healthier and harmonious households for humans and companion animals. Since 1993, the APDT has promoted education for dog trainers and others in the pet industry. With over 6,000 members who are willing and able to assist pet owners, the APDT is the largest professional organization for pet dog trainers in the world. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about their dogs and other pets to visit our web sites www.apdt.com and www.trainyourdogmonth.com for more information and resources.

Please join the APDT in celebrating National Train Your Dog Month!

2012 Schedule of Events - National Train Your Dog Month

Facebook "Chat with the Professionals" Schedule

To join the chats, visit the National Train Your Dog Month Facebook page at the dates and times listed below.

All about Bully Breeds! Anything You Want to Know about 'Pit Bull' Type Dogs
Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC and Katenna Jones, MSc, ACAAB, CABC, CPDT-KA
January 2, 12 pm Eastern

Breed Discrimination Laws
Ledy Van Kavage, Esq.
January 4, 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Leash Manners
Gail Fisher
January 6, 12 p.m. Eastern

Treibball
Casey Lomonaco, KPA CTP
January 8, 7 p.m. Eastern

Adopting a Dog
Trish McMillan Loehr (ASPCA), MSc, CPDT-KA
January 9, 2 pm Eastern

Rabbit Behavior
Pam Hood
January 10, 2 p.m. Eastern

Things to Teach Your Children to be Safe around Dogs
Joan Orr
January 12, 6 p.m. Eastern

Safety around Dogs for Babies and Toddlers
Jenn Shryock, CDBC
January 12, 7 p.m. Eastern

TACT - Touch Associated Clicker Training
Emma Parsons, CABC and Julie Robitaille, CAMT, CPDT-KA
January 16, 1 p.m. Eastern

Housetraining
Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA
January 18, 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Introducing Cats and Dogs
Jacqueline Munera, CCBC
January 24, 12 p.m. Eastern

APDT CLASS:
Canine Life and Social Skills
Ann Allums, CPDT-KA
January 25, 12:00 p.m. Eastern

APDT Rally
Ann Allums, CPDT-KA & Ali Brown, MEd, CPDT-KA, CDBC
January 25, 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Common Dog Behavior Problems (Barking, Digging and More)
Marjie Alonso, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Katenna Jones, MSc, ACAAB, CABC, CPDT-KA
January 27, 4 pm Eastern

All About Cats
Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC and Katenna Jones, MSc, ACAAB, CABC, CPDT-KA
January 30, 5 pm Eastern

Free Webinar Descriptions

Webinars are pre-recorded and available for viewing at any time for free by members and the public. Please Note: Webinars will be available in January 2012 and will remain on the site all year long. Webinars will be available at http://www.trainyourdogmonth.com/events/

Shelter Dogs: Good Choice or Bad? - Trish King, CPDT-KA, CDBC

Got C.L.A.S.S.? Canine Life and Social Skills for Pet Owners - Ann Allums, CPDT-KA

Housetraining Basics - Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA

How to Become a Professional Dog Trainer - Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC

Loose Leash Walking - Gail Fisher

It Takes Two: Successful Cat and Dog Interactions - Jacqueline Munera, CCBC

Litter Box and Scratching - Katenna Jones, MSc, ACAAB, CABC, CPDT-KA

Dog Safety: What to Teach Your Kids - Joan Orr, MSc

Setting Dog and Baby Up for Success! - Jenn Shryock, CDBC

Separation Anxiety in Dogs - Melissa Bain, DVM, DACVB, MS

Treibball - Casey Lomonaco, KPA CTP

* * * * *

Located in Greenville, SC, the APDT is a professional educational organization of trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through using positive, dog friendly methods based on sound scientific principles. With over 6,000 members worldwide, the APDT strives to provide professional dog trainers with a respected and concerted voice. The APDT promotes caring relationships between dogs and people and works to increase public awareness of dog-friendly training techniques. For more information, visit the APDT Web site at www.apdt.com. To unsubscribe from future APDT Media Releases, please let us know. Sent by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, 101 North Main Street, Suite 610, Greenville, SC 29601.

New Group Training Classes coming in January!
Please Register soon- classes are filling up!

Sensible Puppy Start – January 4th at 6:15pm – MRAH
Essential training for new puppies and their people! Work on Potty Training, Socialization, Soft-Mouth, Self-Control, Etiquette, Exam training and Enrichment. -This 6-week class is for puppies 8 weeks to 4mos. at Michigan Road Animal Hospital on 96th Street. (Limit 8 puppies)- $149

Sensible Puppy Skills – January 4th at 7:30pm – MRAH
Loved Puppy Start and want to further your puppy’s manners? This class is open to all puppies under one year who have completed Puppy Start. We will work intensively on Come, Stay, Leash Manners and Polite Greetings! (Limit 6 puppies) - $99

Family Dog Manners 1 – January 10th at 7pm – Wigglebutt
This small group class is for dogs 5 months and up who want a group experience working on basic obedience around distractions. Fundamentals of dog training, problem solutions and manners work will be covered in 6 consecutive weeks at Wigglebutt Dog House dog day care on Moller Road just south of 86th Street. (Limit 8 dogs) - $149.


REGISTRATION FORMS HERE: http://sensiblek9.com/forms.html
Please complete the form and email to Catherine to hold your spot in class. Payment due first night of class.