Sparking Excitement for tug of war in your dog

If you have ever played the game of tug of war with your dog and he or she just yawns or gets up and strolls away from you then you know what I mean. There are those dogs that have little or no interest in tug toys or the game as such. I had this with my dog Max who will prefer to sleep than play an enthusiastic tug of war game. But do not worry, there are methods to motivate the dog, and make him interested in playing the game of tug of war. This is how I was able to get Max into the game and how you can do the same with your dog.

Why Tug of War is Important

Tug of war is not just a game that dogs enjoy they can also make it a great opportunity for bonding. The game entails exercise gives your dog an opportunity to expend energy and can also be used to train the dog as to how to follow commands. Also, it is exciting, which enables your dog to engage his or her brain to ‘solve’ the game.

But what if your dog doesn’t seem interested? Here’s how to change that.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Unmotivated Dog into Tug of War

1. Choose the Right Toy

The first thing that you have to do is to ensure that your dog has interest in the tug of war toy. There are those dogs that like soft toys like teddy bears while there are those that like hard toys like ropes among others. It may take time before you discover what you are going to show them that would grab their attention.

Personal Experience: Max was not very interested in rope toys that we initially gave him but when I got a new colorful squeaky plush toy with a long tail, he loved it. Which became the door to encouraging him with the toy.

2. Build Buzz for the Toy

Even before you can start pulling, there has to be some form of enthusiasm created around the toy in question. Show it to your dog and juggle it, if it has a noise make the noise, and mimic the playfulness of it. Dogs have the tendency to take the energy level of their owner; therefore, if you are excited, the dogs will be excited too.

Tips: One idea is to take the toy and drag it across the floor as if the toy is the prey and this tends to elicit the hunting response in the dog. Do not let the energy get tense – your dog will be able to sense it!

3. Start Small

For the dogs that do not even get a hint of motivation, going straight to the intense game of tug may be quite daunting. However, one has to begin with baby steps, so one can offer the toy and let the dog just take it in its mouth. Praise or give a treat to the dog just for its show of interest on the toy.

Advice from Experience: At first, Max did not like it, that is why I would give him the toy with my hand and let him take it, without any pulling. After a few trials, he began to perceive the toy as an object that is worth taking.

4. Introduce Gentle Tugging

As soon as your dog is comfortable holding the toy, try to add a little pulling into the game. Start with the pressure light, let your dog think that it is his/her decision to move in that direction. You want to increase their confidence in the game before taking them to the next level.

Pro Tip: This should be done in short, quick tugs to make the game interesting as well as fun to play. If your dog gets a little stubborn and starts to pull back, allow him or her to ‘win’ a few times by releasing the toy and this will help to increase their interest in the game.

5. Incorporate Positive Reinforcement

It is very effective to encourage the unmotivated dog with the help of positive reinforcement. Every time your dog plays the game – grabbing the toy or pulling at it – give him/her a verbal commendation, treat or even a brief rest if he/she looks bored or stressed.

Expert Tip: It is advisable to have short sessions especially at the initial stage of the training. Pull for a minute or two and then release, then give a positive reinforcement for the behavior. In this way, your dog will be more motivated in the game of tug of war and gradually link this game to positive things.

6. Make the Game Challenging and Fun

Dogs also enjoy something that will challenge them; therefore, add some variations to the game. Some of the training aspects you can include are to tell your dog to drop it during a game or to sit during a game before you can start the next game. This makes the game more challenging and enjoyable at the same time as the player uses his/her brain.

Personal Experience: With Max, it helped to add a “drop it” command and then taking the toy back and letting him win it back which made it a lot more fun. In the framework of this process, it ceased to be as much about the pull and more about the engagement and incentives.

7. Use a Motivator if Needed

If your dog is still not motivated enough, then it’s time to go to the next level, so use a motivator that your dog will love most like a treat or another toy. Before beginning the game, offer them the reward and make use of this to capture the interest of the dog on the tug toy.

Pro Tip: You can even use a flirt pole, which is a long stick that has a toy tied to the end of it to entice your dog to go after and grab the toy. As soon as they get a hold of it, you can then switch to a full-blown tug of war game.

Patience is Key

It takes time and effort to train an unmotivated dog to play tug of war. Not all dogs will come running right into the game and that’s alright. The secret is to remain consistent, reward your dog and go at the pace that is comfortable for the animal.

When playing with Max it was quite some time before he was willing to actually engage in the game using toys and other things. Now he loves the game of tug of war and this game has helped us to become close in ways I never thought possible.

Expert Tips for Tug of War Success

• Know When to Stop: A game of tug of war should always be fun, entertaining and should not in any way be associated with a war. In case your dog becomes stressed or frustrated during the game, for example, if it growls or becomes too aggressive, the game has to be stopped. It is important to always use a positive tone with a child and always conclude on a positive note with a reward or a word of encouragement.
• Don’t Overdo It: Tug sessions should not be long especially when the puppy is young. Pulling the toy too much will make your dog lose interest in the game due to exhaustion.
• Stay Safe: When using toys for tugging ensure that you use sturdy toys that have been specifically designed for the purpose. Do not buy toys that may have sharp edges or toys that are made of soft materials that may be easily bitten off and thus may choke the child.

Final Thoughts

You may have to work harder to get an unmotivated dog interested in tug of war, however you would not have a hard time converting your dog into a tugging maniac. The game also serves the purpose of giving your furry friend some exercise and also improves your social bonds.

The process of training Max as a puppy to become interested in the game and to become a professional tug-of-war dog was long, but very exciting. If your dog is like Max, all that is required is to introduce some sort of motivation, the right toy and your energy to get the dog hooked on the game.

Sources

• PetMD: Dog Behavior and Play
• Vetstreet: Tug of War Games for Dogs
• Preventive Vet: Play Tug of War Without Encouraging Aggression

Should you have any questions or need more tips, please do not hesitate to contact me. Happy tugging!