The rules of tug

Dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes can enjoy playing tug.

Tug does not cause aggressive behavior, but it is a game with rules.

No, tug won’t cause aggressive behavior

Have you heard that playing tug will "make" your dog aggressive? Sometimes you may have heard it called “tug aggression.”

I sure have, and I regularly see this claim splattered all over the Internet.

Tug can certainly seem like a game of aggression. It might look like a fight is about to erupt when two dogs are pulling at a stick, toy, or other object while standing dug in and bracing themselves, possibly growling a little, jerking their bodies backward, and generally giving the tug object all their might.

Tug is an act of canine cooperation

Interestingly, the objective of tug isn’t actually to get the toy from the other dog (or you). It's to tear it apart.

If you watch nature shows about jackals or wild dogs, you'll see them engage in tug as a cooperative way to tear apart prey before consumption.

The thought of this can be a little disturbing for us but our domestic dogs are still hardwired to be predators, which means they're primed to locate, stalk, chase, kill, and eat prey animals.

Side note: Through selective breeding for certain behavior traits, this stalking and chasing behavior was refined in many herding breeds, which is why an urban Border Collie usually likes to chase bicycles and nip heels. These are stand-ins for animals they’d normally stalk and chase.

Most dogs will engage in some version of their prey drive. Shredding a squeaking stuffie is an example of predatory behavior and while we get annoyed that dog toys often last no more than 10 minutes, we tend to not get freaked out about our dog "disemboweling" a stuffed toy.

What’s special about tug?

Intense tugging is deeply enriching for dogs. As a reminder, enrichment is any species-specific behavior that fulfills a need for your dog (in this case, simulating tearing apart prey before consumption). This is why tug can be an exciting game for your dog and a great energy burner.

Some dogs love tug and others have zero interest. If your dog is a tug-lover it’s a valuable and fun game that can be playing outside or inside, but has to be played with rules; see below.

There’s no research to support the idea that tug will make your dog act aggressively

A 2010 study by canine behavior researchers Peter Borchelt and Linda Goodloe looked at the incidence of aggression in dogs who played tug regularly with their owners and those that didn’t. There was no difference. Many of the sharpest trainers around — those in the highly competitive sports of Obedience, Agility and Flyball, as well as search and rescue trainers — use tug games routinely as a reward for their dogs, without any increase in aggression. And, because it’s such a great energy burner, it’s a good exercise option for your dog and extremely time- and space-efficient way to exercise your dog.

How to teach your dog to tug

1. Ask your dog for a sit.

2. If your dog jumps or lunges for the toy she must wait until invited to grab the tug toy (Get It or Tug!). Let the tugging begin!

3. Use the tug game to teach your dog the cue “Out” or “Drop It.” Say “Out” or “Drop It” and put a smelly treat, like chicken or cheese, in front of your dog’s nose. The treat should be more enticing than the tug toy.

4. When she drops the toy, she get the treat.

5. Since tug is a huge motivation for your dog, use this time to reinforce some basic manners before restarting the game: ask for some sits, downs, hand touches, and stays. 

6. As a reward, invite your dog to tug again!

7. If your dog’s mouth starts creeping towards your hands or you get nipped, end the game. Say “Oh, too bad” and put the toy away for a bit. Don’t worry that if the dog keeps the toy, she’s “won.” The fun part for your dog is in the tugging with you, not in her having possession of the toy.

8. If your dog injures you when she makes a mistake with her teeth, don’t play this game.

9. Because of these fairly complex rules, tug is never, ever a game for young children to play with the dog.

4 fine points of tug

• Choose a long tug toy (old towels or undershirts, tied together and knotted, can work well).

• Put the tug away when not playing with it.

• Let your pup set the tone for how hard to tug.

• Tug more side to side, than up and down.