Not interested in tug?

[Rich_S]

I'm trying to get my 8 month old Cane Corso, Magnus, to play some friendly tug of war. He doesn't seem particularly interested. Now, if I drop the rope toy on the ground, he'll pick it up, and if I grab it while it's in his mouth, he'll play tug with me for 20-30 seconds, but then he'll get bored and will stop. If I drop it again, he'll play again, but after 3-4 times, he stops altogether.

I tried rigging up a flirt pole by tying an old t-stirt to a string and then to short broom handle. He'll follow the motion, and then pin the shirt to the ground with his paw every time it passes by him, but he doesn't seem inclined to bite it.

Thoughts?

 

[mx5055]

Be glad. I don't think tug is a great game for dogs to play with humans. I think dogs almost go into some kind of "trance like being" that is undesirable when doing it; my experience is that they cease to "hear" any commands given them when they are going this with a human, and can sometimes become abnormally aggressive. JMO, and I'm sure others will disagree

 

[Rich_S]

Be glad. I don't think tug is a great game for dogs to play with humans. I think dogs almost go into some kind of "trance like being" that is undesirable when doing it; my experience is that they cease to "hear" any commands given them when they are going this with a human, and can sometimes become abnormally aggressive. JMO, and I'm sure others will disagree

I'm just looking to play with the dog. I've had 2 german shepherds, one that loved tug and would play for what seemed like hours on end, the other had zero interest and wouldn't even bite the rope if I put it in her mouth. I've also been looking at some of the Leerburg stuff on tugging.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Not every dog "does" tug. Apollo will almost never tug. Its just his personality.

Theres nothing wrong with playing tug as long as you stay in contol, many dogs however get worked up and loose control. Some can be trained out of it some can't.

 

[DennasMom]

Sounds like a low prey drive. Not a bad thing, by a long stretch. Neighborhood cats and squirrels, rejoice!
Denna does tug and goes nuts for the flirt pole - she'll chase crows, but squirrels are friends, not food. (!?!)

 

[Smokeycat]

My EM doesn't really play with people. He plays with the other dog and the cats and occasionally he might chase a ball or play tug. That's simply how he is so we do our bonding thru training and cuddle time.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

What Ruth said. Some dogs just aren't interested. Thor my late dane seldom would tug. Stone LOVES it be it rope or toy. Mason seems to like it so far, but I haven't done much tug with him until his adult teeth come in.

 

[Rich_S]

I've made some real progress since yesterday.

1) You have to let them win every 3rd or 4th time. I was always told you should never let them win from a dominance standpoint. This is BS. If you always win they won't want to play. It's like playing checkers with a child.

2) For some reason if I just hold it up or dangle it in front of him even moving it around, he doesn't seem to want to take it. But if I drag it on the floor (I had to go to Pet Smart and get a longer rope) he grabs it every time and then we can play tug normally. This one kinda baffles me.

 

[Cody]

Be glad. I don't think tug is a great game for dogs to play with humans. I think dogs almost go into some kind of "trance like being" that is undesirable when doing it; my experience is that they cease to "hear" any commands given them when they are going this with a human, and can sometimes become abnormally aggressive. JMO, and I'm sure others will disagree

Never had that issue at all. There is some antiquated theory that says playing tug with your dog is a no no as it will lead to the dog believing it is dominant over you, that however has been disproven. Any serious working dog begins with playing tug, learning the correct bite and so forth. It is also a matter of training a correct "out". I play tug with my 2 CC all the time, they love it and are do get worked up, but on my out they out. It is, contrary to old opinions, important to let your dog win at times to build up confidence. We have played tug with all our dogs and have never had an issue.

 

[mx5055]

Never had that issue at all. There is some antiquated theory that says playing tug with your dog is a no no as it will lead to the dog believing it is dominant over you, that however has been disproven. Any serious working dog begins with playing tug, learning the correct bite and so forth. It is also a matter of training a correct "out". I play tug with my 2 CC all the time, they love it and are do get worked up, but on my out they out. It is, contrary to old opinions, important to let your dog win at times to build up confidence. We have played tug with all our dogs and have never had an issue.[/QUOTE
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I stated in my post to the OP that many will disagree with me on this. I am only stating what my personal experience has been, and I do not like the way most dogs behave when playing tug with humans. I have found them to get so aggressive at times that their eyes glaze over and they no longer "hear" or respond to commands because they are so into "tug. I also don't like it because a dog doesn't always differentiate the difference between playing this game with an adult vs a child. This is my own personal opinion; I am not basing it on any theories...we can agree to disagree...doesn't make either of us right or wrong; and I don't believe it makes my opinion or experience "antiquated". There are so many other positive games and ways to play with my dog that we both enjoy that I would rather do. Also, just to clarify my position, I neither subscribe to many "dominant" theories when it comes to training my dog...I could care less who eats first, who goes in the door first, etc. I am simply stating my opinion on "tug"

 

[Cody]

I was not referring to your experience as antiquated, I was referring to the training "theory" that playing tug with one's dog, if the dog is allowed to win, will enforce the dogs believe that it is dominant over you. I have never experienced what you are talking about with any dog in the game of tug or with a flirt pole for that matter which is similar. That is from growing up with GSD's, working in rescue and fostering for many years and with my own dogs. I find my dogs have never had an issue when playing tug with my son, in fact quite the opposite as it is their fav game with him. They are all trained with a proper out, and will respond to him as well as us. I know many people who work in bite sports, they start with a tug at a very young age and their dogs are trained to high levels of obedience, I have never heard of them saying their dog "zones" and does not respond to commands even in the height of the bite... Sure sometimes the out is delayed but then that becomes a training issue. Not saying your opinions and experiences are invalid, just saying that it is not something that I believe is that common and then becomes a training issue.

 

[dman7427]

Be glad. I don't think tug is a great game for dogs to play with humans. I think dogs almost go into some kind of "trance like being" that is undesirable when doing it; my experience is that they cease to "hear" any commands given them when they are going this with a human, and can sometimes become abnormally aggressive. JMO, and I'm sure others will disagree

I agree with you. tug isn't really a good idea for this dog, it encourages aggression. I have a tug rope, only cause the dog likes to chew on it. -JMO

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I have the opposite issue, Ruger wants to play tug with EVERYTHING!! LOL He has been like this from the beginning. I don't think there is anything wrong with playing tug....It is one of Ruger's favorite things to do. Sounds like your pup has a lower prey drive, maybe, so it doesn't hold his interest. I bought a flirt pole for Ruger and not only does it attack it like crazy but I actually have to make him stop because he doesn't want to even when he is completely exhausted.

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I forgot to mention that I did let Ruger win some when he was a puppy and now that he is 188 pounds he wins fair and sqaure most of the time. LOL

 

[CeeCee]

I have to go with the group. It's split in my household. Lila loves to play tug and we take turns winning. Zeek, on the other hand, the appeal of that game is lost on him.

 

[LizB]

Some of my dogs have enjoyed tug, and others have not. My dane has RIDICULOUS prey drive that almost rules his life, but he won't tug, and there is no "game" you can play with him. For fun we do nosework with him using grouse scent, but otherwise there's no playing with him, lol.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

My Akita loves tug and the second I say 'give' he lets it go and patiently waits for me to resume the game, my Tibetan cant be bothered to play tug or anything else for that matter unless its pestering the sh1t out of my Akita. LOL. Play tug, have fun, teach release or give and make sure he follows the rules and enjoy is my advice.

 

[Tiger12490]

Its a low prey drive issue. You have to let the dog win also make it the BIGGEST deal ever so run with the rope while it drags the ground let him grab and let go...after that just extend the time when you see his tugging progress...ive always tugged with my dogs they're working dogs and honestly both Athena and Kronos would tug your pants leg from day 1..so id rather put a rope in there...and MY dogs absolutely do not think there dominant over me....I can also make them out, down, sit, rebite, down wait, throw the tug, have them retrieve out, bark, re tug I thought that was always just basic OB as soon as his prey drive is brought up (which to a level it can be) you can have him do OB for his tug and its less messy than treats..

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[Cody]

I agree with you. tug isn't really a good idea for this dog, it encourages aggression. I have a tug rope, only cause the dog likes to chew on it. -JMO

I am not sure I am understanding what you meant here. Have you met "this dog" in person? Or are you referring to the breed in general? If you are referring to the breed I would like to ask what experience you have to back up the claim that it "encourages aggression". I play tug with my CC, I always have played tug with my dogs. I have owned and fostered dogs, mainly working breeds, for the past 24 years and have NEVER experienced aggression due to this game. That 24 years does not include our family's GSD's I grew up with. Who, I may add, i also played tug with as a child, unattended of course, it was the 70's

 

[Tiger12490]

I agree with you. tug isn't really a good idea for this dog, it encourages aggression. I have a tug rope, only cause the dog likes to chew on it. -JMO

Ye im not 100% sure you know what your talking about I've grown up with Rotties and APBT my entire life MY favorite game with them was tug...NEVER had any aggresion towards me....I think some people watch to much tv and dont work dogs enough to know that...it doesnt even make sense to think that tugging causes aggression it has no correlation at all....and with Kronos I have never even won the game for confidence hes always the winner...

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