Playing With The Dog . . . It’s Only Fun When There Are Rules

Did you ever see how a pack of wolves tears apart their prey? They grasp the meat between their teeth and pull with their entire body. They work together like a sports team – eating together makes a family – but the pack leader, the boss, eats first and gets the best parts of the prey.

Embedded in the recesses of our dogs’ brains are the original rules of the wild: The stronger you are, the more food you get.

Pulling games, like with a rope or toy, seem, to your pet, to be like tearing up a prey. You the boss, on one side of the rope, and your dog on the other.

He growls and uses his whole body to get the rope (meal). Not so long ago, dog behavior specialists said it was not good to play these games. They thought the dog would become too aggressive.

Now, however, we know that there is no problem as long as we keep certain rules.

If you don’t want your dog to become too aggressive, you have to be sure that your pet does not really think there is a fight. You are playing together and you must stay in charge.

In other words, although you pull at the same prey, you always eat first.

The command “leave it” is very important. If the dog does not understand this, it is better not to play the pulling game.

To teach your dog this command you need three things: the dog, the toy and a biscuit or treat. 

Give the dog his toy, show him the treat and keep your hand under his mouth so he can drop the toy, and keep the treat under his nose.

If the dog leaves the toy, praise him a lot. Then continue the game. If he understands that he has to leave the toy to get the treat, you start using the command “leave it.”

By practicing this he learns quickly that leaving the toy does not mean the game stops. When he starts to understand, stop the treat slowly, but don’t stop the praising because that keeps your dog motivated.

Golden Rules

Make sure the game doesn’t get too serious by having only a few rules. Use safe toys . . . a piece of wood can be very dangerous.  

You decide when the game starts. It might be cute when the dog shows up at your feet with the toy in his mouth, but, in fact, he’s forcing you to do what he wants. Turn this around by calling him to play with you.

Don’t leave all the toys lying around. If there are some toys which you only have when you play together, the dog stays interested.

If the dog accidentally hurts you during the game, then it must end. If he jumps on you, or scratches or bites, then stop playing immediately, and take the toy away. Ignore him, don’t look at him and take the toy. This is punishment and he will think twice before he hurts you again.

If your dog is insecure, you should let him win the game once in a while, which is good for his self confidence. But, remember, you must win the last game and you are the one who takes the toy away after you’re finished.

That way the relationship is clear between boss and dog.

Have fun!