How to Play Tug of War with Your Dog the Right Way

Tug of war is one of those archetypal games to play with a dog. What dog doesn't love taking hold of the end of a knotted rope and seeing who is stronger?

But did you know there's a right way to play?

Yeah, sure, you can just grab a toy and start to play, but there are a lot of ways that can go wrong. So, let's talk about it!

Why Tug of War is a Great Way to Play with a Dog

Why do dogs love tug of war so much, and why is it such a good game to play with them?

Part of it has to do with natural instincts. Dogs like to play with one another, and one of the ways they would play is fighting over different materials, often bits of prey. It's also a way for them to make sure they get their fair share in a pack.

Of course, food insecurity isn't a problem for our furry friends like it is for wolves in the wild, but the instincts are still there.

There are a lot of benefits to tug of war even today, though. Whether you're fighting the fierce strength of a pit bull, the implacable weight of a great dane, or the feisty tugs of a maltese, it's all in good fun.

You build a better bond with your dog. Playing tug of war is competitive, but it's also almost collaborative, at least for a dog. Some people describe it as "shared holding" because of how it can go both ways.

When you let your dog win (or when they win on their own, if they're strong enough), it allows your pooch to celebrate their victory. But it's also a chance for them to share their bounty with you. If you've ever played and noticed that your dog, after winning, will pick the toy up and bring it right back, it's not just them asking for another round. It's sharing, and sharing is caring.

Sometimes, you might even notice that when you're done, your dog brings the toy to you and leaves it. What a great gesture!

It helps with confidence in messy situations. Tug of war is a game that is very focused. When it's going, your dog won't be paying attention to much of anything beyond their footing, their grip, the rope, and you.

That makes it ideal as a game to play in crowded, noisy, or new environments. Your dog can get used to passive noise and messy situations, and learn that none of those things are going to hurt them. Then, when they're brought to that kind of situation without the rope toy, they know it's safe and more comfortable than it would otherwise be.

It helps foster good training. As we'll get to a little later, proper tug of war also involves training a couple of basic obedience commands. That training helps your dog stick to their training, obey your commands, and keeps them out of trouble.

It burns energy. Some breeds are immensely sleepy, but others are full of boundless energy. I had one customer mention that their dogs, when they felt the evening air conditioning turn on, would "wake up" and get the zoomies. Tug of war was a great way they found to help them work out that energy without running and making noise (and their downstairs neighbors thanked them, no doubt!) or getting into trouble.

What Are the Ground Rules of Doggy Tug of War?

Getting tug of war right means playing the game on your own terms. That means you need to set some ground rules and enforce them.

How do you enforce these rules? Generally, by ceasing the game. Tug of war takes two, and if your dog breaks a rule, you stop playing. Usually, the best thing to do is a light scold followed by ignoring them for several minutes. That alone is punishment enough (never hit a dog!), and the immediate association between bad behavior and the end of the game is reinforcement not to do that behavior again.

The game starts when you say it starts. As much as tug of war is a social collaboration, it's still on your initiative. Maybe your dog can bring their toy to you and ask to play, but whether or not play happens is up to you.

The game ends when you say it ends. Likewise, the game ends when you say it ends. If your dog is being pushy, that fosters bad behavior.

The game is short. Tug of war is best handled in short sessions. Each individual tug game (how long you fight over the rope before you drop it) should only last 15-30 seconds. Tug and trade back and forth a couple of times before releasing it.

You also want to make sure play sessions are short. You generally only want to play tug of war for a few minutes at a time. If that feels short, remember that going all-in on tug of war can foster some defensiveness and stubbornness that you probably don't want to encourage.

What do you do if your dog wants to play more than you? Distract them. I generally like a more cognitive game, which switches them from physical to mental mode and can help them wind down from the excitement of physical play.

No biting, pawing, or clawing. These break the rules of the game and can be dangerous, so if your dog does any of them, the game is over. No treat, no reward, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

What to Teach Your Dog for Successful Tug of War

You really only need two, maybe three commands to play tug of war properly.

The biggest of them is "drop it." You want to be able to tell your dog when to let go. This allows you to "win" some of the fights, it gives you a solid command to use to end the game, and it reinforces the command for when you need them to drop something else, like that random clump of gross goo they grabbed in the yard.

Second is "take it." This is your initiation command. You have the rope; maybe you're wiggling it around like prey, and your command gives them the instruction to grab and pull. It's your cue that the game is on.

Third, optionally, is a "bring your rope" command. I've had a few customers tell me about how they've trained their dogs to recognize all their different toys by name, and can fetch specific toys on command. Getting your dog to grab the rope to bring it to start the game is a fantastic set of cognitive commands.

That's pretty much it!

What Tug of War Mistakes Should You Avoid?

Pretty much all of the mistakes in tug of war are ones you can make, not your dog.

Don't let the game go on too long. The longer you play, the more you risk developing bad behaviors. Tug of war should generally be a pretty short game. Occasional exceptions are fine, but don't make long sessions the rule.

Never lift your dog up by the toy. You've probably seen one of those funny pictures of a puppy so engrossed in the game that they can be lifted completely from their feet while still hanging on. As funny as it is to see, it's potentially dangerous, both because it puts their full body weight on their teeth, and because it can stress their spine in bad directions and injure their back.

Keep motion side to side. This is also an injury prevention rule. Side-to-side tugging is what your dog is built for, so as long as you're not violently whipping the toy back and forth, they'll be fine. Up-and-down motions, on the other hand, risk serious injury to the neck.

Remember, tug of war is a game of strength. Pull, relax, shift angles, relax, let go. Single solid pressure and pulling isn't all that engaging for your pup, either.

How to Tell if Something is Wrong After Tug of War

Tug of war is generally a pretty safe game to play with your pup, but sometimes accidents happen, or the game can reveal an injury you didn't know about.

What signs should you watch out for?

• Mouth pain. If your dog stops chewing on things, stops playing the game, or even stops eating, it's possible they have a dental problem. It's not necessarily true that the game caused it, but it can make it worse.

• Neck and spinal injuries. Dogs with a neck injury often walk with their heads low, walk stiffly, and shy away from being pet or touched in the area that hurts.

• Facial injuries. Sometimes, especially if your dog is really into the game, yanking the toy out of your hand sends it careening into their face. In rare cases, that can bruise or even damage an eye. This will probably be more obvious when it happens, but some injuries, like bruises, might not be visible right away.

The biggest thing is to watch out for neck injuries, which can be very difficult to treat and handle once they happen. Remember: gentle, side-to-side, moderate pressure, short sessions. You're not in it to win it, you're in it to play a game.

More Questions and Answers About Tug of War with Dogs

As always, I wanted to cover a few more points I didn't fit into the main post above.

My dog used to love tug of war, but recently won't play. What gives?

Most of the time when I've seen this happen, there's one thing causing it: dental issues. Tug of war makes heavy use of the mouth and teeth, so if your dog has developed a toothache or a loose or cracked tooth, it will suddenly be painful for them to play the game with you.

You might also notice your dog wanting to play, or even going as far as picking up the toy, only to drop it. If that happens, it's definitely time to get their teeth checked out.

What are the best toys to use for tug of war?

There are a few different designs you can play around with. One of the common commercial versions is a looped rope with a ball on one end. It gives your dog something to grip, but you don't have to work out your grip quite as much, since you can loop the rope around your wrist.

Typically, though, I just prefer a dog rope with a couple of knots. As long as it's the right size and made of a durable, organic material, it should be safe. Since you can never really tell what a rope you buy at the local pet store is made of, I made sure to produce my own fully safe dog ropes, which you can check out here.

One thing you should avoid doing is using a favorite toy or something that can break in a tug game. I've seen pet parents try to use their pup's favorite plushie, which inevitably tears and ends in a devastating doggo. It also makes them more defensive of the toys they don't want to fight over.

I've heard tug of war encourages aggression, is that true?

Not at all! While it can seem like it makes sense that a play style that encourages biting and pulling would lead to more aggressive behaviors, scientific studies have found that's not true at all. In fact, tug of war can actually decrease those kinds of behaviors through fostering better impulse control, confidence, and bonds.

Unfortunately, I still see a lot of posts online, on social media, and even on major news sites about how tug of war can cause aggression or bad behavior. I wish those myths would be dispelled, but I can only do so much to fight them. Those behaviors are reactions to poor form in the game, not to the game itself.

So, there you have it: my rundown on tug of war with dogs. What about you? Does your dog love the game, or could they take it or leave it? Tell me your stories, ask me questions, and let's enjoy our canine companions together!