Shaped by Dog Podcast with Susan Garrett - Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed #89

Tug of War, which is tugging with a dog using a toy, is one of the most basic and fun games we can play. Yet, some authorities will give a list of reasons why dogs should not tug. We’re looking at those reasons, what dogs should not tug, and the five most common mistakes people make with tugging. For most dogs, not only is it okay to play tug, but it’s also critically important. In the episode you'll hear: • Why some dogs should not be tugging. • How tugging can help you avoid behavior problems with a puppy. • The reasons given about why dogs should not play tug. • How sporting dogs with a soft mouth can enjoy tugging and still retrieve. • The connection made between growling and a dog being dominant. • How to help dogs who are resource guarding. • What you need to know about arousal, redirection, and boundaries. • How tugging improves your relationship with your dog. • Why dogs need to let go of the toy when you ask. • About my number one rule when playing tug. • The emergency stop to use if a dog makes contact with skin or clothing. • How tugging creates clear communication between you and your dog. • Why the arousal state of a dog when tugging helps with distractions. • The reasons to make safety a priority. • How to play tug so that you and your dog can have fun. Resources: Learn how to play ItsYerChoice - https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ Podcast Episode 46: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You and What You Can Do About It - https://youtu.be/wBs5froI2a4 Podcast Episode 88: Barrier Frustration: Help for Fence Fighting, Leash Reactivity and Window Guarding - https://youtu.be/62V-3JsHKvE Podcast Episode 18: 4 Puppy and Dog Training Games for Acquired Bite Inhibition - https://youtu.be/HmKUv7pQYQU Podcast Episode 66: Resource Guarding: Dog vs Dog Aggression - https://youtu.be/11bkaaX7LXY Podcast Episode 82: Aggressive Puppy Biting Solved - https://youtu.be/XDdf1w_9Ha0 Podcast Episode 55: Pro Dog Trainer’s Guide to Toy Selection - https://youtu.be/kcSTI6aXjng P.S. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you get notifications of new videos! - - - - - - - Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team. Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years. A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained. Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 132 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn. - - - - - - - Our Website: https://dogsthat.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGarrettDogAgility/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SusanGarrettDogsThat/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dogsthat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dogsthat Pinterest: https://pinterest.ca/dogsthatcom/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/susangarrett There’s always something new happening at Dogs That, so if you’d like to be the first to know, visit our website, register to receive updates, and we'll keep you in the loop. https://dogsthat.com