Quote:
Originally posted by ratbastid
An alternate theory about playing tugging games that I read recently actually ENCOURAGES it. The theory goes that in the wild, dogs use tugging with each other to pull apart pieces of animals they'd killed. Apparently working together to pull something apart is a social bonding thing among a dog pack, and doesn't really have much to do with dominance. :shrug:
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I would agree here. Although, I think it has to do with your situation. If you have small children around at all I would say no tug of war. The dog will not know whom he is aloud to tug with and who he is not. My cousin got hurt pretty bad when he was a baby and their dog grabbed the rope toy he was holding and pulled, pulling my cousin head first into the coffee table. t does tell the dog that aggressive behavior is ok. If the dog has something and you try and take it away from them, be prepared for tug of war. This is not your dogs fault and he is not being bad so don't punish him. You taught him this with the tug of war game.
I guess that is all I have to say about it. If you don't have kids around and don't mind your dog playing aggressively then there is no problem with it really. It is good for their jaw muscles to play that way just make sure you get the right kind of toy. Nothing that their teeth can get caught in or those they can choke on small pieces that may break off, such as eyes and noses on stuffed animals.