Your loving dog needs both mental and physical fitness. Therefore, you need to perform some essential tasks to ensure the health of your dog. Moreover, it’s important for you to know how to play tug of war with your dog. Playing this sort of game will charge up your pet for a long time.
So, here in this blog, you will be able to know how to play tug games with your dog. This is a form of exercise for dogs. The rules, regulations, and stuff like that will also appear here. Let’s head together!
Teach a Release Command
You may not want your dog to continuously play the game. Besides, you as a human being, may not have all the time and effort in the world to play with your dog consistently. That’s the reason why you should know and let your dog know where to stop.
What you need to do is, take something in your hand. Then, if you want your dog to release the toy, just drop the stuff out of your hand. It may take some time to master the art for your dog. But when your dog gets used to the release command, you will find it a lot easier while playing the game.
Chose a Toy
You need some sort of toy to play tug war games with your dog. But, there are quite a few things that you need to consider while choosing the toy. You have to make sure that the toy is flexible and durable enough. As you are going to perform tugging with your pet, the hard toys might hurt your dog sometimes.
Moreover, the toy must be safe and clean. You may not want your dog to suffer with illness playing tug-war games with dirty or unhygienic toys. You are playing for your dog’s recreation, nothing more, nothing less. It would be better if you chose a toy made of rubber.
Pick a Spot
You need to pick a spot where you can play the game of tugging with your pet. Choosing the right spot is very important. A quiet and calm spot in your home will be quite appropriate to play tugging games. Besides, there are some places in your home where your dog might feel afraid of going. Avoid that place.
Try to choose a comparatively larger area to play the game. Your dog probably needs more space to run, enjoy and do other stuff. If you have very narrow places at your home, you should go on and adjust the spots.
Initiate the Game
This is so important. Before playing any game, you should know the rules and some important points. Once you set up your mind to play tug-war games with your dog, it’s important to initiate the game.
You should have control of the game. Besides, it’s essential for you to know exactly where you stop. Your dog will gradually master the rules once it is used to the game. Give enough time to your dog to understand what shit you want to perform with it.
Take Breaks
We’re pretty sure that you are not a robot. Neither is your dog. Hence, you must take some short breaks while playing the tug-war game with your dog. You are probably going to play the game for the mental and physical betterment of your dog.
So, if you are not willing to take the appropriate breaks, your dog will be so tired. This might also cause some serious health issues. Therefore, if you pre-determine the short intervals that you will take, it will benefit you a lot.
Don’t just let your dog feel over-excited. Keeping it calm and quiet will be a decent idea to focus on your dog. You should take breaks while;
- If you see your dog breathing so fast, there must be some issue. So, it would be best to stop playing the game in this circumstance. Take a 5-10 minute break, and then you can start playing the game.
- Sometimes, your dog’s teeth may come in contact with you. In this case, you need to stop the game as we mentioned. You should try to clean or wash your hands and take a 30-second break.
- Don’t just create extra pressure on yourself as well. If you see your dog will probably win, let it win. You don’t need to consider this game a third-world war. Let the dog know all this stuff.
- While playing the game, you, along with your dog, may feel uneasy sometimes. Then, it would be best if you stopped playing the game or took some rest.
You can use the release command to take the breaks. Your dog may not assist you from the very first second, but you have to wait for that. Don’t take any unnecessary actions with your dog, like hitting or frightening it.
Just like the other sports, you should take this segment usually. Thus, you will be able to make the most out of the tug-war game with your dog.
Problems and Proofing Behaviour
Playing tug games with your dog is also one kind of training as well. You are playing for a specific period. Besides, you train your dog when to drop the toy and when to take a short break.
Nevertheless, there are a bunch of benefits to playing tug games with your dog. But what you really need to make sure of is that you train your dog perfectly and consistently.
So, while playing the tug game, you have to follow the behaviour of your dog. You need to know whether your dog follows your instructions properly or not. How much time the dog takes to respond to your call?
You can somehow utilise this training in other behaviours of your dog as well. In fact, playing tug with your dog will be one of the best practices regarding your dog’s mental and physical health.
Conclusion
We have probably showcased all the essential factors regarding how to play tug of war with your dog. If you are concerned enough with your dog’s health, you should play this game regularly. Most of the pet owners we know play this sort of game when they get free time.
It will be better if you make a perfect schedule considering all the essential factors to play the game. You will also have a bunch of joy and recreation through it. Why not get started with the game for better output?
