I have a blue heeler/border collie mix and have The power of playing tug with your dog dvd. He is tugging good and outing ok but when I let him have the tug he likes to chew around before bringing it back and tugging again. He is also a little slow at bringing it back. Will this get better as he gets faster at bringing it back or should I be doing something to help?

Thanks for any help and all the advice I've read in the past this is my first post

Try tugging with him on a standard 6 foot leash. If you need to you can gently guide him back to you. Once he realizes that the game is more fun when he brings the toy back he will start to do it all the time.

Thank you i had been using the 20' line i will switch to a 6'

The 6' line is definitely better keep him nice and close.

I had this same problem and with hard work and consistency you can fix it. currently your dog would rather keep it and kill it then bring it back for more play. I would just do a bunch of out and immediate re-bites. Make yourself into a ridiculously animated party (on lookers should think your nuts.) my boy is pretty possessive of prey so i really need to make playing with me so much more fun then keeping a dead prey item.

Make sure not to tug for very long or very hard, like the video says you create more possessiveness because once they get it from you they want to keep it because it was too hard to win it in the first place.

also make sure your always pulling away from the dog and not pushing back in and pulling away. this isn't fun for the dog he would likely just rather keep it.

Make sure to that you are allowing the dog to feel like when he tugs he is affecting you. if he counters praise and act impressed, i will usually let him pull me down a little and loosen my arms or let him win the tug. if he feels like he can win a lot when playing with you and your thrilled when he does he'll likely come back for more.

Good luck, I hope something in there helps

Rob

 Quote: Robert Kirkwood

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also make sure your always pulling away from the dog and not pushing back in and pulling away. this isn't fun for the dog he would likely just rather keep it.

I just learned something with this. Thanks!

Tug is absolutely my dog's favorite game. She is really enthusiastic with it. The targeting is much better now, she outs quickly, and brings it right towards me when I let her have it. On occasion she does randomly become a little more possessive of the toy, this may be why. I will have to watch myself for it.

I have been doing the engagement work with her from the first part of the DVD. Its really made a big difference all around so far. In combination with months of very consistent sit/stays on walks, I'm using tug to reverse my early socialization screw up.

Now instead of darting out to make out with every person who looks at her, she looks at me when she sees somebody new. It's a total life improvement!

I'm just getting to where I can use it as an obedience reward. It is MUCH more effective than food for her.

There is just so much information on that DVD that there is no way I could ever absorb it all! I haven't even made it to the second DVD in the set. I might have to pick your brain every now and then.

It's been great for my dobe too for re-socialization. He's a little nervous in some situations an a little engagement work with food and or tug depending on the situation and he's a much more confident dog. I think the people in my area think I'm nuts, I will be walking and start playing just about anywhere yelling praise and making a big fuss over a game of tug or some liver treats. I could care less what they think though my dog and I are having a blast, and he is getting used to staying engaged anywhere, anytime.

One more thing on getting him to bring it back. I found with my boy that if get him to high in drive through either too much teasing or just the type of prey item I'm using it will cause more possessiveness. When dogs get to driven it's hard to teach the rules of the game.

I use a flat leather tug they sell here because he likes to tug on it, it's hard to chew up while working on engagement and outs, and it gets him to a drive level that i found works well for teaching rules and behaviors. it could be different for your dog.

I just recently ordered the intermediate tug set and she doesn't like the leather tug or the fire hose one. I think they might be too hard for her. I might have to go back and order the puppy set.

Is there anyway to break in the leather tug and soften it up a little?

My dogs prefer some leather textures over others and neither of them like the fire hose very much. I think it's really worth it to get a bunch of tugs and find the one that works best, I think one time i ordered 10 tugs all different from Leerburg. my dobe will play with literally anything and enjoy it, but somethings just work better and it is really a matter of trail and error.

I have opened tugs and removed some stuffing because my rottie preferred it this way and it caused a tighter grip and more drive. we also stuck a squeaker from another toy near the top so i could squeak it and try to re-engage her if she became distracted. My girlfriend sowed it back up I'm not sure how she did i could ask her if you like, I'm pretty sure it was nothing special.

A quick caveat I'm sure you have been advised not to leave toys with the dog, but especially one with a squeaker if you decide to put one in.

good luck and let me know how it works out.

Thanks for the tips. I will try removing some of the stuffing. I wonder if wetting it down and letting it dry a few times might help, too. That's how I break in my leashes.

I never leave her with any toys other than the extreme kong or the everlasting treat ball. She's an avid destroyer of all toys. Last time I gave her a stuffed animal toy she put it right between her paws and literally ripped its head off in 1 second!