Ryuk and I have been hanging around a Schutzhund club recently and they're completely open to the idea of letting us train with them. Ryuk's evaluation went quite well but we have one major issue.

Ryuk is a frisbee dog, he will climb mountains for a frisbee, he will tackle a person for a frisbee....tug...not so much...he will get excited when I take it out its like he's doing it just because I want him to. When teased with the tug he will bark for me, not for the tug (which he'll take then throw aside if offered). When the decoy tested him he barked at the scary decoy with the whip, not interested in anything being thrown in his direction.

The trainer suggested a softer tug (ours is leather and harder) and the decoy suggested playing with a dishrag to get him chasing something. I'm working on getting a softer tug (need to wait until all bills are paid this month) however until then I'm playing with the rag thing....However Ryuk has been raised since day one to know that dishrags are off limits (he used to try and steal them out of the cupboards). So he's not biting a dishrag, he's actively ignoring it actually. However I have these scraps of super soft leather laying around that he's all to glad to chase and grab and fight for.

Are these okay to use for this? In addition, I'd like to support leerburg and buy another tug from here...if looking for a softer one which should I be looking at?

I think the leather scraps are a great idea!!!

I'm sure you've discouraged it, but will he tug with a frisbee? It may be a way to get him interested in tugging, as a game. (but you'll loose a few frisbee's in the process!)


http://leerburg.com/tugsets.htm#puppy Would be my initial idea for you. Expensive though.

Ditto on the leather.
How old is Ryuk?
You might want to put it on a flirt pole. That could speed up his interest.

For a cheap starter tug you can get a pair of thrift store sweat pants, cut three, 3-4" strip form the legs, braid those together and knot at both ends.

Kelly: I was looking at that set of tugs but there was NO way I could afford that (I'm thinking the fluffy one alone maybe?). He does tug the frisbee but it rips apart almost instantly and since I can't get his frisbees anymore (Old Navy stopped making them) I can't afford to sacrifice the two we have left, I've yet to find a comparable replacement.

Bob: Ryuk's a bit over 2 and a half (He was born in November). I've tried the flirt pole in the past, and Ryuk find the pole very interesting...not so much what's on it. He's the "why chase the thing at the end pole when I can break the pole, grab the toy and rip it to pieces?"

Mara: I like that idea, I think I'll try that until I can order a "real" tug. I've got lots of extra destroyed sweatpants (from Ryuk's puppyhood....I don't know why I bothered to wear pants until he was a year old...)

Edited by Jamie Craig (08/28/2011 11:56 PM)
Edit reason: wat r grammarz?

the above suggesttions are very good. i either have someone hold my dog or tie them out on a harness. using Bob's method i make the tug move around. making the dog miss it a few times.building frustration. if the show great interest (striking at it ) i let them have it.(depending on if the dog shows procession i may play tug) as soon as the dog drops it or you have him release it. i repeat the process. i stop on the dog wanting more. good luck

I've used old socks at times to start or burlap bags.

 Quote: john axe

i stop on the dog wanting more.

A biggy!

Also, have you seen these? I didn't double-check, but as I recall from first viewing, they both address your questions.

http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=743

http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=736

i've used burlap and also always thought the suggestion of using chamios (sp?) for a leather bite rag.

burlap--can catch teeth. but i think that's more with pups. and if you have leather, then why buy a chamois? so baasically i've added NOTHING to the discussion, lol....

LB sells(at least they used to) a great leather bite rag that works well for pups & older dogs to get them started. It has a leather cord attached that you can tie to a lunge/buggy whip, broom pole to use as a flit pole, to use like Bob suggested. They don't catch their teeth in it like they do burlap or other fabric rags, so many dogs seem to like it more then other rags.

You can use this on a flirt pole & grab it & use it like a tug after they bit on to it if you want. You can transition the dog over to just using a leather tug from this.