Radar is 14 months now, and while I played a lot of tug with him as a small pup, as he got larger it was physically painful for me with a bad shoulder. The games have slowed down, but we still play here and there when I'm up for it. Now, instead of my shoulder hurting, I'm coming away with bites and bruises.

When he was a baby he had a deep calm grip on the toy and rarely chomped repeatedly. Now I'm getting bitten a lot because he's unable to target a specific spot and calmly grab it. Even when I try to get him to target a spot, he'll grab it but immediately work his way up the toy to my hand. Whenever I ask him to give it to me, as soon as my hand touches the toy he'll start working his way up to my skin.

I really try to reward his calm grips with lots of excited tugging and letting him win when he's the calmest. I've watched the video about the power of tug but I guess I'm doing it wrong.

He's also targeting my BODY instead of the toy. It's getting frustrating because he's old enough now to understand where I am, in relation to the toy. I could forgive puppy brain when he was younger. He bit both of us a few times because his drive was amped up and he didn't know what to do with it. Yesterday he grabbed my hand when there was no toy in it and no reason to bite me. I grabbed the scruff of his neck and pinched it but not nearly as hard as he hurt me. Tonight he bit my leg next to my groin because I had the toy and didn't throw it fast enough for him. I grabbed him again and pinched. Both times he immediately backed off but was not fearful and reengaged me very happily. I'm starting to wonder if I should just lay into him like the other dogs would because he's obviously comfortable with doing it to me but he never bites them because he knows they're going to lay the smack down on him if he does.

I can forgive mistakes. Most likely I'm just in the wrong position or doing it at the wrong time. Perhaps I should do more mental exercise with him before we tug so that he's more focused and able to think through the drive. I'm okay with getting nipped, pinched, a cuticle bleeding from a misplaced tooth, nails raking my stomach, my foot being scratched because it was used as a launch pad. I'm not okay with my dog targeting me as a bite toy and I'm not happy with his inability to control himself and bite calmly. Does anyone have any ideas, opinions, criticisms? I can't help but think that maybe I should be exercising him MORE, but in the mean time I'd like to hear from you all.

Well....you have to think faster than your dog. Try filming it if you can, that helps you see exactly what you aren't doing. Dogs tend to target what's moving, so if you're moving they bite you. Logan bit the shit out of my fist today just because he though I had a ball on a string. He just lept and got me.

Once he see's the toy....say its a tug, do you hold it still and let him hit it, not backing away or adjusting the position in fear of being bit?

Does he get you during the drive building stuff? Your dog may not need any teasing. Mine doesn't, rarely do I play that game with him....and I get bruised and cut playing regular tug.

I'm not trying to sound like a parrot, though it may come across that way. Watch Building Drive and Focus with Bernhard Flinks. I could give you pointers, but they are so very well covered in this video I would just be repeating what he talks about. It's worth watching an expert explain it and demonstrate with practical exercises. I think it hits dead on what your looking at with Radar.

A few things -

No physical corrections during tug play - that's a big no-no imo. Playing with the tug and a positive marker is the reward, no play and a negative marker for mistakes. It's supposed to be a fun activity , and a rewarding event.

Try back-tying him to a solid object that's not going to move, that will save your shoulder. It will also allow you to stay out of his range so that your not getting bit, and it will let you build frustration with the appropriate play. If your using a ball, try using a jute roll or another longer tug until his targetting gets better. Proper presentation of a tug is a learned skill, you will get better!

Remember anyone can have a dog that's wonky and has no control. The trick is having a dog that's wonky and is under control. It takes time, just don't give up!

Good luck!

We play tug with rope, braided fleece, or rolled leather tug with two handles. I've used a ball on a rope before for leashed obedience rewards in a crowded area, and while he responded very well, I didn't like how the rope was cutting into my hand. I haven't made/bought a different one yet.

How will back-tying help relieve the pressure on my shoulder? I'm going to try it next time, but I'd like to get a good idea of how it works.

I don't think I'm moving my arms or the tug. I get into the position that I want to be in and I don't move until he's got a good grip... at least I think so! If I get some teeth, I get some teeth. Moving around is only going to make it worse and I'd rather have a few bloody fingers and bruises than a rip in my arm that needs stitches. Recording it would definitely help, so I'll see what I can do. I'll watch the training video tomorrow.

I don't know if this helps, but I have just gone through a period with Jethro where he was using his teeth in unwanted ways. He generally has pretty good control around my hands and I appreciate it. He went through a phase of nipping when he wanted me to do something - out for walkie, wanting attention. He was on his leash with his teeth when that had long been a non-issue. He was just more mouthy and bossy. A bad combination. I used all the protocols I could find. Definitely turning away non-engagement was effective, although I had to watch my a$$ to make sure he wasn't going to try to pester me some more. What has been most effective is a little OB to channel his energy and get him manageable. Sit! Down! Wait! in a VERY FIRM VOICE. Not mean, but "I mean it". He's moved onto a more calm place now, but I never know what is coming next with him.

Hey Samantha, It sounds like a big part of the problem is where you say your willing to accept this or that. No teeth on me, period. It doesnt matter if you did something wrong or missed something along the way, you need to stop letting him behave that way now. It may be as easy as a very firm no anytime he touches you and then down him right there.

Worse case, because its become established with him, you may need to correct him.

Also, I'm not so sure backtying, especially to add frustration is going to help you with this. To make the rules clear to him you want to slow things down a little so he's calmer and able to learn with a clearer head.

 Quote: steve strom

To make the rules clear to him you want to slow things down a little so he's calmer and able to learn with a clearer head.

ABSOLUTELY!
The handlers and trainers I work with preach what I practiced when coaching youths in sports; back to basics when you need to correct techniques and movements. Your dog needs to relearn the rules of playing tug.

Do you have the dvd "Advanced Concepts in Motivation". The prominent theme in that video is teaching the handler exercises that emphasize correct presentation in order to prevent getting bitten. These techniques are beneficial to the dog because they make it easier for him to follow the rules.

Working with a club also helps, because those watching can offer critiques and instruction.

Sounds more to me like a dog that is starting to mature & doing some testing of the rules & boundries. Isn't he about 17 months old now?

Stop it now before it gets any further out of hand & he REALLY bites you. NO TEETH, PERIOD. as Steve said.

If I thought that my dog did that intentionally...there would be a price to pay for that. 1st time his MISTAKE, second time ...MY MISTAKE & fault. There would be a big corection for THAT kind of rule infraction.

He has done this far too many times & gotten away with it. So now he figures he can get away with it. He is big enough now to really hurt you.

I'm a big believer in MT...but that doesn't mean the complete elimination of a correction for serious rule infractions. And biting me is a MAJOR rule infraction in my book.

I have been there...my male's right of passage to maturity was to try some handler aggerssion to try to test the boundries. He learned that it wasn't a very good idea.

No, he's 14 months old. I'm fairly sure this is not handler aggression or something that will morph into it. I know what that is and have the scars to prove it.

Wasn't saying that it is HA with your dog. Just stating that I have a dog that was pushing the boundries pretty hard when he started maturing.

You have a dog that is pushing & getting away with it. He is biting you. At 14 nonths old...he KNOWS where he is putting his teeth. Once or twice maybe a mistake. It is no longer an accident on his part. JMO