I have a pup whom I'm hopefully going to be training for some form of bitework later on (purely prey and for fun, perhaps Schutzhund, but then it's my first dog so I'm betting all my mistakes go to her). Anyway, I do her drive building around my adult dog, and a strange thing happened the other day...

First off, let me tell you I've had this dog for almost 8 years. I was away from his life for a good remainder of 5 years, but I know him in and out--he was born to me, etc. I was utterly convinced he has no prey drive whatsoever. Sure, he chases rats and kills them, goes wild over squirrels, but anything unalive is of no interest to him. He is a Japanese Spitz/Philippine native dog mix, but his temperament is mostly native dog, from what I've experienced. He hates all forms of training. He is also somewhat handler sensitive because of the (bad) training I've done on him when I was a kid. A raised hand, for instance, makes him cringe.

Yet he suddenly lunged at the tug the other day and held on. I praised him because he wasn't pulling hard--he's very respectful of me--but it was strange nonetheless. I let him win, he began to tear the tug up to pieces. Next day, I tried again, praising him when he pulled harder, etc. Next thing I know, he's actually pulling, READJUSTING HIS BITE when I've never taught him ANYTHING like that, so that if he hits wrong he gives a somewhat full mouth bite...and he really gives it his all. Jumping around and stuff if I place the bite out of his reach. I actually don't even pretend to pull anymore as he pulls very hard. I even made a sort-of sleeve for him out of burlap (a bite pillow really that fits in my arm) and he just took to it like a duck in water. He tears it up when he wins it, but he gives it up when I ask him for it.

Coming from a dog who has never before shown interest in balls or tugs from puppyhood, I just have to ask--WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I'm certain it's prey drive, but why just now? And should I continue building this up? He seems to REALLY enjoy this, and he's a dog that's hard to please. The only other thing I've seen him like so much is fighting other dogs (in the Philippines we get stray dogs a lot, if he ever gets into a fight he comes out of it the winner most of the time and he's actually wagging his tail and snorting). So if I continue this...what real equipment do you recommend I get for him, that'll be gentle on his teeth? He IS eight after all.

By the way, he's 25 pounds (of pure muscle)...so anything we do is just for fun. He needs an outlet for all his pent up rage anyway. He can't fight anyone here anymore. Here there are LAWS. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I don't like the way any of this sounds.

Additionaly, he's 8 years old, not a working dog, play with your dog how you wish, there is NO need to work on his bite.

Anyone disagree?

Mike, I don't see anything wrong with what she's doing the owner and the dogs having fun. As long as she continues or start Obedience training its ok, its just fun. She not doing civil or defense work with the dog so it just playing tug. She doesn't know how to train protection or bite work so its just a game.

Kay I would continue this play work and keep him active with fetch play and the tug of war. He is releasing the tug back to you so he knows its just a game. And he hasn't snapped at you when you try to get the tug so I think its ok. I see people do this with small dogs all the time, its a cute good way to exercise the dog.