I just got my first GSD (eastern line) 11mo male intact and after reading about playing tug games, I am confused...I dont want to start off on the wrong foot with the dog, he is not a police dog, will be protection dog for me....So do I play tug and win all the time and tell him out. or do I not EVER play tug since I am leader...Please advise so I will know asap..I bought a tug rope today and before I go much further I need to know...Thanks
Definitely play tug with Him. This dog needs drive work and you will work his prey drive by playing tug with him. You also can do grip work at the same time. I would start by hooking him up though on line and play with a burlap rag or even a sock within a sock within a sock if you know what I mean. Tie it to a rope and tease him with it so he bites it then tug with him. When he has a good bite and your tugging just relax for a second or two and hopefully he'll regrip then do it again. If not just wait for him to relax his grip and jerk it away and start again. Don't worry about the out yet. You want him to learn to be committed to the bite and feeling very comfortable for a while before he's ready for that. As for the winning part of your question: He needs to win at this game to continue to build confidence. There are plenty of toys out there to spend money on but I'd wait until He's ready unless you have plenty of money.
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
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Loc: Toronto, ON
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Play tug with him, let him win, only let him win when his grip is full, if his grip is not full then teach him to counter. Look up countering if you don't know what that is. The dog must always win, don't out him yet.
Or even better, go find a good trainer n work with them. At your pups age he might as well start helper work n the helper can show you what you can do at home.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
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Loc: Idaho
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To counter:
In protection this means that when the dog has a bite/hold onto the tug/sleeve ( but doesn't have a deep, full grip ) the decoy gives the dog a bit of slack by moving slightly into the dog which gives the dog the opportunity to take a deeper, more full bite.
This requires a bit of coordination between the handler and the decoy.
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So I am confused about playing tug
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