How to End a Tug Game with Your Dog - Dog Training Video

Tug is essentially one of the most fun games you'll ever play with your dog and it is one of the best relationship building exercises, but it must be done correctly.

One of the most common mistakes people make is that they are not aware how to get the toy back from their dog at the end of the game. In this video I lay out some of the basic concepts to tug, how to structure the game and how to be fair.

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#dogtraining #tug #dogobedience

[olliegoehring]

Robert, thank you for your video lessons! I am using your techniques on my dutch sheperd and it works great. A very high drive dog that adds a lot of energy to our house. We train him in a club in France where dog training unfortunately is less focused on canalizing the drive, but suppressing it. Being German EXPATs in France and being a dog owner for more than 20 years now, the French approach (and yes, we've tried several clubs) is not our cup of tea, so we searched an alternative method.
A dutch sheperd is a challenge and definitely no dog for beginners. We had to adapt our approach to the needs of our dog- keeping the structure of our "pack" at the same time. Your video lessons were a very effective help here. Since we use your system (which is easy to train for high drive dogs and easy to memorize to most dog owners- I like the "binary dog" system), the dog develops great!
Thumbs up and thank you!

[bartekkondrat]

Sir Robert,
nice to back to old video, it's always actually. We have to repeat lesson and repeat class.
Chapeau bas.

[littleninjai]

Much success with my 9 month GSD pup because of you. I have purchased 2 tugs, 2 chuck it balls, 2 balls on strings and have used your method to teach; sit, platz, stand, aus, random combination, and even platz on the recall. He's very ball driven. When training is done I say "done" and he knows to return to our spot so I can switch leashes. Thank-you immensely for all your videos.

[heatherstrachan]

Thank you for this. Other videos that I have seen show you how to play, but not how to end the game.

[p.richter]

Every video I learn something new 👍🏻👍🏻🇳🇴

[mark-]

Great video as always. I wish I’d have known this when I started training Niko. He has been my “training dummy” and I have learned so much through and from him. It’s amazing how their love and loyalty never wavers and the desire to learn and please is infinite as well.

[Drock]

I’ve got a Pitbull that loves to tug. This video is going to so helpful thank you.

[scottmacdowell]

Nice job Robert I have been watching all your video and you are a top notch trainer. Thanks

[LurkerCH]

That was fantastic. Great video, and really educational (for me at least). The 'two toy trick' was brilliant. I'll definitely be using that tactic for obedience training going forward

[debbiesmith]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I got a " 5 year old GSD rescue 5 months ago, who is neither of those things! She acts and looks more like these Malinois. I am totally out of my depth with her but we are getting up to speed now that I have found you :)

[bladethorn]

I'm dog-sitting for the weekend with a Doberman that is essentially only house-trained (he's 3 yrs old) and kind of knows "sit". I'm hoping I'll have him at least consistently dropping a toy by Sunday night. That and some leash manners. Very excited to use your techniques!

[michaelschwartz]

Another Great Video Robert. Thanks. Looking forward to using these techniques with my Golden. It makes sense based on her behavior. I have so much to learn. Semper Fi Brother.

[ellensteiger]

Very good teachings on letting go of the toy going to try this with the ball have trouble with the one

[spacecoastdogtrainer]

Great Video! I also liked the video of yours that uses the three different methods of teaching out. #1 Trade #2. Tug dies and #3 collar pressure with a buckle or martingale collar. Probably the biggest mistake in playing tug/teaching out is trying to hide the tug by moving it fast away from the dog.

[RuffnItOutdoors]

This will help. I just bought a new dutch, she was transported for a week and yesterday was our first day together. I brought out the toy she wouldn’t release I waited and nothing, did stiff toy between legs and she bite me. Luckily it was in my yard so I didn’t freak out just calmly put her in the crate but I got the tug. I don’t blame her 1 week of transportation and a new home I tested the boundaries and now understand she had some frustration and that was it. 5 mins later she’s out of the crate living on me

[PawsuasiveDogTeaching]

Another awesome video. You give such great advise on to teach dogs. Its amazing how similar our teaching styles are.

[jobond]

Love your video. You are so kind to share your experience with dog training. I've been lucky never really trained dogs they just did what I wanted, mainly. I even had tricks they would like running down a paddock trying to catch an aeroplane. Funniest thing I ever saw. Have no idea how I taught that just said King get the plane and off he went jumping up all down the paddock. All planes flew away safely. Now at least for my next dog have some guidelines not just chance

[chevy-is-a-good-boy]

Wonderful - thank you. This rounded out what I had intuitively come to understand, while playing tug with my GSD.

[FreeSyrianInEurope]

I had the Same question for 10 weeks old malinois puppy.

[ЕвгенияПозднякова-же]

Потрясающе! Я нахожу такие игры опасными в плане того, что в собаке пробуждается неподчинение и дикие инстинкты, когда люди не умеют играть и выходить из игры. Но вы настоящий профессионал)