March 20th, 2025
- addi0691
- Mar 20
- 1 min read
Tug-O'-War
If you’ve trained with me or spent time around my dogs, you’ve probably heard me talk about tug-of-war — how much I enjoy it and how powerful it is for building trust and respect with each of my dogs.
Each of my dogs is different and needs me to adjust how I play.
Rylee likes me to be playful and silly — less strong, but with some leg pulls and side pokes. She loves to growl and get riled up.
Bella is all intensity. She can go from zero to one hundred in a second! She needs me to be strong, fully engaged, and really challenge her. Tugging with Bella is exhausting but so rewarding when she gets into it and growls. Being able to call her back from that level of arousal makes me feel deeply connected to her.
Emma is just starting her tug journey. I usually wait until about a year old to introduce tug, and I may have overdone the "nothingness" with toys. So now, we’re learning how to play together and build that bond.
Happy Training!
Addi and her dogs
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