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Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette:

My husband is driving me crazy with our young dog. He roughhouses and plays tug with the dog. Both have a really good time, but I have heard that playing rough can cause a dog to turn aggressive. How do I stop my husband from acting like an overgrown child?

Barb

Actually, there is no scientific research that I have seen that indicates playing with a dog will cause the animal to turn. The research that I have seen really shows no tie between the two. There are many different factors that relate to aggression, and play is not one of them.

Many dog sport enthusiasts use play to motivate their dogs. It is not uncommon for agility, rally, obedience and even conformation dogs to work for toys. Many police dogs are motivated to do highly complex activities through the love of a good tug game.

But, that does not mean that I am a fan of play without boundaries. If someone wants to play with their dog, then I do believe that controls need to be in place to ensure safer play. If you can convince your husband to teach basic control parameters, play can become a great part of their life.

Rule number 1 – Play only starts at the command of the human. Dogs should only take a tug toy in their mouth when given permission. The dog should let go when asked. For other types of games, the game starts when the human asks.

Rule number 2 – No teeth on skin or clothes. Penalties work well in contact sports like hockey. They also work well in dog play. Play nice or end the game. Teeth should not be grabbing at skin.

Rule number 3 – Physical play is for adults capable of controlling the game and the dog.

Rule number 4 – Dogs with underlying behaviour or health issues may have different rules.

Rule number 5 – Play makes an excellent reward for obedience and other activities. I like to see games used in ways that encourage acceptable behaviour.

Rule number 6 – Keep things at a level where they do not get overheated. If your dog is no longer having fun, respect that. Different dogs like different types of play. Do not force the issue, tease or provoke a dog. If the dog is trying to get away, that is usually a good indication that the dog is not happy.

If the control factors are in place on a friendly dog, play can be an excellent addition to your training toolkit. One of the quickest ways to teach your dog to come is to surprise them with a toy or play session.

Sit down and talk to your husband about putting some safety provisions in place. What you do not want to see is a dog that decides to play tug with a child's scarf. Neither do you want a dog that leaps at your shoulders in a demand for play.

Put the controls in place and then teach your dog how to play with rules. Playing can be a great outlet for a young dog. At the very least, the exercise can use up extra energy.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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