STOP SCROLLING: Is Tug of War Bad for Dogs? A Trainer Says It's Actually Amazing!

How and why you should play tug with your dog

Authored by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Is tug of war bad for dogs? No—for most healthy pups, tug is a fun, brain-building game that grows confidence, tightens your bond, and gives great physical and mental workouts. The trick is playing it safe. Here's what trainers say about the perks, the myths, and the simple rules for making tug a win.

Growing up, loads of us heard that playing tug with your dog is a bad move:

'It'll teach them to dominate you.'

'They'll figure they can snatch things from you.'

'Playing tug will make your dog aggressive.'

Benefits of Playing Tug with Your Dog

Tug delivers physical exercise, mental engagement, and a stronger bond.

Tug can even slot into a behaviour-mod plan to help a dog who's scared of a certain spot or object (like your car) loosen up, since joy is the opposite of fear.

A tug toy should be a length of soft stuff so it won't hurt your dog's teeth or gums. (Skip the game entirely if your dog has neck, back, or other body issues.) Knotted ropes at both ends are a fav, though you may need to test a few to see what hooks your dog. Pick a non-slip surface—carpet or grass—with room for paws to grip and avoid injury. Stash the toy in a drawer or out-of-reach spot till playtime.

Never yank upward, since that can hurt the neck or spine.

If your dog needs a nudge, try this move I've used with clients' dogs: drag the toy along the floor away from your dog in a zig-zag, urging him to chase. It works especially well with high prey-drive dogs.

Once your dog locks on, let him do most of the pulling. This matters most with seniors or pups. Move the toy in a gentle side-to-side—natural for dogs. Never yank up, as it could harm neck or spine.