THE tug-o-war game is hugely popular with dogs and their families. It is something they enjoy and the dogs put their whole weight into winning the old towel, blanket or rope etc. But is this a good game for your dog and your children?
It is certainly not a child-safe game, or even dog-safe. I know that young dogs especially love this game but because of the enthusiasm they put into it, they often destroy their teeth. They can pull one or more of their teeth out of alignment, or even break pieces of their teeth off, or pull their jaw bone out of shape.
The game is also one where there are 'winners' and 'losers' so if your dog has too many wins over your child it may begin to think that its status in life is above that of your child. And this is where problems may begin to surface.
For the children, the game is unsafe as well. The dog may, in its enthusiasm, work itself (its teeth) up the blanket or rope as it gains ground. Mostly the dog's technique is to pull in a series of backward hops, followed by a quick grab of a few more inches of the rope. Because of this technique the dog has no control whatsoever of where its teeth regain the rope. If your child is still pulling the dog may lose a bit of length, but if your child is not pulling at that moment the teeth may come down firmly on the child's hand. The dog will be expecting to have the rope in its teeth, not the child's hand, so the resulting bite is likely to be deep.
This is not the dog's fault, it is excited and enjoying a game with its favourite people. It is also not the child's fault - he or she was simply not quick enough at letting the rope go. It is simply an accident that the owner of the dog should not have allowed to happen. If the child is a visitor to the family, the innocent dog could pay with its life.
So what should you do as a dog owner?
Never allow tug-o-war games with your dog. Such games can never be controlled well enough, and can have nasty consequences for both sides of the rope. Teach your children never to pick up the other end of any object your dog is dragging around and never to offer the end of a rope or anything else to the dog and turn it into a game.
If you want to take the object off your dog do not make it into a game by pulling against the dog. Make him sit and offer another toy or treat in exchange. Give him a pat or praise when he releases the object you want.
A good game for the children to play with the dog is hide-and-seek (dogs often play that among themselves and siblings without any prompting from their 'people'). The child or children can hide, and then you can say "find Jimmy", "find Susie" etc. To begin with, the dog may not know what these words mean, but the children can call the dog once or twice for clues. After a few games the dog will need only the words "find Jimmy" to know the game is on.
Be sure that your children know not to turn the game into a chase game when they are found. They should give the dog a quiet pat and some praise for finding them, then say "find Susie" and send the dog off on another adventure. This kind of game sharpens the dog's scenting skills, improves its field trial scores, and keeps both the dog and the children amused for some time.
As a dog owner it is up to you to keep your dog safe while playing with children, and your children (and others) safe while playing with your dog. This often means being hugely assertive and insisting on your rules being followed by visitors and your own children alike. Some of your friends may not like you telling their children what to do, but these are usually people who know nothing about dogs. As the dog's owner you are the expert and if you explain to them that your rules safeguard both child and dog, they should understand. If they are offended, then be assured that is their problem, not yours.
Such people would be the first to demand your dog's destruction if their 'angel' received a bite because of lack of canine knowledge and unrealistic expectations towards your dog. Responsible dog ownership allows for neither accident nor provocation. - Liz Peters
