Playing “tug” does not make your dog more aggressive
Dogs use their mouths constantly. It is a big part of how they experience the world. They eat through it, carry toys, lick, groom, drink, growl and bite to defend themselves. As human beings we use our hands to hold items briefly, move them around and even carry things around. Dogs usually do all these things with their mouths. Some dogs love to grab items and tug to exert their strength and sometimes to relieve anxiety or express excitement.
Sometimes mouthing is age-related. Puppies tend to mouth and bite a lot. Because they have new teeth coming in which can make them feel uncomfortable, they use their mouths to bite and chew to relieve the discomfort. Puppy mouthing typically does not last beyond 6-8 months of age, so if you have an older dog who is still very mouthy, you are likely dealing with something different, but just as normal.
Billie grabbing my hand in excitement, but not biting down hard.
Pictured here is Billie, a mixed-breed pup with her dominant genes belonging to the herding dog group. Herding dogs include breeds like German Shepherds and Border Collies that were bred for centuries to help farmers move livestock around on farms. They all “herd” animals in slightly different ways, with many bred to nip at the heels of sheep and cows on pasture to get them to move when needed.
Photo from GRC Dogsports, showing a strong, muscular pitbull type dog grabbing a tug toy mounted on a wall.
Other breed groups were also bred with a focus on specific mouth-related tasks- retrievers and spaniels were bred to grab and carry items in their mouths for long distances. Bull dogs, boxers and pitbull /staffordshire terriers were bred to hunt large game or act as bull bait. This (very) brief look into breeding history starts to clue us into why and how being mouthy and grabby might be part of a dog’s genes. Expressing these genetic needs in a safe manner can be very important to a dog’s overall wellbeing, and can also go a long way in reducing problematic behaviors from cropping up.
I worked with a dog named Cash at a local animal shelter who mouthed excessively well past the age of two. A DNA test with Embark revealed that his dominant breeds were German Shepherd and Mastiff-type dogs, so we realized quickly that eliminating this behavior would be challenging, if not impossible. We set up a training plan to promote calmness and relaxation around humans as much as possible, while providing an outlet for bitey/mouthy behavior in the form of “tug” with rules. Here’s a brief video showing our work on this.
In the video, you can see me wait for Cash to tell me he’s ready by sitting, and then I tell him “take it” to communicate it is ok to grab the tug toy. During our play session I gradually increase the resistance I offer to the toy, making the game more challenging for him, while never yanking the toy from his mouth. Trying to win a game of tug doesn’t promote trust in our relationship and would only cause him to become possessive of the toy. I am also cautious when I ask him to drop the toy - I reward the drop by tossing a treat away from us, and only then reach down to pick up the toy. This is because Cash instinctively rushes over to the toy when he sees me reaching for it. Reducing resource guarding behavior is not about getting him seeing I have the power to take his toys away. It’s about building trust. He learns that instead of losing a valuable resource when I reach for the toy, he actually gains a treat and the opportunity to play tug again. After weeks of playing this structured game of tug, along with other training exercises, Cash has much better control over his mouthiness and is an absolute joy to be around.
Cash, a German Shepherd - Mastiff mix
Cash has learned how to remain calm around humans and toys, without jumping up and grabbing arms and sleeves. He is a little more aware of his strength.
My clients commonly apologize to me for playing tug with their dogs. There seems to be a misconception that playing tug promotes aggressive behavior, but this is a myth. Providing a safe outlet for the dog to practice this behavior is a much better alternative suppressing the behavior and expecting everything to be alright.
Even if your dog does not belong to a herding breed group or bull/mastiff breed group, it’s completely normal for them to want to grab, bite and shred things. Give them toys to chase, grab, tug and chew, & stuffed toys, paper or cardboard boxes to tear and shred. That’s what dogs do! What’s important to keep in mind is that if the mouthiness is excessive, intolerable and of a nature that makes you unsure of its motivations, please reach out to a professional positive reinforcement dog trainer or behavior consultant since this can quickly become dangerous. Every dog is different, and a structured plan tailored to your dog will be important in addressing the issue.