Super Puppy Dog

Tug-of-war with a new pup is just plain fun, right? Nope, dog experts say that’s not the case for puppies. You see, early on, a young dog’s behavior is being shaped mostly by its natural, animal instincts. And it’s very important for you to be aware of that fact, especially if you have young children who want to play tug-of-war with their new puppy

So here’s a few simple tips that may save you heartache later:

Understandably, what we as puppy-lovers tend to see through our eyes is that tugging is just fun and games. But through a young dog’s instinctual learning curve and lens, a tug-of-war is a very elementary dog-pack, ranking or “pecking order” type of domination-submission behavior. If the game ends with a puppy winning the rope or toy, the puppy learns it can be superior or dominant, something you want to avoid reinforcing early.

So it’s wise, especially where young children are involved, for your puppy to learn its place, and to know that its owners, no matter how young or old, are in charge and cannot be bullied, bitten or be the objects of aggressive, instinctive behavior.