[nagdu] Arbitrary restrictions on playing with future guide dogs

[Julie J.]

I've had the same experience.  Usually what happens when I let the dog win 
tug, or sometimes they win legitimately, they bring the toy right back to 
me, shoving it into my lap or bopping my hand with it.  Clearly they want to 
continue to play.  After a while they will wander off to chew on a toy or 
bop the toy at the other dog to get them to play tug.

I could see if you had an aggressive dog that games of tug could end in 
disaster, but we are talking about mainly sporting breeds of mild 
temperament used as guides.    It's all about knowing the dog.

Julie
Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now 
available! Get the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
-----Original Message----- 
From: Tracy Carcione via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 9:25 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Arbitrary restrictions on playing with future guide 
dogs

I've never really bought the idea that winning at tug will create a monster.
I've played tug with all my dogs who were interested.  Sometimes they win,
and sometimes I do.  And I haven't noticed any affect on their behavior at
all.  I do want a dog who is willing to stand up to me when I'm wrong, and
has plenty of self-confidence to deal with the stupidity of the big city.
If winning at tug helps strengthen that, great.  But I'm not sure it really
does anything.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 8:39 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users;
nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Debby Phillips
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Arbitrary restrictions on playing with future guide
dogs

Hey Raven, when I first got dogs, we gave them tug toys to play with us.
The thing that I never did was allow my dog to win at tug of war.  I never
wanted her to think that she could dominate me.  I have played with balls
with my dogs, and Kongs, having them bring the toys to me.  It has not
affected my work life with my dogs.  I'm thinking about getting Nova a
stuffed animal which I will supervise her with to see how she does with it.
She has carried the cat's little mice toys in her mouth and not chewed them
or anything.  (They are too small for me to feel comfortable to let her have
them, but she never did chew them).  But each dog is different.  Neena could
never have a stuffed toy.  She destroyed anything that was soft.  She also
chewed the top off of a Kong.  Actually 2 Kongs.  Lol.  (I can laugh now).
Didn't at the time.  So I really really think it depends on the individual
dog.    Debby and Nova

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