[nagdu] Arbitrary restrictions on playing with future guide dogs

[Julie J.]

Yes, exactly.  In most reasonably even tempered dogs who are not dangerous, 
winning at tug games will increase confidence or provide exercise or 
reinforce a good relationship with the person.   I think with dogs who are 
unstable, truly aggressive or have other very serious temperament issues, 
tug games could cause problems.  We are talking about guide dogs here and 
the chances of a dog who would go all cujo over a game of tug is pretty 
slim.

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: The Pawpower Pack via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 12:50 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: The Pawpower Pack
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Arbitrary restrictions on playing with future guide 
dogs

Actually, when I had my first dog, who was a lab from a program, the trainer 
said it was important to let the dog win sometimes especially with less 
confident dogs as it builds their confidence.
Not sure how accurate this is, but when I was a young grasshopper, I did 
what the trainers told me to do, to the letter, and so let her win 
sometimes, and now sometimes my dogs wwin, sometimes I do.  and it's not a 
problem.


Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 13, 2015, at 9:38 AM, "Julie J. via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
> wrote:
>
> 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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