Brownie is Tugging! hurray!

BrownieNJoyce · #1 04-25-2010, 10:13 PM

Hi all. If you've read any of my past posts, you'll know that my dog Brownie (6 y.o. rescue I adopted 4 months ago) has been unable to play tug due to inability to bite on ANY toy. Believe me that I tried many types of toys with and without food in them, dragged around on string, etc. Also he is afraid of toys that squeak. (His anxiety reaction to noises is another topic for a separate post sometime after I try the "where's the danger" process and get a bark going)

Therefore, I am so thrilled to report that B is now tugging with me on rawhide! (Thanks to advice from Neil and Kevin on recent conference call!) I hadn't thought of using rawhide, maybe since I never gave it to my previous dogs because it gave them diarrhea. Anyway, I started with a string tied through a hole poked in the middle of the piece of rawhide so I could get close enough to pull a bit, but now (a week later) I can tug with my hand...well... a glove, since rawhide (whether stiff or slimy) is hard to hold and I guess it's a good safety precaution too since we're he's new at this and we're just getting to know each other in this context. And yes, I let him win every time. I have to hold it steady and let him chew a bit sometimes til he gets a good hold on it and then he starts to pull. Sometimes he wins before I intend to let go since he is strong and it's hard to hold the rawhide as it gets smaller. It's so satisfying to me to see him gaining confidence!

I have been using food to get B to drop the rawhide so I can get my hand on the rawhide again. What's cool is that he is starting to stay nearer to me while he chews versus running far away with it as he did at first. I'll try switching it out with another piece of rawhide so I can progress to fetch-tug.

Kevin suggested "monkey in the middle"/"keep-away" to interest him in toys. Haven't tried this yet since my husband is away for the month. However, B picked up a tennis ball that I rolled past him and walked around with it in his mouth for a whole minute the other day. That was a first! He looked a bit nervous about it.

So thanks everyone! Brownie and I are making good progress. Has not been easy. I am sure learning about myself. (I should post on the "change yourself change your dog" thread again sometime.