About this episode

In this episode, Debbie Cilento discusses the benefits and misconceptions of playing tug of war with dogs and how to safely introduce this game to your pup.

Tug of war is a game that dogs LOVE to play.  Yet I always get asked the question “Can I play tug of war with my dog?” The short answer is YES!  It’s is great game for you and your pup.  It’s easy to play, they love it, it burns lots of energy and tires out those heavy chewing jaws and nipping puppy teeth.  So why is this a question?  Well, there’s some misconceptions about tug of war that have been going around for a while.  In this episode, I debunk the common myths, like the idea that it’s a dominance game or that you can’t let your dog win. The vast majority of dogs can play tug of war with no problem.   There are some pups that need some rules to reduce any over stimulation or excitement.   No worries, I walk you through what to watch for if this is your pup—like vocal escalation or raised hackles. Plus, I’ve got a special video for you that shows how to use tug of war to teach your dog important skills like drop it and impulse control. So, grab your dog’s favorite toy and tune in to find out how you can safely enjoy this fun game with your pup! In this episode I talk about: Can you play tug of war…

People in this episode

Host: Debbie Cilento

Topics covered

• dog training
• tug of war
• dog behavior
• puppy care
• introducing dogs to kids

Keywords

• tug of war
• dog training
• puppy behavior
• impulse control
• dog games

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: YNP #087

More episodes of Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog

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• YNP #108: What It Means to Prepare for Your New Puppy · January 28, 2026 · 8 min
• YNP #107: Stop Dinnertime Chaos · January 14, 2026 · 11 min
• YNP #106: Three Ways to Upgrade Your Walk · December 31, 2025 · 8 min
• YNP #105: Potty Training Regression · December 10, 2025 · 12 min
• YNP #104: The Puppy Blues are Real! · September 30, 2025 · 12 min

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