The ‘dominance’ myth has been around for years, but there’s been a sudden increase in the amount I’ve heard this:
"Never let your dog win or they'll think they're the boss!"
"Never lose at tug games with your dog or they'll walk all over you!"
I’ve said it a million times, but I’ll happily say it again: Your dog doesn’t want to be your boss, they just want to be your friend.
But, even ignoring the ‘alpha theory’, why is it still so important to let your dog win in playtime?
The Brain Stuff:
To start with, playing with you brings out the dopamine (the happy-hormone) in the brain. Your dog loves to play with you! But... there are a couple of things that will make play even better. For some dogs, it might be catching the toy; for others, it might be the chase.
For EVERY dog, 'winning' in play gives them a huge rush of dopamine. And who doesn’t want a happy dog!
The Training:
In addition, winning teaches them that engaging with you is fun and rewarding. Imagine if you constantly lost at a game: You’d end up not wanting to play. Dogs feel the same way! Giving your dog a chance to win ensures that they will continue to love playing with you.
This means that you can use it as a reward in the future. Rather than having to rely on treats for rewards, if your dog loves play enough, you can use tug games for a reward, such as for recalling!
Allowing a dog to win allows them to celebrate with their prize as well as choose to bring the toy back to you for more play. It sounds meaningless, but in reality, it turns you from the person who always tries to steal the toy and is nagging for them to drop it… into the person who they can play with and trust with their high value resources.
Winning is also a huge confidence booster! This is great for dogs who are a little more anxious or who need socialisation, such as puppies and rescue dogs.
Happy Dogs:
Winning in play reduces frustration, stress, and boredom. All these negative emotions can lead to problems such as excessive barking and destructive behaviours.
Finally, playing tug can help to develop and increase your bond with your dog. Winning at play can increase it even more, as they learn that they don't just like to play with you, but they LOVE it!
For more tips and tricks: grab a freebie or two on my freebies page: Freebies! | Mucky Pups (muckypups-dogtraining.com)
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