How to Play Tug With a Dog Safely

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Tug is one of the games dogs love most, and it is a great way to burn off energy together. Played with no rules, though, it can teach a dog to grab hands, snatch toys and get more and more wound up. Played with a few simple rules, it becomes a training game that builds self-control. This guide shows how to play tug with a dog safely, from the first pull to ending the game.

How we wrote this: the steps come from Battersea’s guide on how to play with your dog, Best Friends Animal Society’s guide to training, play and socialization, and Dogs Trust’s guides to mouthing, nipping and biting, teaching leave and fair trade and resource guarding. We put their advice in our own words and mark our own tips with “in our view”. All were checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test any toys for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Is tug safe to play?

Yes, for most dogs, as long as the game has rules. Best Friends calls tug with rules a healthy, educational game. Battersea agrees that tug toys can be a lot of fun, but warns that a game with no rules or boundaries can build bad habits such as mouthing, jumping up and snatching toys out of your hand.

There is one clear exception. Best Friends says a dog who has guarded toys in the past should not play tug at all, and should stick to a cooperative game such as fetch instead. See the section on guarding below for the signs to look for.

Step 1: pick a proper tug toy

In our view, the toy matters more than people think. A good tug toy is long enough that your dog’s mouth stays well away from your hand, and has a clear handle for you and a clear end for your dog. Never use a sock, a towel or your sleeve: Battersea lists pulling on clothing as a game to avoid, because dogs carry what they practise in play into daily life.

Two tug toys from our catalog show the idea:

• The Goughnuts MaXX tug toy is a figure-eight of two solid rubber rings: you hold one ring and your dog grips the other. Its maker lists it for medium to large dogs who are tough tuggers, and says it is an interactive toy, not a chew toy, for supervised play.
• The West Paw Bumi is an S-shaped tug toy that stretches to about twice its length when you both pull. Our product page lists it for small and medium dogs.

Our best dog tug toy guide compares more options by dog size and explains what review sites found when they tested them.

Step 2: teach a drop cue first

Battersea says it helps if your dog already knows “drop”, “sit” and “down” before you start structured play. The drop cue is the one that keeps tug safe, because it lets you pause or end the game whenever you need to.

Dogs Trust teaches letting go as a “fair trade”: your dog learns that giving up a toy earns something better. In short:

1. Let your dog play with a toy that is not their favourite for a few seconds.
2. Place a few tasty treats on the floor beside them, and let them choose to leave the toy for the treats.
3. Praise them, then give the toy back so letting go never means the fun is over.
4. Once they let go easily, say your cue (such as “drop” or “out”) as they hold the toy, then offer the treats.

Best Friends suggests a second way that works well mid-game: use two toys, so your dog learns to drop the one in their mouth to start a new game with the one in your hand. If you use a clicker, the same steps work with a click as the marker; see our guide on how to clicker train a dog.

Step 3: start the game on your cue

Battersea describes a simple structure that turns tug into an impulse control exercise:

1. Show your dog the toy and say a start cue such as “get it” or “tug”.
2. Let them tug for a little while.
3. Ask them to drop it, or swap it for another toy.
4. Before the next round, ask for a sit or a down. Your dog only grabs the toy again when you say the start cue.

Over time, Battersea suggests holding the toy in front of your dog for a few seconds before you give the cue, then making the toy more lively while they wait. In our view, this is where tug pays off: a dog who can sit calmly while a toy wiggles in front of them is learning real self-control.

Step 4: keep the toy low and the pulls gentle

How you move the toy matters for your dog’s body. Battersea says to avoid jolting the toy sharply upwards, because it can encourage jumping up and can hurt your dog’s neck. Battersea’s fix is to keep the toy near the floor and move it from side to side and to and fro.

In our view, a few more habits help:

• Let your dog set the pulling force, and match it rather than overpower it.
• Never lift a dog off the ground by the toy or swing them around.
• Let your dog win some rounds. Battersea’s method has you say a cue such as “yours” or “free” before you let go of the toy, so letting your dog have it becomes part of the game.

Step 5: build in pauses

Battersea says the key to good play is not to overstimulate your dog: you want them excited, but not so excited that they cannot respond to cues. Dogs Trust says healthy play has short breaks so dogs can calm down, and that some dogs need you to add those breaks for them while they learn.

In our view, a drop, a sit and a few seconds of calm every 20 to 30 seconds of tugging works well for most dogs. If your dog cannot drop or sit during a pause, the game is too exciting; slow it down or end it for now. Dogs Trust also suggests short activities spread through the day rather than one long session, especially for puppies.

Step 6: stop when teeth touch skin

This is the most important rule. Dogs Trust explains that some dogs grab a hand or arm instead of the toy during a game of tug, usually out of excitement rather than aggression, and that human skin and dog teeth simply do not mix. Best Friends says that if your dog grabs your hand by mistake, say a soft “uh uh” and become still and boring for a moment.

Dogs Trust’s steps for a puppy who mouths you during play are clear:

1. Stop and stay still. Drop any toy you are holding, or hide it behind you.
2. If the mouthing goes on, turn away and fold your arms. Stand up if you are on the floor.
3. If that does not work, move away for a moment and let your dog calm down.
4. Once they are calm, restart the game.

Dogs Trust also says to avoid snatching your hands away quickly, because the movement can make the game more exciting. Over time your dog learns that teeth on skin means the fun stops. Ask everyone in the house to follow the same rule; Dogs Trust says consistency helps dogs learn.

Puppies, older dogs and dogs who guard toys

Puppies. Dogs Trust says puppy teeth start to fall out at around 12 weeks, and adult teeth are usually all through by around seven months, though this varies. Gums can be sore during this time. In our view, keep tug very gentle while your puppy has loose or new teeth, let them do the pulling, and ask your vet if you are unsure whether tug suits your puppy right now. For chewing needs, see our guide to the best chew toys for teething puppies.

Older dogs or dogs with neck or back problems. Since Battersea warns that sharp upward jolts can hurt a dog’s neck, ask your vet before playing tug with a dog who has neck, back, joint or dental problems. In our view, a slow, low, gentle pull is the most a dog like this should do, if tug suits them at all.

Dogs who guard toys. Dogs Trust lists early signs of guarding such as lip licking, showing the whites of the eyes, a tense face and body, standing over the toy and blocking access to it, and later signs such as freezing, growling, snapping or biting. Best Friends advises skipping tug entirely for a dog who has guarded toys before. Dogs Trust advises a vet check if a dog starts protecting things, and offers a free Behaviour Support Line for advice.

When to see a vet

Dogs Trust says sudden or increased biting, mouthing or nipping can be linked to pain or illness, so a vet should check any change in how your dog behaves. In our view, also stop tug and see your vet if your dog yelps during a game, holds their head stiffly, seems sore around the mouth, or has a broken or bleeding tooth.

Check the toy too. Dogs Trust says to replace toys when they are damaged so pieces cannot cause a blockage if swallowed. In our view, put tug toys away after play, and if your dog swallows part of a toy, contact your vet straight away.

New to disc games? See how to teach a dog to catch a frisbee, from rollers on the ground to short, low throws that are kind to joints.

FAQ

Does playing tug make a dog aggressive?

Best Friends calls tug with rules a healthy, educational game. The welfare groups we read focus on rules rather than banning the game: a start cue, a drop cue, pauses, and stopping when teeth touch skin. The exception is a dog who guards toys, who should not play tug.

Should I let my dog win at tug?

Yes, some of the time. Battersea’s method includes saying a cue such as “yours” and letting your dog have the toy, then asking them to drop it or swap it before the next round.

Is tug bad for a dog’s neck or teeth?

Battersea warns that jolting a tug toy sharply upwards can hurt a dog’s neck, so keep the toy near the floor and move it sideways. For puppies with loose teeth, older dogs, or dogs with neck, back or dental problems, ask your vet first.

More on dog play: our best dog tug toy guide and how to clicker train a dog.