Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tips for Tug-of-War Wannabes

by Tanner
© Carrie Boyko
Yup! She Had to Wave the White Flag
Every now and then I have the duty of teaching a newbie the greatest dog game ever--Tug of War! This is Lauren. She's really a rookie, so I had some fun showing her than nobody beats Tanner at Tug. Well maybe Dad, but he doesn't really count because he's way bigger than me.

Here's my tips for winning Tug of War to all you dogs out there. Please make sure this article stays safely in dogdom. We don't need the humans knowing our tricks of the trade.

  • Invite your house guest to play by laying the toy in their lap. Rarely do they not understand this kickoff maneuver.
  • Start out pulling gently to give the impression you'll be a pushover. This will tease your opponent into believing this will be an easy win.
  • Let them think they are winning for while.
  • Make sure to start out with a really good grip. Grasp the toy with your back teeth to assure the strongest part of your jaw is doing the work.
  • Next, put your body weight into the game and start to back up.
  • To get the game cranking, offer a good shake. 
  • Change directions. Pull up. Pull down. Pull back and occasionally lunge forward and then surprise your opponent with an unsuspected move in any direction.
  • Sound tough. Let out a guttural growl.
  • If you're up against a worthy competitor, try this tactic: Pretend to give up. Stop pulling, while keeping the toy in your mouth, and walk toward your opponent. Suddenly jerk the toy as you back up quickly. This usually does the trick for me. 
  • Conditioning will be your friend. If you're out of shape, you're sure to lose. Drop on over to K9 Kamp at Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes to get some more tips on shaping up for games like Tug.
Be sure to stop over at All Things Dog Blog where my mom is sharing our weekly report on K9 Kamp training. I definitely have more points than she does this week. Does that mean I win a prize?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Teamwork Guard Dogs: Do We Look Vicious?

by Tanner and Oliver
(c) Carrie Boyko
Do We Look Rough and Tough?
Mom has us on guard duty today. We're not sure if we're guarding our new P.L.A.Y. bed or the front door. We're trying to put on our best tough-guy looks. How are we doing?

Oliver says he's definitely more ferocious looking. After all, have you seen the picture of Tanner over at All Things Dog Blog today? It's absolutely pussy-cat! Be sure to check it out. Meanwhile, Oliver will be sure to keep things safe here, tough guy that he is!
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