How I Use Tug to Strengthen My Bond With My Dogs
Foundations Friday — with Tokyo
If there’s one foundation that has shaped every agility dog I’ve trained, it’s this: connection always comes before skills.
And for my dogs, nothing builds that connection faster or deeper than tug.
I know people see tug as “just play,” but it’s actually one of the most powerful relationship-building tools we have. It creates confidence, trust, engagement, and genuine partnership — all things you can’t fake on a course.
In this week’s Foundations Friday, I shared a clip of me and Tokyo playing tug, and I wanted to break down why this little game matters so much.
Tug Creates a Two-Way Relationship
Tug isn’t something you do to your dog — it’s something you do with them.
It’s a conversation.
A back-and-forth.
A shared moment where both of you are fully present.
When Tokyo grabs the toy, looks up at me, and commits to playing, she’s choosing connection.
And when I meet that energy with enthusiasm and fairness, I’m choosing her back.
That reciprocity is the foundation of every good agility team.
It Builds Trust and Confidence
Some dogs are naturally bold.
Some are thoughtful and soft.
Tokyo is a little bit of both — clever, sensitive, responsive.
Tug gives her a place to feel powerful and capable.
She learns:
“I can chase. I can win. I can let go. I can come back.”
Each rep builds emotional resilience.
That matters more than people realise. Confident dogs learn faster, trust cues more easily, and recover better from mistakes. Tug lets them rehearse confidence in small, safe repetitions.
Tug Strengthens Engagement on Cue
One of my favourite parts of tug is how it teaches dogs to turn on and off with you.
Tokyo gives me a clean “take it,” engages in the game, and then gives me a thoughtful “drop” — even when she’s excited.
That kind of on–off switch translates exactly into:
startline control
listening during high arousal
turning towards the handler
staying connected even at speed
When your dog learns to regulate themselves inside a game, they’re much better at regulating themselves on a course.
It Makes Training More Meaningful (and More Fun)
Dogs don’t love agility because of weaves or jumps.
They love agility because of us.
Tug amplifies that bond.
Every time Tokyo and I tug, she’s reminded that I’m the most fun thing on the field.
The reward isn’t just the toy — it’s the shared energy, the chase, the victory, the connection.
That joy carries into sequences, skills, and eventually competition.
A dog who loves playing with you will want to work with you.
And a dog who wants to work with you is a dog who runs faster, tries harder, and feels safer.
Tug Makes You a Better Teammate
Playing tug teaches handlers almost as much as it teaches dogs.
You learn how your dog likes reinforcement.
You learn how they prefer to move.
You learn how to read micro-signals — soft eyes, weight shifts, pauses, confidence, hesitation.
Tug brings out the truth of a dog.
Their personality.
Their heart.
Their level of trust.
It’s one of the quickest ways to deepen your understanding of your teammate.
It’s Not About the Toy — It’s About the Relationship
The reason tug builds such a strong bond isn’t because your dog “loves toys.”
It’s because it’s a shared ritual of connection.
Tokyo doesn’t just chase the toy.
She chases me.
She chooses to engage.
She chooses to come back.
She chooses the relationship.
And every rep reinforces that choice.
Tug is the glue that holds our teamwork together — whether we’re training foundations or preparing for a championship course.
Your Invitation to Try It
Whether you have a puppy, a new dog, or a seasoned agility partner, tug can bring you closer.
Start simple.
Keep it fair.
Keep it fun.
Keep it a conversation.
Let your dog win.
Let them feel powerful.
Let them feel connected.
Because agility isn’t just about obstacles — it’s about the bond you build when no one’s watching.
That bond starts here.
With a toy, a moment, and a little tug game in the field.
