Lesson 9: Tugging Myths Debunked

MYTH 1: It causes a ‘hard mouth’

One of the most common myths is that gundogs shouldn’t play tug because it will cause what’s known as a hard mouth. The view that playing tug is bad for working gundogs - or that it ruins a soft mouth - is now widely considered to be outdated and inaccurate.

Every owner has to weigh this one up for themselves and do what is right for them and their dog - but we’d just say that dogs are smart - especially gundogs. They are easily able to tell the difference between playtime with a tug toy that they tug - and ‘work’ time when they are required to carry prey gently. Like all breeds, gundogs have lots to gain from playing tug. 

MYTH 2 - Small breeds shouldn’t play tug

Another common myth is that small and toy breeds - such as chihuahuas and toy poodles - shouldn’t play tug. We’re very happy to say that’s certainly not the case! Tug has all the same benefits for small and toy breeds as it does for bigger dogs. Many of our thousands of verified five star reviews are from owners of toy breeds. 

MYTH 3 - Tug toys aren’t tough enough for staffies

Another myth we hear about a lot is that tug toys aren’t strong enough for staffies (or other large, strong breeds). All we can say is that’s definitely not the case when it comes to Tug-E-Nuff toys! We have a wide range of toys, such as the Sheepskin Bungee Ring which is especially well suited to strong and enthusiastic tuggers. There’s absolutely no reason why staffies should miss out on the benefits of playing tug. The only thing we say is to keep tug toys for supervised, interactive fun (and don’t let them get used as chew toys!). 

MYTH 4 - Tug toys aren’t suitable for giant breeds

The next misconception about Tug-E-Nuff toys is that they aren’t big enough for giant breeds. This is incorrect too! Our toys are hand-finished by a talented team of machinists using only top quality materials, such as soft padded handles and bungee shock cord, to ensure they are suitable for even the biggest breeds. 

MYTH 5 - Foodie dogs don’t benefit from tug

You might have wondered whether foodie dogs can play tug. They definitely can! In fact, we created the very first Tug-E-Nuff toy - the Bungee Food Bag - for one of our own foodie dogs, to teach them how to enjoy playing tug. With the right toys, even the most food-obsessed dogs can enjoy the benefits of playing tug. 

MYTH 6 - Tug is just for sporty dogs

Some people say that tug is best for competitive dogs, and not pet dogs. That’s simply not true! Every dog deserves a fun, enriching life - and playing tug is a fantastic way to provide that. Successful training is also the foundation of every dog’s life - including pet dogs - and Tug-E-Nuff toys are proven to boost training results. 

So what’s the bottom line? Playing tug can have benefits for a variety of dogs - and every dog deserves a Tug-E-Nuff toy.