One Tug Toy Or Two

[Reddii]

I don't suppose this matters one way or the other as long as it works for you, but I was still curious about others' opinions on this one. I have two dogs and until now have used one tug toy for both of them - they only use it when training so never together and the toy is 'mine' and I let them play with it and me when they have done good things. It seems to heighten the drive when the other dog has been using the toy so I've always thought of it as a good thing (naively or otherwise).

We are now at the stage where OH may have to run one of the dogs in flyball in the not too distant future (months) so I'm going to need two tug toys for the odd occasions when they are running against each other or for that matter in the same team. It got me thinking - would you give each dog their 'own' tug toy (even though they are 'mine') or would/do you swap and chagne them between the two dogs?

Interested to read your thoughts.

cheers.

Tony

[Vickie]

I don't worry too much about it and my toys are certainly shared amongst the dogs. I use a variety of toys for my guys, it doesn't seem to matter a whole heap to them what it is. A lead or a towel is/would be just as exciting as a $30 toy. Whatever works really and whatever I happen to have/take with me.

Shine's favourite toy right now is my son's talking Bob the Builder. She claimed it & he was generous enough to say she can have it. She also likes his fluffy ;) QUACKING duck puppet. :rolleyes: She likes things that talk .

I don't suppose this matters one way or the other as long as it works for you, but I was still curious about others' opinions on this one. I have two dogs and until now have used one tug toy for both of them - they only use it when training so never together and the toy is 'mine' and I let them play with it and me when they have done good things. It seems to heighten the drive when the other dog has been using the toy so I've always thought of it as a good thing (naively or otherwise).

We are now at the stage where OH may have to run one of the dogs in flyball in the not too distant future (months) so I'm going to need two tug toys for the odd occasions when they are running against each other or for that matter in the same team. It got me thinking - would you give each dog their 'own' tug toy (even though they are 'mine') or would/do you swap and chagne them between the two dogs?

Interested to read your thoughts.

cheers.

Tony

[Reddii]

I don't worry too much about it and my toys are certainly shared amongst the dogs. I use a variety of toys for my guys, it doesn't seem to matter a whole heap to them what it is. A lead or a towel is/would be just as exciting as a $30 toy. Whatever works really and whatever I happen to have/take with me.

Shine's favourite toy right now is my son's talking Bob the Builder. She claimed it & he was generous enough to say she can have it. She also likes his fluffy QUACKING duck puppet. :rolleyes: She likes things that talk .

That's funny - my two are pretty similar, in fact the $30 toy is probably less appealing than a towel, cheap tuggie or the rope toys I've just started with.......at least the $30 toys last - if only because they won't play with them. ;)

Xena doesn't like toys at all, she loves tennis balls (only allowed them at flyball now), the new balls I have for them to chase and retrieve (grudgingly accepts that tennis balls get thrown away and she has to use these) and tugging, but isn't much in to squeaky noisy stuff.

CK also loves to tug, but REALLY loves anything that squeaks, especially his 'CUZ' toys that make heaps of noise.

[periau]

My dogs do flyball and only one of them really enjoys tugging the other- lives for balls.

And the young one i'm not sure yet.

[BC]

I'm not really fussed with their "own" toys etc, but I make sure I have something for each dog. They work out what they prefer on the day.