Apart from the worry he might break them, I usually only play a very controlled tug game with one toy which Ripple knows is my toy and it is a privilege for him to be able to play with it. The reason I started this is because of Ripple getting overexcited when playing and ending up biting. It has taken me so long to stop the biting that I don't want to trigger it again. Hope that makes sense.
I'm going to use mine as a tug toy and in the water If Ripple has lost interest put them away for a while then bring them out for a little play, put it away etc. to build up the desire or just play a little gentle tug to get his interest going Blimey, I hope Charlie likes them after spending £20
Maybe you could take a risk, @SteffiS - if he is not interested at all, you might be a long way from him getting over excited. Anyway, one of the points of tug is to train 'switch off' from being very excited. I do know what you mean, but it's a shame not to use a game that obviously motivates him - the trick is to transfer the control you have built up so you can use his excitement and motivation in a way.
I think you're right @JulieT . I have trained the 'switch off' very successfully with my tug toy, so perhaps that is the way to go. I have currently given the puller rings to the cats, who obviously have no interest in them at all but Ripple doesn't realise that, so I am hoping that will stir up his interest in them again.
It's always tricky, I think, to move on from something that was really hard gained - I was like this with Charlie for ages. So much seemed difficult with him, that I sort of 'stuck' with behaviours I managed to achieve, rather than try to build on them.
Well what a complete waste of money these were Both Hattie & Charlie looked at them like they had arrived from another planet I have tried and tried to get up their enthusiasm, tried throwing them into the Loch on holiday they are having none of it. Maybe it's the texture
