Two Cream Puppies Grabbed Opposite Ends of One Gray Sock. Neither Is Letting Go.

Neither one is letting go. Two cream puppies stand nose to nose on the living room floor, each gripping one end of a long gray knit sock in their tiny jaws. The pup on the left has dug in with his paws spread, eyes wide and serious, while his sibling leans back with ears flopped forward and a look of quiet determination. Soft afternoon light spills across the wooden floor and a woven rug, and a gray couch and basket wait in the background, completely ignored.

Tug of war gets a bad reputation, but it can be a perfectly healthy game for dogs when played with a few simple rules. It's a great outlet for energy and helps build a bond between dog and owner. Use a proper tug toy, keep the pulling gentle with small breeds, especially puppies with developing teeth, and pause the game if teeth touch skin. Teaching a "drop it" cue with a treat makes it easy to end the game on your terms. Socks, however, are better left out of the toy box. They're a common item for dogs to swallow, and fabric can cause dangerous blockages. If your puppy ever swallows a sock or similar object, call your vet right away.

For now, these two are evenly matched, and the sock is getting stretched to its limit. Someone will need to step in with a real tug toy before the match gets too serious.

In this house, sock drawers are now considered high-security areas.