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A brown, black and white freckled Cocker Spaniel puppy holding a gray cloth in his mouth on a rug 29 / 29

A Freckled Puppy Won the Tug of War and Looked Very Proud

AI imagecocker spanielpuppytug of war

With big, bright eyes and a cloth clamped in his jaws, a freckled puppy stands on a striped rug as if he has just won a prize. His long ears are brown and silky, his face is speckled with brown spots, and his white legs stand square on the floor. The soft gray fabric trails off to the right, held by someone out of view. Behind him, sunlight warms the wooden floor and a corner of a plant.

Tug of war can be a good game for puppies when played gently. Let the puppy win sometimes, take breaks, and teach a cue like "drop it" so he learns to let go. Use toys made for tugging rather than clothing, because socks and fabrics can be swallowed and cause serious problems. If a puppy swallows part of a sock or cloth, call your vet right away.

Cocker Spaniels were developed as sporting dogs, so they enjoy carrying and fetching things. That instinct is why so many spaniels bring you a toy, or a sock, to show off. Teaching a pup to trade the item for a treat or a toy makes cleaning up after them far easier. Keep the game cheerful and end it while the puppy is still happy.

This little tugger looks very pleased with himself, and his expression says the game is only just beginning.

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