Bite Tugs and Bite Pillows: Choosing Bite Kit by Stage

Short answer: match the kit to what the dog can do now, not to its age. Start a puppy on a small, soft tug it can get its whole mouth round.

Move to a longer tug, then to a flat bite pillow and a handled bite cushion as the grip becomes full and calm. A firm, larger bite pad bridges the gap to a puppy sleeve. Material and handles matter as much as size.

Our team includes World and National Champion trainers, and in our experience many grip problems on the field trace back to kit that was too big, too hard or presented badly early on (trainer guidance).

This guide gives you the real sizes and materials of each stage, and how to present each piece.

On this page

• The stages at a glance
• Stage 1–2: choosing a tug for a puppy
• Stage 3–4: bite pillows and handled cushions
• Stage 5: the transition to a sleeve
• Jute or Nylcot?
• Safety and care
• Shop the kit
• FAQs

The stages at a glance

Schweikert describes the Profi jute pad as made for the move from bite tug to young-dog sleeve. Sporthund says its transitional pillow is based on its transition sleeve but more compact and lighter, so young or smaller dogs can carry it.

Stage 1–2: choosing a tug for a puppy

• Diameter first (trainer guidance). A puppy should be able to get its mouth fully round the tug. The 4 cm FreshLine tug (Sporthund says it suits puppies) and the 15 cm Schweikert Nylcot tug are small options.
• Soft beats tough at this stage. Sporthund describes the FreshLine tugs as especially softly filled and suitable for puppies.
• A loop for you. Hand loops let you move the tug like prey and keep your fingers out of the way. The FreshLine loop is about 19 cm long.
• Length when the grip grows (trainer guidance). A 25 cm tug gives room for a full grip in the middle and your hands at the end.

Trainer guidance: move the tug along the ground and away from the puppy, never at it. Let the puppy win often, carry the tug and come back to you with it. Keep sessions short and stop while the puppy still wants more.

Shop: FreshLine Puppy Soft Tug with Handle · Schweikert Nylcot Puppy Tug 15cm · Schweikert Nylcot Tug 25cm · Schweikert Puppy Jute Tug 25cm

Stage 3–4: bite pillows and handled cushions

A pillow gives a wider, flatter target than a tug, and handles let you present it at different angles. The Sporthund Puppy Hollow Bite Pillow is a good example of kit that grows with the dog.

Sporthund says it stays flat and soft with no hand inside, and becomes thicker and firmer when you put your hand through the hollow. A lead can also be tied to its textile handle.

Trainer guidance: introduce the pillow by holding it low and moving it like a tug, so it feels familiar. Once the dog grips calmly, start to vary angle and height. If the grip gets shallower, go back to a softer or smaller item for a while.

Shop: Sporthund Puppy Hollow Bite Pillow · Sporthund Bite Cushion with 3 Handles Small · Sporthund 3-Handle Protection Bite Cushion Plus · Schweikert Jute Bite Pad with 3 Handles

Stage 5: the transition to a sleeve

A larger, firmer pad gets the dog used to gripping something with the size and feel of a sleeve, before a helper wears one.

The Schweikert Profi pad (jute, about 37 × 30 cm) has three hand loops sewn inside that can be used tucked in or pulled out. Sporthund's Transitional Bite Pillow brings its transition-sleeve shape into a pillow.

Trainer guidance: this is the stage to involve a helper or club. How the pad is presented and moved now shapes how the dog will grip the sleeve. When your dog is ready, our guide to choosing a bite sleeve picks up where this one ends.

Shop: Schweikert Jute "Profi" Bite Pad · Sporthund Transitional Bite Pillow

Jute or Nylcot?

The "where we use it" and "trainer view" rows are trainer guidance. Every dog has preferences, so try both.

K9 Store is the exclusive UK distributor of Schweikert and Sporthund. Browse all bite cushions and tugs or tugs.

Safety and care

• Bite kit is for interactive play and training. Put it away afterwards rather than leaving it with the dog.
• Check seams and loops before each session, and replace anything damaged. Sporthund gives the same advice for its FreshLine tugs, and says not to leave toys with the dog unsupervised.
• Don't use a reward pillow's small hand loop for tugging. Sporthund says the loop on its mini reward pillow (the Sporthund Puppy Mini Bite Pillow) is not designed for tug games.
• Protection training should be done with an experienced club or helper.

Shop the kit

Helper kit you'll also need

Helpers in bite work wear protective trousers and carry a padded stick. Protection clothing is protective gear, not everyday clothing.

Sleeve covers

See also: the Puppy Bite Work Starter Kit, puppy training equipment and IGP protection equipment.

FAQs

What is the difference between a bite tug and a bite pillow?

A tug is a long, narrow target with a loop, which is good for chasing and pulling. A pillow is wider and flatter, often with several handles, and gets the dog used to gripping a broader surface like a sleeve.

What size tug should a puppy have?

One it can get its whole mouth round, like a 4 cm soft tug or a 15 cm puppy tug, with a loop for your hand. Go longer as the grip fills out.

When should my dog move from a tug to a bite pillow?

When it grips the tug full and calm, holds on while you move, and carries it back to you. Readiness matters more than age.

Do I need a bite pillow before a sleeve?

It isn't compulsory, but a pillow and a larger transition pad make the jump to a sleeve smaller. Schweikert designed its Profi pad for exactly that step.

Can I leave a tug with my dog as a chew toy?

We don't recommend it. Tugs and pillows last longer, and stay more valuable to the dog, when they only come out for play and training.

Want help choosing the next step for your dog? Email info@k9store.co.uk and one of our trainers will help.