greenpenquills

My new dog, Zephyr, seems completely uninterested in playing. When he gets excited, I try to give him his stuffed toy or tennis ball, and he doesn't seem to know what to do with it. He uses the stuffed toy as a pillow sometimes, completely ignores the edible chew bone I got him, and has no interest in the tennis ball. He's a bit of a mystery to me as I don't know his background. I adopted him from a rescue organization that rescued him from a shelter. I forgot to ask them for his records from the shelter (actually, they probably just didn't have them).

He seems to be house trained and has some manner training, yet doesn't seem to know how to play or use the backyard to pee. I'm guessing he was neglected in a previous home environment. He's a bit timid, although very good natured. Is there anything I can do to encourage him to play? Should I try a different kind of toy? Any insights would be very much appreciated!

fawkese1

my dog didn't really play with toys when i brought him home either, the only thing he would really touch were sticks. my sister and i made a game of playing with the sticks with him then started playing the same game with his toys... but we had to be pretty calm about it or he would get intimidated... i'd say just keep offering them in as non threatening a manner as you can toss them around, carefully and see which toys he is most interested in (even if he just glances at one more often then another) and keep it low key... every time he looks at the toy say "yes" and toss him a small treat, eventually he will approach it and maybe even play with it... make sure that you continue to encourage him (but again, don't get crazy, use a calm positive, soft tone of voice) say "yes" and just lightly toss him a treat... once he gets the game with one type of toy it will be easier to encourage other types...

Mikey

Shelter dogs, though even in the best run facilities-don't get one on one like they do at home. It makes a big difference. You'll want to start from 'scratch' in playing just like you would a puppy.

Tennis balls have no inheritant meaning to a pup; (well, arguably except labs lol)-play with it yourself or with your housemates-make it exciting, coo and play and throw and roll it. This will make the ball a play thing of interest

My dog, who other then a few brief stints in houses, spent his first and only two years in a shelter-though he loved toys he had no interest in kongs (stuffed toys) or retrieving at all. In fact, it took a LONG time for him to care to work away at a peanut butter stuffed kong and similar work to teach him retrieve. He really enjoys the games now but he wasn't sure what we were up to when we started throwing a foul smelling ball across a field

I guess, in short, play with toys yourself or with housemates. Get on the ground, do 'play bows', growl and tug and talk in a manner the dog likes (whether it's exicted or cooing etc) and he'll come around

Criosphynx

som' dogs, if not exposed to toys as young puppies, don't ever seem to go for them without alot of encouragement, if at all.

Alot of pet store puppies are that way especially.

MyValentine

Thats weird..I dont know.
Couldnt you take the dog to the pet store and go to the toy section and see if he likes any of them? Like maybe he/she likes only a sertain kind of toy???

Its a thought.

Sheltiemama

None of my 3 dogs plays really. All are rescues.

One will go grab a toy if I throw it outside. Bringing it back to me? Not a chance. lol So the only "play" he'll do is VERY limited.

One hasn't the foggiest clue about playing. I've been trying for 2 years off and on (not consistently) to get him to play in SOME manner. Nope.

The oldest one I have that is nearly blind is the most playful! She will fetch (as long as you don't throw it more than 3' away) but only about 3x and then she's done. She LOVES to growl and bark and play chase with me in the house or in the yard. That's it for her too.

I think if no one played with them as a puppy, they're not going to play much as an adult. And I don't know how to teach mine to play. One isn't going to play no matter what. Playing would require effort. lol

Krazy4Pets

My dog is an opposite. He was so crazy as a puppy. If I crumbled a sheet of paper, he would be shaking because he wanted it so badly but now a day, he became a loaf. All he wants to do is to sit on a couch and watch TV. Only car ride and treats that make him excited.
A dog trainer suggested that I play with a toy and make it interesting but I ended up attracting another dog so far.

Stef

I think some dogs just never likes them. I got Feora at 8 weeks old and her brother who belongs to my friend lived with us for a short time as well. Feora has never liked toys, not even as a puppy. Her brother liked them a lot. Now, Feora would play chase games and once in a while played with a stick with him but never waas interested in toys. When my friend came and got her brother back, I sent most of Feora's toys back home with him too because she just didnt care. When she became a teenager she would chew toys and have them apart in seconds. Even the "so called undestructible" toys, ya right... She didnt play, just tanke them apart. Then she got out of that stage and wouldnt touch them again. Once in a while I can coax her into a tugawar with another dog but that isnt very often at all. She really wont play with people at all. Dont know why. Worked to teach her to play ball a lot as a pup and at first she would walk over, point at it and walk away.. Now she does the cat thing "well, your the stupid one that threw it, now go get it..." LOL...
We are thrilled that Ocean likes to play. Its a lot of fun.

Mikey

Huh I guess we've been lucky-per se (Not in the wallet then!) as all our dogs have enjoyed toys big time. Mikey was in the shelter his first two years. They said he loved his toys and boy does he ever-he has rituals with them (taking a toy to the door to ask out in the hopes we'll let him out with the toy-probably encouraged by his dad who lets toys go outside), he has to greet everyone at the door with his newest toy, rawhides all give him the inclination to immediately go outside and play lol-he's very toy oriented. We had to teach him fetch and he had no idea what to do with a frisbee (besides destroy it) but he's very interested in them.

seebrown

Ditto this. I was able to get our dog to play with certain toys he didn't initially like by pretending it was an awesome toy and playing with it myself, running from him with it, throwing it around, etc. It's worth a shot.