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Getting a dog to play with toys
Hey all,
while this seems like a simple question, I'm a bit stumped. We adopted an approx. 1 yr old Whippet/Rat Terrier mix from a pound about 3 weeks ago and things are going pretty well except for two things. She is a bit shy and tends to hide when new people are around although she does become adventurous after an hour or so and begins to warily socialize... we can work on that, but my toughest challenge has been getting her to play with toys. She will chew a squeaky toy every now and then in the morning by herself, and she will lick the peanut butter out of a Kong for a bit, and things like that on her own... but she will not chase a ball or go after a toy when thrown, instead she will come to you and rather be petted or just content to lie down by you. How can I get her to play with toys with us? It seems like a strange problem, but I'm at a loss to get her interested in fetching a ball or chasing a toy I've tossed. Thanks! |
#3
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Getting a dog to play with toys
wrote in message
ps.com... Hey all, while this seems like a simple question, I'm a bit stumped. We adopted an approx. 1 yr old Whippet/Rat Terrier mix from a pound about 3 weeks ago and things are going pretty well except for two things. She is a bit shy and tends to hide when new people are around although she does become adventurous after an hour or so and begins to warily socialize... we can work on that, but my toughest challenge has been getting her to play with toys. She will chew a squeaky toy every now and then in the morning by herself, and she will lick the peanut butter out of a Kong for a bit, and things like that on her own... but she will not chase a ball or go after a toy when thrown, instead she will come to you and rather be petted or just content to lie down by you. How can I get her to play with toys with us? It seems like a strange problem, but I'm at a loss to get her interested in fetching a ball or chasing a toy I've tossed. Thanks!. She sounds a sweetheart. She needs more time to settle and gain confidence. Do you know anything of her past? Let her approach visitors in her own time, tell them to ignore her when they first come in. They can offer her a treat if she approaches them but not to maintain eye contact. She might not have learnt to play or be interested in playing. But more likely she is too unsure and not relaxed enough to play yet. She might prefer soft toys. Alison |
#4
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Getting a dog to play with toys
Alison wrote: She sounds a sweetheart. She needs more time to settle and gain confidence. Do you know anything of her past? Let her approach visitors in her own time, tell them to ignore her when they first come in. They can offer her a treat if she approaches them but not to maintain eye contact. She might not have learnt to play or be interested in playing. But more likely she is too unsure and not relaxed enough to play yet. She might prefer soft toys. Alison Thanks all, I know there will be a learning curve and a long time for her to settle in but it seems to me like she is restless and doesn't know what to do when she is not being petted 100% of the time. I don't want to pet her for hours on end and I just felt like if she learned to occupy herself from time to time with a toy she would be happier... I could be totally wrong. Do I just let her be restless and find her own favorite thing to do over time? I just would like to interact with her more than simply petting for 2 hours. I'm fine if she is not a ball chaser or frisbee catcher, it just seems like I should be offering her some sort of other stimulation. She does get into bones (nylabones, Booda, Rawhide, denta, etc.) and she will shred a stuffed animal on her own, but she just doesn't seem to understand how to play with us with a toy. Thanks |
#5
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Getting a dog to play with toys
On 16 May 2006 06:53:54 -0700, wrote:
[] Thanks all, I know there will be a learning curve and a long time for her to settle in but it seems to me like she is restless and doesn't know what to do when she is not being petted 100% of the time. If you only petted her, say, 5% of the time instead (if for no other reason than to get some sleep), that would still be well over ONE HOUR of petting each day. I really, really like my dogs, but I don't pet them for ONE HOUR each day. I'd never get anything done. boggle I mostly only pet them when they've done something that pleases me, and then for just a short time. I like for my wife to scratch my back, but she only does it when I've done something nice for her. If I could ever convince her to scratch my back for 5% of the time, I can't even imagine the number of nice things I'd have to do for *her.* boggle I don't want to pet her for hours on end Then don't do it! and I just felt like if she learned to occupy herself from time to time with a toy she would be happier... I could be totally wrong. I think you'd get much better results by playing hard to get. It works for my wife. Do I just let her be restless and find her own favorite thing to do over time? That's what *I* would do. I'm fine if she is not a ball chaser or frisbee catcher, Are you sure about that? it just seems like I should be offering her some sort of other stimulation. Maybe someday, *after* she's had time to settle in, learned to *trust* you, etc., you can find out what makes her tick? She does get into bones (nylabones, Booda, Rawhide, denta, etc.) and she will shred a stuffed animal on her own, but she just doesn't seem to understand how to play with us with a toy. Give her some TIME. -- Handsome Jack Morrison Multiculturalism and Alligators: http://www.fredoneverything.net/MultiCulty.shtml Regime Change - Iran: http://www.regimechangeiran.com/ To connect the dots, you have to see the dots: http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn...t-steyn14.html The NYT, Andrew Sullivan, and Knox College: All stuck on stupid. http://author.nationalreview.com/latest/?q=MjE5NQ== |
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