Why won't he play with any toys or chew rawhide?!?!

[Appletini]

Hello everyone,

I wondered if you would have some advice for my very active puppy. I've had my new yorkie pup for 3 days now. He is 7 mos old and was the 5th of 8 littermates to be sold. He's a beautiful pup and very loving. However, he CONSTANTLY needs attention. He never plays with any of the toys he has or chews his rawhide bones. My friend, his breeder, even gave me 2 of their favorite toys so he can feel at home and I happened to have 1 dog toy already and I bought another at the pet store. He hasn't once snuggled with them or played with them. He has 4 toys and 2 rawhide bones he completely ignores even if I shake the toys or throw the ball or try to feed him the rawhide. When I shake the rope toy or squeak the ball, he gets excited. But when I throw it or try to play with him with it, he just jumps on me and licks me and jumps on me more completely ignoring the toys. He only wants to be in my lap or have me petting him ALL THE TIME. I also leave the TV on for him all day and night long for background noise.

He eats his puppy food like there's no tomorrow but I feed him the same amount his breeder showed me twice a day. I got him the same dog food that his breeder fed. He drinks lots of water. He's up to date on shots. He seems to have a ton of energy.

I am crate training him since I work and don't want to come home to poop and pee and my possessions all chewed up. As soon as he is housebroken via crate training, I don't want to crate him on a regular basis anymore unless I have to. When I'm home, I don't want to crate him...but I will have to start if he can't find ways to entertain himself while I'm trying to get other things done (ie getting dressed in the morning, making food, cleaning...).

HELP! How do I get him to understand that play time with mommy has ended and he needs to go entertain himself without making him feel like I'm mad at him?!?

[Hokule'a]

Aww, sounds like your little one is just lonely and quite happy to spend all of his time in your lap Some babies just don't care for toys/chews but since you said he loves to eat perhaps you can buy one of those treat dispenser toys so he can work at getting the food/treat out. Mine never cared for rawhide but they do love the Merrick's flossies and will chew on those for quite some time.

BTW, welcome to YT and congratulations on your new baby

[chachi]

My Jewels really doesnt play with toys either. She'd rather be cuddling with you

[TLC]

Raw Hide is very dangerous. It is not 100% digestable. A small piece could get lodge in their throats causing them to choke. Also a small piece could get lodge in their digestive track and cause a blockage requiring emrgency surgery.

As others have stated - Merrick Flossies or Merrick Bully Sticks are much safer and 100% digestable.

[Appletini]

Hello,

Thank you for the replies. My puppy was named Buddha by his breeder because he was the biggest in the litter. I may change his name. But so far, I haven't found one I like. He doesn't seem to fit the name Buddha now that he's away from his much tinier littermates.

So yorkies don't play catch or other games? It's going to be hard to wear him out. Sounds like he's going to be wearing me out more often than not. I play with him as much as I can and take him on long walks when I have time. I have also been getting up 2 hours earlier so I can feed him and give him a chance to do the doody before I leave and he gets to be out of the crate that whole time while I'm getting showered, dressed, made up, and breakfast. I was just hoping there would be something I can give him to entertain him for a few minutes while I get some other things done or wear him out before crating so he settles down easier. He's so relaxed when I'm sitting, he's sitting....just on me. When I'm busy, he's always underfoot and trying to jump into my arms. Too bad he can only jump as high as my knee *chuckle* (I'm 5'10"). I'm afraid I will be busy and not see him and hurt him.

[Appletini]

Originally Posted by TLC

Raw Hide is very dangerous. It is not 100% digestable. A small piece could get lodge in their throats causing them to choke. Also a small piece could get lodge in their digestive track and cause a blockage requiring emrgency surgery.

As others have stated - Merrick Flossies or Merrick Bully Sticks are much safer and 100% digestable.

Wow really? I didn't know that! Thank you! I will get the Flossies or Bully Sticks next time I'm there.

[TLC]

Originally Posted by Appletini

Wow really? I didn't know that! Thank you! I will get the Flossies or Bully Sticks next time I'm there.

Oh trust me - get him a Merrick Flossie and he will be entertained for a long while.

I never leave them with the flossies unattended though. If I have to go out, I take them away. Even though they are safe, they are very apealing to dogs, so he could sit and eat the whole thing, once down to the end, I throw away the small end b/c I don't want to take a chance at choking on a small piece.

[TLC]

Now as far as having him play and be entertained in other ways...

may I suggest getting him a playmate? I got Roxy and TJ together and there are times that they both are at my feet, BUT for the most part they play with each other, the chase each other, wrestle and they have cage matches too! Its so cute, and they really do enjoy each other.

maybe you can still get one of his littermates? I am sure he misses them and would LOVE to have a forever brother or sister

[Appletini]

Unfortunately, since my complex has a 2 pet maximum rule in my lease and I alrady had a cat, it won't be possible to get another dog at this time. However, since his breeder lives close and is a friend of mine, I can take him by for visits. Unfortunately that doesn't help his everyday lonliness, and I'm afraid to do that during his transitioning period of getting used to being without them. If you think it will help, I'd be more than happy to take him over there.

I talked to his breeder about him today and she said he just has a needy personality. He always needed attention. But since she has college age children at home, they are home a lot during the day when she's not to rotate who gives the pups attention. My boy begged for attention a lot more...and got it.

[TLC]

Originally Posted by Appletini

Unfortunately, since my complex has a 2 pet maximum rule in my lease and I alrady had a cat, it won't be possible to get another dog at this time. However, since his breeder lives close and is a friend of mine, I can take him by for visits. Unfortunately that doesn't help his everyday lonliness, and I'm afraid to do that during his transitioning period of getting used to being without them. If you think it will help, I'd be more than happy to take him over there.

I talked to his breeder about him today and she said he just has a needy personality. He always needed attention. But since she has college age children at home, they are home a lot during the day when she's not to rotate who gives the pups attention. My boy begged for attention a lot more...and got it.

Ahhh - he sounds like a real cutie - do you have some pictures to share?

Also, I am not found of crate training - but that's me. I had mine 'baby gated' in a spare room until they were old enough to have free run. I also got an x-pen for other places in the house. Maybe the down time in the crate is too small? I got the x-pen from Walmart (play yard plastic) it was $50 (if you do site to store - there's no shipping charge).

[Appletini]

I'm not terribly fond of crate training either nor is his breeder but neither of us could come up with a better method for a single woman that works full-time. As I mentioned in an earlier post, he will not have to be in his crate anymore once he learns that he has to hold it until I get home to let him out. But until then, I'd love to hear about other training methods that will both 1)train him to hold it until I get home AND 2) not allow him to poop/pee on the indoor floors or destroy stuff around the house while I'm at work 40 hrs a week. I can't afford doggie daycare.

I'm considering puppy pad training him since it gets cold here, but I still don't see how I can correct him when I'm not home. The crate method reinforces the need to hold it because it becomes it's own consequence if he fails (he'll have to lay in it). That's why crate training requires a very small cage.

Actually crate training is going very well. He's just as loud in the crate as he is when I go into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. And he eventually gives up after about half an hour. He's doing well holding pee but we have to work on the poo part....he just doesn't know he has to make himself go before I leave for work and he can't hold it for 8 hrs from the previous night. He's making great progress with the crate training for only 3 days I'm happy about that part.

My main concern is that all he wants to do is lay on me. He doesn't even really want to take walks. He keeps trying to go back into the house. He won't play fetch. He won't play tug-of-war. And I'd like to sit down sometimes without a dog on top of me...like when I'm eating dinner or doing work.

All suggestions will be happily considered! Thanks

[Appletini]

Also, I have a digital camera and will get pics up this evening assuming nothing comes up.

[paulapoo]

My Otis rarely plays with toys, I mean like once every 6 months he'll pick one up and shake it and THAT'S IT! He will only chew on bully sticks if his dog brother Oliver has gotten them started for him and they are nice and mushy. So don't feel bad, not all dogs are toy dogs. Sounds like he may need a brother or sister for a playmate!! Keep trying to find something that he enjoys. Otis likes walks, that's about it!!!! He loves to be outside so we do as much outside as we can.

[yorkiesmiles]

Welcome to YT! If you've only had him for 3 days, he could still be adjusting to you & his new surroundings, he may warm up to all the toys still.

Get him an Everlasting Treat Ball - that will definitely keep in busy. My Bubba doesn't care about toys, but he loves this!

Once this little guy has a name, be sure to sign him up for our Little Gentleman's Club, you can do so on this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ight=gentleman

[mogli]

The problem is clear ... you have a cat!!! (I'm kidding) ...

Enjoy your baby. Some don't like toys ... some just need to warm up or find the right one: plush, rubber, bouncy, noisy, etc ... so many different types!