|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
04-21-2009, 01:05 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st paul, mn
Posts: 35
| teaching a P.M. rescue to play? I've had sammy since early november. He's about 9 years old, no teeth. He is a total, submissive sweetheart! The best cuddler (and snorer) you've ever known! But, like many puppy mill rescues, he doesn't know how to play with people, other dogs, or toys.... He is not food motivated. His favorite pastime is hanging out on the couch, though he is learning walking is ok. I just don't see any JOY in him... You know-when a puppy plays they get that joyful look? I want him to have fun, not just passively enjoy life (which is ok if that is what he truly needs). If anyone has any suggestions AT ALL, I would try anything! (he has a poodle sister who is 9 lbs, a bit big for him, but he runs when she looks like she might want to play with him). ONE TIME he picked up a toy and threw it in the air twice (about 3 months ago).... then he ran and hid.... |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-22-2009, 09:38 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TX
Posts: 3,358
| My sweet Annie B was a breeder at a puppy mill before I got her at 4 1/2 yrs old. It sounds like Sammy is a lot like she was, no teeth, no idea about toys or playing. Well, other then the food motivated part...Annie was very food motivated. She never did play with toys, although I final stumbled upon a small rope that she liked to chew on. But not always, only on occasion. She never really played with Sadie or Boo, but would lay with them and enjoyed being near them. It took me nearly 2 years to get her over most of her fears and for me to see joy in her face. Small steps, always watching out for her stress levels and double watchful of what was going so that she always knew I would protect her. She did come around and finally was able to enjoy life, although she never did typical dog things, she had a great 8 years with me before the Lord called her home. Give Sammy some time, work hard at protecting him so that he'll learn that you will take care of everything and he can just relax and enjoy life. I've a million stories I could share, but won't bore you with them. But please feel free to contact me at any time if you'd like some input or things to try. They are just a little different then other dogs, but the love, affection and devotion you get back is huge! Annie the day I brought her home. AnnieB.jpg Happy Annie Annie B.JPG Annie-1.JPG Ready for her ride on the motorcycle, one of her absolute favorite things to do that didn't involve food. 6Jun.JPG
__________________ If you think dogs can't count, put 3 biscuits in your pocket, then give him only 2. Gracie Ruth & Boo & Yogi & RIP Annie B. & Bonnie Lane |
04-22-2009, 10:24 AM | #3 | |
Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc.
Posts: 9,031
| Quote:
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-articles/Dog_Training/page_16/Puppy_Mill_Breeding_Dog_Rehabilitation.html http://www.mchumane.org/RehabilitationofaPuppyMillDog.shtml Sadly, there are some that never lose that sad, desolate look in their eyes. All you can do is love them and accept them the way they are and just continue to give them the best home possible. Sounds like Sammy has a wonderful loving home. If we can help you in any way, please just ask. Teresa .... what a wonderful person you are for accepting and loving sweet Annie B in spite of her imperfections! So many people would have just passed her by. I'm so happy for her that she had 8 wonderful, happy years with you and I'm certain that she felt all the love!
__________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein | |
04-22-2009, 10:54 AM | #4 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| We rescued Lane from a puppymill bust just before Christmas 2008. So, we will have had her exactly 4 months tomorrow, but it surely feels longer - I can't imagine my life without her. I think Rory, the yorkie we already had, really taught Lane how to play. Lane was estimated to be around 2 when we rescued her (and in much better shape than some of these sweet rescues), and Rory will be 2 in August, so I think that they are similar in age/activity level probably helped. She has mimicked many of the things we have seen Rory do. The first time I saw Lane play on her own was for a bully stick. She kind of walked past it and then kind of tried to play with it almost how she'd play with another dog - little butt up in the air, pouncing around. When we first got her she had NO idea what to do with a toy, the squeakers scared her, she must have thought Rory was crazy with her fetch obsession, and now she is joining right in. I was so upset thinking she may never show that joy on her face that you are talking about...but at 9 years old, coming from such a horrible place, I'm sure living with you is just like Heaven! Does your poodle like to play with toys or balls? Maybe if Sammy sees her play with the toys, he will start to model some of his behavior after hers? Another thing to consider is that he may just be more of a cuddle bug than a "player." I know you said he wasn't food motivated, and I don't think that chews would excite him since the poor baby can't chew very well. Does he show any interest in a plush toy if you let him sniff it?
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. |
04-22-2009, 12:02 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TX
Posts: 3,358
| Quote:
__________________ If you think dogs can't count, put 3 biscuits in your pocket, then give him only 2. Gracie Ruth & Boo & Yogi & RIP Annie B. & Bonnie Lane | |
04-22-2009, 12:03 PM | #6 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st paul, mn
Posts: 35
| My poodle, Abby, does play with plushes and balls, but it scares sammy so bad, he goes and hides behind the toilet! And just so you wonderful folks know-he doesn't have a sad look in his eyes.... he's just not joyful! |
04-22-2009, 12:15 PM | #7 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| Aww, poor Sammy. He probably just thinks Abby is crazy. I kind of think in his own time he might start to get curious about what it is she is doing and investigate. I'll bet *he* thinks his life is perfect as it is already.
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. |
04-22-2009, 12:45 PM | #8 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj
Posts: 1,256
| Quote:
Are there any small puppy play groups on your area? Where I send Milo to doggy daycare they have puppy socials in two groups to teach dogs how to just be dogs and have fun. | |
04-22-2009, 12:59 PM | #9 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| That is a really good point! Rory had always attended daycare while we were at work, and once we added Lane to the mix she started attending every day during the work week too. I could have easily underestimated how valuable that was to teaching her how to play...
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. |
04-22-2009, 01:01 PM | #10 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj
Posts: 1,256
| Quote:
| |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart