My Higgins will usually "throw" one of his toys at me. Then, if I ignore him, he will give a slight whine, escalating to a bark if I don't respond. But the one way he can ALWAYS get me to play with him, or take him out, is to sit up like a little prairie dog right in front of me and tilt his little face from side to side. I mean, how can you possibly resist that? Huh?