Quote:
Originally Posted by islstl  Just adopted my wonderful Max as of this past Friday (from a foster home).
10 months old. 11 lb Teapot (just got accepted to the club).
He is awesome. Does great when I walk him. Fully potty trained. Extremely affectionate (aren't they all?). Needs a little work with socializing with other dogs (especially ones bigger than him).
I got him a couple of small stuffed toys and a rubber squeaky ball. The lady from the pet rescue who brought him home to me said he doesn't like rubber toys. But he doesn't play with the stuffed toys either.
I know yorkies can take on many different personality traits, but I was just wondering if this is somewhat common?
My sister-n-law's yorkie goes crazy with his toys and is extremely playful.
I thought maybe it's just a matter of Max adjusting to his new home and possibly coming out of his shell.
Just wondering. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. |
First he is just settling in, so a little more time is needed before you get to see his full personality emerge.
But generally speaking what you are talking about is something called Drive. And in your case you would like to build Toy Drive.
Most dogs are born with different amounts of drive, from low to high. But all dogs can build drive. Sometimes with owners what they do happily works out and your puppy builds the drive.
Now to build drive: Start with very short time frames like 2-4 minutes a day. Take a toy, not the rubber one, but the other one. This toy is going to be kept out of sight and reach of your pup, Except for when you bring it out to play with.
Now you need to generate some excitment in your voice and actions for this toy:
As you remove it from the drawer call your dog, hopefully they come. Remove toy from drawer. Make a high pitch excited tone with your voice, and say something like OH MY what have I hear. Look MAX , see this. If it has a squeaker in it, the squeak, ooohhhh with your voice,, throw it up in the air, catch it - squeez it hold it Now walk out of the room with it.
Hopefully by now Max is interested and follows you. Try to dangle/shake it gently near his face, with some sounds on your part (not loud sounds) but something like : Max ya want this? Want it Max? Here Max, take it
If he takes it great - goood boy see if he will bring it back to you of his own accord If so great praise again. Take the toy, repeat exercise, and see if he will take toy. If so great ,,,, If not no problem,
Just say that's all for now Max Put toy away.