[gemy]

I just wanted to offer my sympathy for what you are going through right now with your dog.

Your rescue dog is eight years old. It is a time of life that dogs can begin to show age related symptoms. I assume that you are under financial pressure being unemployed; but you need to get some medical assistance for your pup. There can be many reasons for an abrupt change in behaviour; many of which are medical in nature.

Have you considered selling some "stuff" on ebay? Offer some babysitting services? Would your vet be interested in an exchange of services? Could you offer to clean his clinic, in exchange for medical assessment/treatment? Perhaps you have computer skills he might need. Night time reception work?

In terms of your pup. Let's talk about "how you call come for your boy". When you are in the other room; is there a happy and excited lilt to your voice? If not really try that out. Come is one command that a puppy/dog, should always be rewarded for. You want to create the environment that coming to you is always, happy, exciting, secure, comforting, in otherwords, everything positive.

Food/Eating. Try this out. Have breakfast with your dog. Start in the same room, but place his food distant to you; then you sit down and eat too. Make some enjoyable sounds with your food. Ignore the dog.

Toy Drive: As a puppy mill breeder, he was never ever exposed to toys and fun times. No wonder he doesn't know how to play; he has never played!
It is possible to teach and adult dog to enjoy play. It will take a lot longer though; and is really dependent upon your dedication, imagination, and time devoted to the "task" at hand.
First you need to find and get re-acquainted with your own inner kid. Cultivate a sense of wonder and play.
Then select a toy, get one that squeaks, but don't use the squeaker yet. Place a toy in say a kitchen drawer; this is where you are going to "hide your toy" and only bring out this toy for fun and games.

Step 1. Go to the drawer. Find "your toy", with lots of happy lilting excitement in your voice. Oh boy, wowee Look at this. Continue talking, rambling if you will, with that same happy voice. Play with your toy. throw it up in the air and catch it! Shake and wiggle it around. Oh boy look at this TOY. Hopefully your pup has come into the room to investigate these happy sounds. Continue on with your game. Likely he will just watch the first few times. And let that be; that is good!. Name your toy. IDK - call it Mr Wiggles. Personalizing things, does help us to interact with "the toy".
Sounds silly doesn't it? Who cares? Enjoy your game.

If your boy doesn't come into the room to investigate. No worries. Put your toy away for now; again with some voicing out loud; oh dear Mr Wiggles; it is time to rest now.

Spend about 2-3 minutes doing this; 2-3 times per day. After three days, if your boy has not come to investigate, THEN..

Step 2. Go into the room where he is. Hide the toy in the room he is in. Try not to let him see you do that.

Then; do the same as step !, but in a softer/less volumne tone, after all you are in the same room.

Exercise: I think you said you only walk 2X per week? Not sure if you meant that; or if you meant you go to the dog park 2x per week.

Daily exercise is so very important for your pup and as a side note for you too!

A healthy dog should be quite fine with 2 - 30 minute walks a day. Now let's make those walks interesting. Change up the route. Change your pacing during the walk. Talk to your dog when walking. Make/ note of interesting things on your walk. A lovely flower, a butterfly on the wing, a grand old oak tree. Explore your environment as a health dog would. Stop, touch, smell things on your walk.
On a beautiful day, bring a book with you, sit under a tree with your dog, and read aloud to him.

It doesn't matter what really you do with him, but that you are with him. Companionship does wonders; for both the human and the doggie.

I do hope that things turn around for both you and the dog.