'Toy'? What's that?

[MollyAndMe]

So....how do I get Molly to play with toys?

..............Are play at all, for that matter............

She's 5 years old and we recently adopted her. Poor baby, I don't want to think about how she was raised..........but she's come a long way these past couple of weeks.

I don't think she was ever played with, or had the chance to be a puppy...

Squeaky toys just seem to get on her nerves, rolling balls don't phase her at all............lol............idk.

I'm kind of happy in a way that she dosen't chew on things, but I still would like her to play. Every once in a while she get's hyper and runs around with me, but I can't keep her going too long. She hangs her head down and it's really sad.........like she's ashamed of herself....

Please help. How do I make her know it's okay to have fun?!?
What are some games we can play?

She loves walks, but really dosen't like treats or cookies.

Thanks guys!

[cdawnfine]

It would be a good idea to take a general obidience class with her where she will learn basic commands the more she learns the more confident she will feel it is also a great bonding time for the two of you. Milo is not really food motivated as well I have found the following things do work those as treats. Natural Balance roll, Paul Newman Turkey and Sweet Potato treats, Cheese, Boiled Chicken and Turkey Hot Dogs all in very small amounts.

I hope this helps once she feels more confident the rest will follow. And if she already knows basic comands set aside some you and her time to practice them.

[MollyAndMe]

Originally Posted by cdawnfine

It would be a good idea to take a general obidience class with her where she will learn basic commands the more she learns the more confident she will feel it is also a great bonding time for the two of you. Milo is not really food motivated as well I have found the following things do work those as treats. Natural Balance roll, Paul Newman Turkey and Sweet Potato treats, Cheese, Boiled Chicken and Turkey Hot Dogs all in very small amounts.

I hope this helps once she feels more confident the rest will follow. And if she already knows basic comands set aside some you and her time to practice them.

Thanks for the reply!!

She knows: Stay, Come, "let's go outside", .......... we have a hard time with 'Sit'. I really think she knows what it means, but she hates doing it.

But she does love cheese! And Peanut butter. it's the only way I can get her to eat her food............i'm just afaid of giving her too much.

[cdawnfine]

Its best not to give too much it will become much harder with the food. That is one of the reasons I like the Natural Balance Roll because it is also a food but they do not reaize it. Try things like Paw and High Five and make a big deal out of everything to get her excited. If you got her to understand the word Come you are halfway there that is the hardest one.

[Nancy1999]

Yeah, I think you need to find a good dog food that she will eat. If you tempt them with too much, or give too many treats they will become more finicky and hold off for tastier food. Sometime sprinkling Parmesan cheese on their dog food helps, but I would withhold all treats and other foods for 24 hours and let her eat dog food. She will not starve herself, and she's old enough that she can go without a meal or two, and you don't have to worry. I even use Joey's regular dog food as "treats" because he went through a period of being ultra fussy, and it can be really difficult, but you have to tell yourself, that you are doing what's best for them.

Many older dogs, just aren't that into toys, and especially if they have not played with them as puppies. Joey loved all toys as a puppy, but at 2 ½ he is really choosy about the toys he plays with, and he really only plays with them if we are playing with them too. The first year was different, and he loved all toys.

[lainzee]

Sorry to revive an old thread, and there are a lot of good ideas here, but if anyone has any new ideas it would be great. My Meesha seems to be like the OP's dog. She doesn't seem to know what to do with little plush toys (but she does like carrying around a sock). Squeaky toys and throwing or rolling balls seem to scare her (she looks scared when I squeeze a squeaky to and she runs away if I roll a ball or toss a toy near her). She doesn't really play with her little kong when I fill it with peanut butter - she just uses her little tongue to lick out what she can reach and then loses interest. The only thing I've found that she really likes is to chew on her bully stick.

She wasn't hurt or abused ever I don't think. However, I'm pretty sure her past owner babied her and treated her more like a mobile doll than a real dog. She's come a little ways so far in the week I've had her. She walks on a leash now, and I'm teaching her sit. She knows come, and her name. She seems like she wants to play, but I don't know what she would like to play with or how to get her to play. I will probably enroll her in a beginning training class sometime in the next couple weeks, but would like any other ideas until then.

[GPONTLITZ]

My jd didn't like toys at all, i got him at 6 months. I'd wondered if that was the reason, he's picky on food, and other than little recipe box of treats i'm wasting money buying any other.. But when it comes to following me and loving me he's right up front and center.. Guess i'll accept his habbits as he has mine..

[London01]

When I gopt London last Thanksgiving at 2.5 years, she did not like or understand toys either. I did a seach and found some old threads from folks in a similar situation. They suggested the blue nylabones (dental), and they were right, London loves 'em. We buy 2 dozen for the year.

Good luck!

[Britster]

Jackson's never been big on toys and he's still a pup sort of at 7 months. I think some dogs like them and some don't. Now, Jackson DOES like the squeaky toys a lot but usually only when I play with him! lol. Andddd... the problem is Jackson always gets the squeaker out so then it's not fun anymore lol.

[misslofly]

Honestly, I've never had a dog that is afraid of squeaky toys or doesn't enjoy playing with their toys. I've always had dogs since they were puppies so maybe they have always had positive experiences with the toys whereas some older dogs who have been adopted may not have positive experiences.
For dogs that are afraid of the squeaky toys, you can start giving reinforcement everytime you squeak the toy. This will help the dog associate the squeak with something positive rather than negative. Once that fear is over you can probably add some more steps to it. For instance, when the dog gets close to the toy give him reinforcement; when the dog picks up the toy give him reinforcement; when the dog chases the toy give him reinforcement; when the dog chases the toy and brings it back give him reinforcement. These are all small steps to get the final outcome. Once the dog has "mastered" the previous step, the reinforcement should only be given for the target step.
Give it a try...I've never done this for a dog with toy-phobias or with an older dog, but I've taught tricks to dogs using this type of thing and I work with children with developmental disabilities using similar teaching strategies.