Advice Needed
 

I have a problem and I am not sure how to handle it. Jada my little almost 5 year old has only one toy that she has ever played with. It took her almost a year of being with us to even play with it. She was 2.5 years old when we adopted her and she didn't even know what a toy was.
Her beloved loofah dog is getting threadbare and I don't think he has but a few months left before he is going to fall completely apart. I have bought her about 5 or 6 different loofah dogs and she won't go near them. I talked to my vet about it and asked if he had any ideas on how to get her to accept a different toy. He said the only thing he could recommend was to take her favorite away and let her have access to one of the others. I really don't think that it is going to work.
Does anyone have an idea of how I can get her to accept a new toy. I am going to be heartbroken for her, if I can't get her to take up with a new one, when "yellow Dog" (her loofah's name:p) finally goes to the rainbow bridge.

Maybe you can hold it yourself for a while. Just when your sitting and watching TV. No playing with her with it, just showing her that you like the toy and your interest make provoke hers.

^^ i agree, also that would get your scent all over it, that might spike interest. I know Ziggy is never interested in a new toy unless i (pretend) he cant have it.. he likes to chase so thats how i introduce new toys! hope you find a way that works for you two

I know Chloe tends to be jealous, you might use that to your advantage by showing the new toy some attention......causing it to provoke her interest...LOL

Post a picture of it and see if a YT member has one that they may be willing to part with! I know we have loads of toys my babies no longer play with. If we happen to have one, I'd love to send it to you...just a thought.

maybe it is the smell as well as the feel and look.
Could you take part of yellow dog and sew it on a new "yellow dog 2"
and then extend the life of ole yellow dog???

That is a great idea or maybe make yellow dog a new suit

Can you get an identical one? Nala has a favorite "Puff Dragon" that is her favorite that she sleeps with (and humps:rolleyes:) and when it was destroyed we replaced it with a new one she sleeps with that one too.

What if you just got fabric and sewed it around the old toy??

I thought this same thing. Cut up old yellow dog and sew patches of him onto new yellow dog. It might work:)

Oh that is so sad that she never had toys. :( So glad you got her and showed her a different life. Rosie used to have this one toy she loved. So, I went and purchased all the store had. :D When one got bad, we got out another. We would put her old one up and give her the new one. At first, she would just look for her old one but then she ended up taking the new. However, Rosie didn't have any hurdles to overcome either. But maybe try an identical one. It could be worth a shot. And yes, like some one posted, put a picture on here. I have toys all over the place. Some brand new. And I know I have a yellow dog. Just not sure if it is the same one as yours. But I would be willing to send it if it would help.

Attachment 353325

Here is a pic of Jada and her beloved "Yellow Dog"
You guys rock!! What a bunch of good ideas:) I have about 7 of these loofah dogs and two almost identical to this one. I am going to try each idea one at a time for a couple of weeks and see if we have some success. Thanks so much for taking the time to help a stressed mommy.


I don't know why but my pic is not loading...I am at work and not sure why it won't work. I will try to upload it from home when I get off.

Try searching toy drive games too, on agility sites, I was trying to find you a guide, but my coach changed her website. Agility people really want their dogs trained on toys rather than food, and some of them actually have to train their dogs to like toys, if you can find a video or guide that explains some of that training, you may be able to teach her to like other toys. Does she like food treats? you could always start rewarding her for interacting with new toy...

What I would do is either get a toy where you can hide food in it for her and then when she plays with it open it up and give the food. Or if not, just place new toy on the ground and sit by it and stare at the toy.... if she walks near it (click or mark if you clicker train) and give a treat... then if she look at it, give a treat, then if she sniffs it, give a treat, at this point start putting food on the toy (it becomes a treat dispenser) then she needs to push it around with her nose, and give a treat, and IF SHE PICKS IT UP, cheer and jump for joy, and give her a jackpot!

If you need any help with trying this feel free to PM me, I "shape" almost all of my behaviours with Harley, this may help your little one like toys more.

Oh and I also agree with the sewing parts of old yellow dog onto the new one, I did that with Harley's favorite toy until he destroyed the second one, now he likes all his tugs.

Does it have stuffing inside or not? I can't really tell. :)

Can you see the picture...I am at work and for some reason I am not seeing the picture I uploaded???? It is stuffed:D

I had to open it in another tab to get to see it. Ok, I will see what I got!! Hopefully we can find one for that baby! :)