Playing

[dylans mum]

Hello 

I'm a newbie to the site. We re-home a black 2 year old cocker spaniel back in September. He's beutiful  and settling in with us really well except for one thing...

...he won't play with any toys 

we've not had a cocker before (we've mainly a heinz 57 doggy background) and never ever come across a dog that won't play, is this normal???

we wondered if it has anything to do with his past. He was obviously very loved and well cared for, but he lived with his brother who was much more of a dominant dog and obviously made most of the decisions for the pair. his previous owner left notes with the rescue centre that both dogs loved playing so it seems a bit strange that he has stopped. The brothers had to be separated as after the recuse center sent them away for neutering, they fought when they were put back in together.

while he's completely taken over our house and our lives, he's generally quite a nervous little chap outside the house and is not at all sure about new dogs and new people

we've tried every sort of toy possible and not a sausage. the closest he gets to playing is tipping up the washing basket so he can steal dirty socks and bury them in his basket

any suggestions?

[Robbie34]

I shouldn't worry about it.  Charley doesn't bother much with toys, and won't chase a ball and return it.  He has a knotted rope and ond one of those soft bone things which he will carry around to show visitors.  Otherwise he is not much interested.

A previous Black Cocker that I had seemed to be obsessed with chasing a ball.  He wanted to play at all hours.

[LouiseAS]

I have a little golden girl and no amount of trying in the 6yrs I've had her can make her interested in toys.  The only she will fetch a ball is out of a river.  She's just happy to flush out pheasants, rabbits or any other wildlife on walks.

My other one Jakey is completely toy obsessed especially cuddly toys and balls.

They're like chalk and cheese 

[Colin]

If he's food motivated you could try a treat ball... or put treats in an empty plastic bottle with the lid off.

[pupdaddy]

Less things to trip over/clear up... Jarvis loves chewing his toys - doesn't look after them like some dogs

[joanne_v]

Its still early days, you might find that over the next few months he'll start playing and will become more relaxed in other situations too. I've had my rehomed black cocker 4 months now and she's probably not yet fully settled. It takes a while

Goodluck

[Cazzie]

A couple of mine wont play with toys but love either kongs or good quality chews. Its not something id be overly concerned about, maybe he's never had the luxury of toys before you got him 

He looks lovely 

[Top Barks]

Pigs ears or tripe sticks wrapped in an old towel  or cloth with lots of knots and you could tie some thread so you can make it dance and move like prey.
Two of mine just want to play all the time whereas I have had to teach Oliver my old boy the virtues of chasing an object by using clicker training.
Welcome to COL by the way.
Mark

[Holly]

...he won't play with any toys 

while he's completely taken over our house and our lives, he's generally quite a nervous little chap outside the house and is not at all sure about new dogs and new people

This sounds so like Mouse. We've had her for nearly three months now and we are still learning so much about her.
She had no idea of how to play with other dogs, people or toys. However she is getting better and will play with my other cocker although she still never instigates a game.  I've tried various toys but she has no interest at all. I am slowly...very slowly making progress using a clicker with a soft toy.  She will now sniff  it and sometimes pick it up but she drops it again straight away.
I feel I would like to give her the opportunity to learn that toys are fun.  She is such a nervous little dog and everything is a confidence issue with her but if she doesn't develop an interest I'm not bothered.
I wouldn't worry too much maybe as his confidence grows in other areas he will start to take an interest.
Nothing would persuade my Welsh Springer to retrieve a toy. She works on the 'you threw it you fetch it' policy!

[kalami]

I'm glad someone asked this question. We have Bella who loves toys - even if they're not meant to be toys  , she even knows when I return home with a new one and gets dead excited. In contrast mother in laws puppy is not interested in toys at all, last week i was trying to play with her and get her interested she just ignored them I thought there was something wrong with her. Glad to see others are like this.

[CJ]

They're funny aren't they?  My old working type springer bitch never could see the sense in playing, but get her on the scent of a pheasant (!!!?!?).  Teal (show type cocker) loves to play, very competitive when others are playing ball, only problem is that the collies give the ball up to play with again and she runs off with it and tries to bury it - it looks so funny when she tries to hide it, or use her nose to cover it with anything she can find.

If I want to instigate play then I usually say "ready, ready, ready?" in an excited voice (the neighbours probably think I'm mad) and that's enough to make them look up and come out to play.

Not now though, someone here is asleep on the sofa with their paws up in the air - snoring!!!

[dylans mum]

Hi everyone

Been away for a few weeks, but you were right - there have been some developments on Dylan's playing abilities as he's settled

Dirty washing is still definitely favourite, but rather than just burying it in his basket, he now comes and asks for a tug. He doesn't play for long, but at least it's a start!!

He's also stolen the teddy bear off the bed in the spare room  which is now also kept in his basket and he regularly brings this over as a present to one of us

We're thinking of donating all the proper doggie toys we bought for him back to the dogs home!!

[CJ]

Mmmm we have trouble with teddy in the spare room .  I told her that he was mine but she still fetches him down if I forget to close the bedroom door.  I also have to remove the loo roll from the bathroom too, as she thinks it great sport to  unravel it and eat the edges (try explaining the fringed look to visitors!!)