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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Lynne has been training dogs since 1985. She has worked as head trainer for two facilities, a studio trainer (print ads, commercials and television) and as a continuing ed and certification rep for what was then the largest dog training company in the US. Lynne is a member of the IACP and keeps her training techniques current by attending various seminars and reading books. She currently competes in the sport of schutzhund, has a registered therapy dog, and has started her young Papillion in agility. Lynne owns and runs Blazing Trails K9 Academy in Santa Clarita/Antelope valley California.
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6/12/2005
I have a beautiful Australian Shepard adult female I rescued from a puppyfarm situation. She is affectionate, but has no idea how to play. How can I get her interested in playing or possibly agility. I have had her a year or so now and bought her toys, but she has no interest in them. When I try to tease and get her to play she is confused and afraid. (mightymike, Florida)
There are a few reasons why a dog may not be terribly interested in toys or playing. Maybe she never learned how, or maybe she just doesn't care and it's not a big
motivator for her. Or maybe she got in trouble for an attempt to play once. Whatever the reason, you can lessen the stress for her in the situation by lowering the pressure to get her to play. If she doesn't particularly like it, don't force it. She may not like that particular type of play, but play can come in all forms.
Ask any child to define what their idea of play is and you'll get a different answer. One child might like kickball, another might like board games, another might be more content playing video games. Every dog is different. Some like to play tug games, others like to catch and "kill" prey. Some like to play fetch, or chew, or "find it". I have a dog that doesn't particularly care for much except praise from me. His favorite game is hide and seek. I hide, call him to me, and praise him LOTS when he finds me. He'll wear
himself out looking for me.
So probably the first item on the agenda would be to determine what SHE wants to
do and what SHE considers play. Is she food motivated? Will she do anything for a treat? Then food might be more interesting to her. If you REALLY want her to play with a toy, and she's motivated by food, you can associate the toy with food. If she touches the toy,
she gets a "good" and a piece of food. Next she has to move the toy to get the food. Next she has to put her mouth on the toy to get the food reward. Then maybe she has to retrieve the toy, or tug on it or whatever other game you're trying to teach her to play.
Food can be a strong motivator and pairing it up with toys can make toys and play become more enticing. Also, try different types of toys. I have a dog that LOVES the ball on the rope but doesn't care at all for a jute tug toy. It's important to experiment with
different textures and weights and sizes of toys until you find one might be
most enticing to the dog. A fleece squeaky toy and a rubber ball are completely different toys in a dogs mind. Try to think of what might be more enticing to her. Does she like to watch things move (like prey)? Then a ball might be more enticing. Is she interested in the noise a squeaky makes? Than that might be a better toy for her. Remember that chew toys and play toys are different. A play toy would be a toy that only comes out with you and requires supervision.
One thing I've found to help with dogs that are a little nervous about playing with something new is to make it YOUR special toy. Bring it home and without even glancing in her direction play with it excitedly by yourself. If she gets nervous, don't play TOO
excitedly but try petting it (the toy) and talking to it in an interesting voice. The goal is to get her to look at you curiously when you do this, while appearing like you're ignoring her. Then put the toy away and bring it out the next day and repeat. Again, don't look at her or try to get her to play. Simply play with it by yourself. After awhile, many dogs will
take a few cautious steps towards your new found toy. If she does this, calmly tell her good and play with the toy by yourself a bit longer then put it away. Only continue to play while she's watching curiously. If she gets scared, lessen your movement or noise
level the next time. If she's bored, become more excited and maybe run AWAY with the toy. Within awhile she'll be less scared of toys and of you playing (which lets face it, in her eyes you've lost your mind as you start playing with toys). The longer you remain
interested in the toy itself and don't let her have it, the more she'll want it. If you've ever watched a multi dog household with toys in it, you've noticed that every dog’s favorite toy is whatever is in the next dog’s mouth. This is the attitude you're banking on.
In summary, decrease the pressure to play by being more easy going about it. Realize that a dog does not HAVE to play with a toy to do agility (my own Papillion chooses what he's interested in that day. Sometimes he could care less about food or toys but is motivated by the obstacles themselves, or an excited voice from me). Choose toys and games that SHE'D be more interested in. And then make it more exciting by being
interested in it yourself and playing "keep away" with it. Hope this helps!
Lynne Gifford
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