Dog Doesn't Play

Behavioral Issues
Log in to reply
  • S

    I am currently fostering a 7 year old boy basenji and he doesn't seem to have any interest in playing at all. He loves to go for walks and is very food motivated, but will not play with a ball or soft chew toy. The only thing I know of his history is that he was raised with another dog and some cats in the house, but near the end of his stay with his last family he was crated or put out side on a leash. I have never had a dog that has no desire to play.

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <<but will="" not="" play="" with="" a="" ball="" or="" soft="" chew="" toy.="">>

    Most of mine don't play with balls or soft chew toys. They play with each other, and sometimes with us humans. They will chew on their chew bones. I do have two girls that like to retrieve (on their terms…certain ball, only when they feel like it)...but other than that, I think basenjis, in general, play less with THINGs than other dogs. Ours prefer to play with each other.

    Depending on how long you have been fostering him, he may not feel comfortable to play yet either. As you may already know, playing requires a great level of comfort....maybe as he gets more comfortable, he will relax.</but>

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    Jazzy doesn't really "Play" either. She will wrestle with our other dog, occasionally she'll wrestle w/me and one of our daughters, but seldom with the other kids or Darren.
    She will sometimes chase/retrieve a stuffed toy, if she's in the mood.
    And she will shake and gut her stuffed animals.
    But mostly, she likes to sleep!

    0
  • MantisM

    try a piece of papertowel or a wadded up paper ball…my two go nuts over the simple things....a cardboard box will keep them entertained as well! LOL

    Caesar and Cairo….the boys

    0
  • S

    I tried the tissue idea last night and all he did was tear a bit off and eat it, lol. I also tried to tie a string to a bag and fuzzy chew toy and drag it to get him to chase it and he just looks at me like I'm an idiot. In everything else he is a wonderful dog, it's just strange to me to meet a dog who doesn't like to tug a toy or rope. I do know that tugging comes with trust, but he doesn't seem like he doesn't trust me. He LOVES massages and food, so I guess I will have to be happy with that.

    0
  • lvossL

    How long have you been fostering him? It usually takes 2-4 weeks for them to really settle in. Then they can be really mischievous causing all sorts of trouble as it sinks in that they are there to stay for awhile.

    0
  • C

    I am so glad I found this thread. I recently adopted a one year old male Basenji mix and at first he had no desire to play with anything. Then yesterday he took one of his raw hide chews and threw it up in the air and then pounced on it.

    Today, we were out in the back yard and I tossed an orange tennis type ball and he went after it and tossed it and then went after it and tossed it! It was a hoot to watch him. I guess he is feeling comfortable with his new routine. I have no history for him, he just appeared in our neighborhood and was around for a few weeks before I decided to take him to the vet hospital to see if he was chipped. He wasn't and I wound up adopting him.

    He is however, very shy and timid around things. The ice dropping in the freezer freaks him out, as does me towel drying my hair, clicking an ink pen and all sorts of other little things. I am hoping he will get over some of this as he gets more ingrained in our routines and knows that we will not hurt him.

    0
  • MantisM

    I find that my basenjis on fetch inside when they are really relaxed and not distracted…

    my guys have had tons of toys....the ones they like the most are the game birds from petsmart. they have a quacking sound and crunchy plastic inside...

    my boy will fetch it until he is bored, and my girl would just try to eat the stuffing out.

    i never gave them a lot of treats, so when a paper towel comes out....oh man....they sit and are intense!! LOL..I let the paper towel float down on their heads and they grab it and run....let the shredding begin!!!

    I just clean it up when my girl would try to eat it. my boy never did. simple stuff....

    hey, you could always get a cat for them to chase, LOL, just kidding!

    Caesar and Cairo….the boys

    0
  • jys1011J

    Mantis-that's a great idea!!

    It took my B's three whole months to really get relaxed enough to play. It's all about how comfy they are feeling. Give it some time. I also tried a trick where you open up a tennis ball & stuff it with a treat & then toss it. They'll bring it back for more treats :D :D smart doggies!! HA!

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

    0
  • MantisM

    I bet if you lay a roll of TP out you will see some action….:o

    Caesar and Cairo….the boys

    0
  • MaxBooBooBearM

    Max never did play with toys. Pepper, my german shepherd mix loved fetch and always carried around a tennis ball or stuffed animal. I would throw the tennis ball in the yard–Pepper would run to go get it, and Max would run after Pepper--but he would never run after the ball. I would leave Max's treats in paper bags around the house after Pepper was gone when I had to go to work, and he would shred the paper bags and eat the treats.

    0
  • jys1011J

    MaxBBB that's a GREAT idea! :D

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

    0

Suggested Topics

  • T

    Help!! Constant whining & can't figure out what he wants!

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    G
    @Nancy-Berry said I'm glad that it's getting so that their dew claws don't have to be removed! Yes. Having, or not having, dew claws is definitely not indicative of a good or bad breeder, or of the quality of the dog. I have had 2 different rescue Basenjis without dew claws who originated from "show" breeders; and I currently have a Basenji that I am showing who HAS dew claws. I would certainly hope that any judge would not base any decisions on whether or not a dog has dew claws. The only problem with leaving dew claws on a Basenji is that it increases the odds of their ability to use power tools! -Joanne
  • J

    Basenjis that can't stand other basenjis

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    wizardW
    My previous males never had an opportunity to meet other basenjis (outside their breeder kennel) so don't know if the experience with my current female is "typical" or not. The first time she encountered another, it was a tri-color older female that was a real bitch and instantly got aggressive (now whenever they see each other its "hackles up"). The first time I took her to a lure coursing event, mine was friendly enough until a little blind female came up and bit her. The second time I took her to a LGRA event, a lady came up behind us (while mine was trying to potty) with her tricolor female and her dog attacked mine. So now hackles go up any time another female comes within shouting distance.
  • KipawaK

    First 'hump' today

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    P
    In my opinion puppy humping is just a natural thing - lambs do it too. Yes it may be a dominance issue, I'm not sure. They usually grow out of it if and irt's quite easy to gently discourage them but above all don't make an issue of it.
  • T

    8 month old is biting…can't get him under control

    Behavioral Issues
    81
    0 Votes
    81 Posts
    39k Views
    Patty MP
    I'm a cheerleader for you and Tango! Please let us know what is going on, and remember, that we all have wonderful basenjis on our laps… I'm getting ready to go to bed, but here is my girl, all cuddled up in a cat-like curl, waiting for me to carry her to bed... and we live in FLORIDA? Too cute. :) Thank you for believing in Tango. He is new to this thing called life, and at the end of the day, all he wants to do is please you. I sincerely believe that basenjis are sensitive to our moods, and when they get scared/tense/mad and react, and then WE react... they react back. I'm so grateful that you didn't toss Tango into the basenji orphanage... I believe that he will be come the most loyal B there ever is! :)
  • basenjiboy20B

    I don't know what to do :(

    Behavioral Issues
    40
    0 Votes
    40 Posts
    12k Views
    kngK
    After having my girl for several years she become very irritable and out of control. She even attacked a friend's dog. It ended up she was diabetic. She is now on insulin. Now when she get irritable I know her glucose is out of control again and off to vet to adjust her dose. You really need to rule out all possible medical issues. If it isn't medical you might want to look at other option. It might be a little weird to some people but I have had a lot of luck with pet communicator with different pets over the years. It can help, just make sure you find a good one. Check out web site for someone I used in the past http://www.petcommunicator.com/
  • F

    Foster won't stop licking the sofa (and everything else!)

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    snorky998S
    My female (Katie) will lick on the DH and DD a scab, scar, cut, mosquito bite, etc…, anything perceived as an "owie" to the point of re-opening a wound. We always thought of it as her overly active maternal instincts. (She's spayed--never had a litter--thank the B. gods;) ) We never had a licker of inanimate objects. Leather sofa I can see....scent or smell attraction. Katie did go through a phase where she started to lick herself, usually a mosquito bite or something irritating, and she slobbered so much on her leg that the couch or bed around her was wet, so she'd OCD and want to clean the slobber area, thus creating a larger and larger Basenji spit area. There's nothing like getting into what you think is a nice, cozy warm bed, then finding a huge damp spot--PANIC, PANIC, PANIC--first thought is someone has a peed on the bed, so you immediately, without thought, stick your nose right in it to smell:eek: We also use the "that's enough" command, then re-direct the B's attention to a more appropriate object/behavior.