Flash was adopted from the racetrack in West Memphis, AR two years ago this summer. Weather permitting, we go to the doggie park as much as is possible. He has never learned to play. He will chase the other dogs running after a ball, frisbee, etc, but will never try to pick the object up himself. I have tried teaching him how to play in the back yard, but he doesn’t respond. Any ideas?
Is lure coursing bad for them? When Flash was adopted we had to sign papers saying he would never race again. Does this get too close to “racing”? I’ve heard of groups getting together to do lure coursing but don’t know much more than that.
Fetching is not necessarily play to a dog. I have a dog with the same problem. She loves to run and chase almost anything, but will not chase a ball, stick or toy. She apparently learned to play roughhouse, so she will start to tear at any clothing you have on if you let her.
But last week, she found a glove in the snow and started tossing it around and going after it. I’m going to start with that and see if I can get her to play with things other than clothing, but I never saw her so happy as when she found that glove. We even played tug-of-war a bit.
You have to start where the dog is at and keep trying different things and keep watching what she likes to do.
Try this site, and search others: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/teaching-old-dogs-new-tricks/page1.aspx
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My first greyhound was a bit older when i got him and he was returned twice for stupid reasons. then i had to get him a girlfriend same thing with her. they didn’t even know her name. dancer my female Does play and racey will play alittle now. they are never able to play while on the track. if they are not racing then they are put in a little cage.racey and dancer will not get in a cage to this day.they simply do not know how to play.but they do know what love is.
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Greyhounds are unique beasts.
My greyhounds love to play, but they do not fetch. Perhaps the lack of fetching has to do with how they were trained to race. But my dogs love to run around and chanse things.
Why don;t you make a lure? Take a long flexible pole. I used a 9 foot bamboo rod. Attach some heavy cord about 9 feet and a chew bone Then you can fling it around and have the dog chase after it. It is called Lure Coursing and greyhounds are naturals.
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Some dogs don’t understand the concept of inanimate objects bringing happiness, to them it just sits there & they’re required to respond, (dogs understand the cause & effect concept). The whole fact that your dog understands play with other dogs is a monumental success in social standpoints considering his background, but also considering he is a greyhound they’re not a breed which was born to fetch, retrievers, on the other hand, have it bred into them.
I’ve adopted a dog which has no interest in toys either, but the underlying communicator for any dog is most likely food. The only “toy” that dog enjoys is a stuffed Kong. If you REALLY want your dog to learn fetch I suggest starting slow, as if the dog puts the ball in it’s mouth, give it a treat, if you roll the ball between your two hands & it shows interest, treat, if the dog picks it up while you roll it tantalyzingly, treat. Start slow & use food.
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Give the dog a break! It’s retired! All its wishes is to lounge around and eat and that poor dog deserves to not be bothered. Love it and try to make as happy as possible!
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Have you tried buying a variety toys?
It takes time…
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