How to initiate puppy playing? Help

[OsaBarbosa]

Ok, we are finding that it is difficult to get Osa to play outside for any length of time. She loves it outside but ever since we had to do the whole 2 week leash walking stint to heal her leg, she seems like she needs to be taught to play again. She will play fetch for about 5 minutes and that is about it. Then she will just sit and look around. We try to change toys often but it doesn't seem to work. This is all after she has been in her crate while we are at work so I figured she would want to run around for a long time. If I start jumping around and acting like a goof she will start to get whiley again but I think then she thinks I am the toy and she wants to jump/chew on me.

Is there something that we are missing or is there something that we can do to get her going again?

Also, we will try to play for a while and when we come in to make dinner, she sometimes just lays down and acts like she is bored (which I think she is). We try to get her different toys to play with, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Any help would be greatly apprecited....

 

[OsaBarbosa]

Anyone, Anyone?

 

[malmo]

How old is Osa? She may be "aging out" of puppy play style and mellowing into a more adult dog. Sorry -- I don't know Osa's age off the top of my head.

As Milo got older, he would sometimes want to play and sometimes not. Same is true now that we have a puppy who wants to play constantly. Sometimes he's really good at playing with her. Other times he just wants to chill out.

I guess what I'm saying is that while she was recovering, she may also have been maturing a little. She might need less exercise?

It does sound in your post like you've found a few things that sometimes work -- being goofy yourself, playing a little fetch. Reward her for those things and they may become more fun and be likely to occur more often. I know Milo won't fetch without treats anymore...

Sorry I can't be more help. Remind us of Osa's age and breed?

 

[adojrts]

How long ago was she injured? Tossing a ball/toy for a pup to chase is often not recommended as it can injure them (wet grass or slippery floors are a no, no), especially with an old injury. Maybe 5 mins is all she can take before she hurts again..
What kind of injury did she have? How long ago, how long was she on restricted exercise? How old is she?

 

[OsaBarbosa]

She just turned 6 months old so she is still a puppy (Lab/Boxer mutt). It has been about two weeks since we were finished with the slow walking and we got the blessing from the vet to start exercising her more. She had a sprained knee. We have slowly built her exercise up more and more over the last two weeks to build up her muscles. She doesn't seem to have any difficulty on it.

I guess the one thing that I worry about with being goofy/jumping/running around is that I don't want her to think that it is OK to chase me or think that I am a toy that she can grab/chew on.

She just seems to get bored easy and I am running out of things to do. It might be a puppy stage, I guess.

 

[Herschel]

I guess the one thing that I worry about with being goofy/jumping/running around is that I don't want her to think that it is OK to chase me or think that I am a toy that she can grab/chew on.

Yes you do. It's called building drive and it is one of the biggest favors you can do for your dog. It will help both of you with play, training, and having fun.

Go outside and run around like a maniac and make some funny sounds, slap your legs, tug with her. Forget the fetch business and just have a good time!

 

[OsaBarbosa]

Thanks.