As many of you know, we adopted Ranger about a month ago and he is estimated to be 6 years old.

He is a wonderful guy and very sweet.   Calm in the house, appropriately active outdoors.  He's become my velcro dog.  He loves going on walks and we are taking a beginning obedience class.  He's doing nicely learning all the commands and we work on these while we're on our walks or just at home.

We just have not figured out how interest him in toys.  He is not real mouthy and never licks us (which is just fine by me). He loves to chew on bones, but not the Kong.  He will pursue peanut butter inside the Kong but really doesn't seem to chew it.  Balls hold no attraction whatsoever.  We tried a hunting retriever dummy at the pet store and he showed no interest in going after it.  They gave us a pull toy from the humane association but he isn't into that game (and now I know that's a good thing!)

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not totally worried, since I understand some dogs just don't do "fetch".  However, it seems like it would be a good way to burn off energy by engaging in some games or playing with toys.  Maybe even more so is my desire to find things that will mentally challenge Ranger and keep him occupied for periods of time.

I am still cracking up over that picture of Codyboy with that big old blue ball thing and the matching sweater.  I'm hoping we might find some things Ranger will find stimulating too.

Thanks,

Amy

FWIW there are plenty of perfectly nice dogs out there that figure 'if you threw it, you must not have wanted it and neither do I'. Since it's a pet GSP we're talking about, no harm no foul (no 'fowl' apparently returning either, lol).

My observation: Some dogs find another dog playing with a toy infinately more interesting than playing with toys alone. Some don't care for toys at all but have a blast just horsing around with other dogs. And some dogs just don't seem interested in playing much at all. The more serious charicters don't appear any less happy or deprived, they've usually just got their own private equialibrium.

P.S.Lisa, please chime in here any time!!! JMO: a month at a new home isn't that long... you may see more play behavior emerging over the next year as you get to know each other better.

we've had Bean 9 months...she was 18 months when we rescued her, she really doesn't play  I was worried at first, then a calmness overcame me   She'd had a litter already, and was outside alone all the time, she had made up her own personality. She has one dumb bell that she carries around sometimes, but isn't sure quite what to do with it.

She goes nutz everyday B4 her walk, screams & runs through the house, while I'm getting my walking gear on....I guess that's Bean ? That's what she likes....The rest of the day, she will sit for hours looking out the window into the back yard. She has gone from NOT getting on our bed, to snuggling when SHE wants to, usually a little every night & our wake up snuggly in the morning. It was a little wierd watching her be so independent & display a lack of trust, at first....Now we just Love her for Who she is, and she cracks us up daily. As she learns to Love & trust us. I trust her 100 %...the girl has my back !!

Renee'

they are WHO THEY ARE......we Love them

Maybe our pups raised from babes have our personalities.....and some of their own...I wouldn't give anything to replace Bean's OWN SELF...she is soooooo great

Renee'

Ranger I will be up to visit you on November 19th and will bring along a few of my toys and if you love them you can have some . I am a very playful GSP and my Mom has many toys for me. I have two toy buckets. When I am real good Mom takes me to Petco and I sniff up and down the toy isle and lets me pick out a toy to carry up to the cash register. Love , Rocky

Ranger, here is a picture of me in action with my favorite basketball. See you soon!!!! Love, Rocky

I took Ranger to the pet store this afternoon to see if anything would interest him, now that we've had him a little longer than his first visit there.  He sniffed at a squeaky pheasant stuffed toy after I had squeaked it, but no real interest in holding it.  Likewise with the stuffed toys, rolly big balls, etc.

He did, however,  pick out a big $2.79 biscuit shaped like a dog bone and carried that up to the register with me.  Now I KNOW why they put all those great treats on the BOTTOM shelf.   He at least had the sense to wait until it was paid for to eat it.

My two girls are very different in what they like as toys.  My oldest, Belle, will retrieve anything, but prefers squeaky balls and frisbees.  Halo, my youngest, likes to retrieve too, but really loves stuffed toys. She loves pulling the stuffing out and making it look like it has snowed in the house.  They both like a three ringed fake sheep skin toy.  They can toss it around inside and even play tug with each other with it.  It doesn't break stuff or dent the walls when it hits, there is no stuffing to pull out and is virtually indestructible.  I have to get them at dog shows though as I have never seen them at a pet store.  Belle also like to chew on bones, Halo doesn't unless she can get a bone away from Belle, then she will chew on it.  Thankfully, my two girls get along and never fight over their toys.  I think that is primarily due to the fact that Belle is sooooo laid back about everything and for the most part lets Halo get away with her shenanigans.  Just keep trying on the toys.  Mine like the simpler toys.  I even make a throw toy out of old blue jean legs by cutting the leg off and tying a knot in it.  These are also indestructible and washable when they get dirty.

Good Luck,

Bev and the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo)

Jasper loves to fetch but I have to let him choose which toy he wants to play with--it varies each day.   Usually it is one of the balls (tennis or rubber) but sometimes it is Kong or even Saucer Toy.  He won't fetch any of them but the one he WANTS to fetch.  There will be two dirty disgusting tennis balls and if I throw the wrong one he will ignore it.     He is also obsessed with Big Ball (hard plastic, about the size of a basketball) and will push it around with his nose forever. 

Chelsea won't fetch as such unless it is chasing Jasper to steal his toy but she will initiate play with me fairly often while he rarely does although he will come join in.  Sometimes she wants to play with him and he just acts totally clueless (well, he IS).  She'll be jumping on him with a stuffed toy in her mouth, bouncing around waving it at him, and he just lies there looking blank.   

Besides socks & a wubba, this is Websters favorite toy