Losing interest in playing?

[Elei]

Kip has always been a pretty playful guy. He isn't a crazy high drive tugger like some puppies, but he does love to play. He likes chasing me with a toy, tugging, & herding/chasing large balls. He has a ton of toys: Squeaky toys, plush toys, balls, frizbees, fleece tugs, sheepskin tugs, racoon fur tugs, rabbit fur tugs...I may have gone a bit over board with buying toys I have always wanted a playful dog, so its been a real delight playing with Kip.

Over the last 1-2 weeks, Kip's interest in playing with me has declined and I have no idea why. He will play a little and then lose interest, even with toys he used to love. I also tried brand new toys to see if he wanted something new & exciting. He will still play quite a bit with his basketball, and with this huge frizbee like lid, that he likes barking at and chasing it when I roll it around. But other than that, he just doesn't have the same enthusiasm for play that he used to.

I've been trying to determine if he is overall as energetic as he used to be, and I think he is. He still tugs on my shoelaces, jumps on me, runs around with my cat, and likes going for walks.

I'm just really puzzled by this. I always try to make playtime really fun, and keep play sessions short. I let him win the toys when we play tug, and don't 'steal' his toys from him.

Maybe its just a behavioral change, but my top concern is that he might not feel well, or his knee might be hurting. As far as I can tell, he is still running & walking smoothly and normally. He has a vet appointment next week, and I'm going to ask the vet to look at his knee again, and tell her about this change.

Any thoughts? Fun game ideas to try to rekindle his enthusiasm?
Thanks
BTW: Kip will be 8 months in a few days

 

[DianeP]

Mindy (who is now 15.5 months) has had phases like that, too. For her, some of it started right around 8-10 months and seemed to coincide with some increased anxiety on her part. I’m not saying that’s Kip’s issue, but maybe there’s something about the age that gets them more concerned about their total environment and not just fun, fun, fun. Our vet said it could be like when a person matures and starts realizing a lot of things that seemed fun now seem a little crazy or dangerous. Who knows what other cues they pick up from us, too. I think sometimes Mindy felt too much pressure to play. I started backing off and began playing with her in a more mellow way and that seemed to help.

it’s really hard when you think they may not be happy or might be in pain and you don’t know why. It was around that time that we learned Mindy has collie eye and maybe her vision changed and is contributing to her issues.

Fingers crossed that things check out OK for Kip.

oh, do you play the muffin tin game? Mindy loved learning that. Put treats in a muffin tin and cover each muffin cup with a tennis ball. She loves using her nose and paws to push the balls out so she can get the treat.

 

[Elei]

Thanks for the muffin tin game idea! I think Kip would like that. He has a sheepskin treat pouch (they can tug on it + you can stuff treats in it) and just the last few days I started a new game with that toy. I stick turkey jerky in the pouch, then run away from Kip. When Kip catches up to me, I let him pull the toy out of my hand. Then he has fun getting the jerky out of the pouch.

Mindy (who is now 15.5 months) has had phases like that, too.

Its reassuring for me to hear that other puppies have done things like this. Kip is only the 2nd puppy I've raised, so its nice to hear other people's puppy stories. I was wondering if Kip might be getting a bit messed up by 'boy hormones'. He's just decided (actually in the last 2 weeks) that every grass clump & stump must be marked. He just learned to lift his leg, and is very pleased with himself!

Also, after posting the first message I checked Kip's teeth. I had checked them a few days ago, and thought they looked fine. But he has 1 tooth (last baby tooth, I think) that looks like it might be causing trouble. The gum is pulling away from the tooth a bit, and is kind of red. I'll ask the vet about that too. He has stopped tugging in the past while he had a loose tooth. I'm going to give him a complete tugging break at least until I know for sure that tooth isn't hurting him.

 

[DianeP]

Also, after posting the first message I checked Kip's teeth.

Smart idea to check teeth. Mindy definitely played less vigorously when some of those last teeth were coming out!

 

[Piper's mom]

Yes how quickly we forget about those darn teeth (I forgot how teething can change their behaviour now that Finnie is 2 lol), I believe the molars are some of the last to come in so that could certainly cause him to be a bit more sedate and not wanting to play as much. Try taking a wet facecloth, tie a knot or two in it and freeze it and see if he'll chew on it. If his molars are coming in that'll give him some relief.

 

[Elei]

Kip's appointment was supposed to be today, but it was raining and flooding so much that we stayed home. Rescheduled the appointment for next week, but I'm disappointed because I really wanted to ask about that tooth. Its looking more red around it, and the gum has receded more - but why won't it just come out already?

We've had some good non-tugging games the last few days. He likes chasing me and grabbing the toy from me, and chasing and biting his jolly ball. He's definitely energetic! Sometimes he'd rather jump on me and play bite than go for a toy. I always try to redirect him onto the toy, but lately that's become much harder. Perhaps because biting toys doesn't feel good?

 

[Caro]

Oh mum, he's an adolescent, he probably thinks he's too cool for toys.

 

[Elei]

Oh mum, he's an adolescent, he probably thinks he's too cool for toys.

Oh, no! Don't tell me that. Pretty soon he's going to buy a motorcycle and bring home a girlfriend....

So I think I was worrying for nothing this time! Kip's energy level and play drive has skyrocketed this last week! He wants to run and play with everything! I let him decide how much he wants to tug, and I never pull hard, but he has been tugging very enthusiastically.

I think it may have been his tooth that was making him a bit more subdued. I was also sick with a cold while his interest in playing declined, and I'm wondering if that bothered him. My lower energy might have concerned him.