We have a wonderful puppy Annie that is now 6 months old. We have had her for 4 months. She is a smart little thing and we are so glad we have her. The only thing is that she wants to play with us constantly. My husband is retired so is home most of the day so she usually has someone around. She gets a couple of walks a day. We love playing with her and she loves fetch. But every once and awhile we have things we have to do around the house or my husband would like to practice the piano. Believe me she gets tons of attention and we feel bad when she brings us a toy and we do not throw it. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks
Puppy loves to play constantly
- Thread starter KPayne
- Start date
trini
Forums Sage
Welcome to you, your husband and Annie.
Annie will learn to play by herself if you just say "not now" and then ignore her at the times when you or your husband are busy. My Sketch was like that when we first got him and he learned fast that "not now" meant he had to find something to do by himself for a while. Shelties are ultra smart and Annie will "get it". If she likes chews, maybe a chew or a kong filled with PB or something else yummy you give her to help her transition to spending time entertaining herself.
Trini
Annie will learn to play by herself if you just say "not now" and then ignore her at the times when you or your husband are busy. My Sketch was like that when we first got him and he learned fast that "not now" meant he had to find something to do by himself for a while. Shelties are ultra smart and Annie will "get it". If she likes chews, maybe a chew or a kong filled with PB or something else yummy you give her to help her transition to spending time entertaining herself.
Trini
Hanne
Forums Sage
KPayne Just to tell you, you are not alone.
- Minnie 6 months. Tomorrow - has got the same idea as soon as I sit down, and she does not bother her bones, so she comes with her teddy bears, and when I leave like nothing so she begins to bark, so it is to be persistent.
Fortunately there are no problems when I do housework, but who wants it all day
We can hope it's age, but I'll try Trini's advice,"ikke nu" = not now
- Minnie 6 months. Tomorrow - has got the same idea as soon as I sit down, and she does not bother her bones, so she comes with her teddy bears, and when I leave like nothing so she begins to bark, so it is to be persistent.
Fortunately there are no problems when I do housework, but who wants it all day
We can hope it's age, but I'll try Trini's advice,"ikke nu" = not now
ferg
Forums Enthusiast
play
Chip is a play addict. If we don't make him lie down for sleep time, we turn the lights off, he would go 24 hours.
Unfortunately he gets bored easily and then gets into trouble, as in eating carpet fringe, rope, etc. Chip will be a year old 15th of this month and he is not slowing down on the play.
We try to play with him as much as possible and then simply tell him we are finished. Seems to work most of the time. The remote controlled car I got for him for Christmas is good. It was $22. Some of the best toy money I ever spent. He loves to run from/to it,never tries to destroy it. Provides us with some hearty laughter which we need badly since it is on the fringe of zero degrees. Wife is better at controlling the car than I am. She does it while watching TV in a lounge chair. That is hilarious also.
As always, these little Shelties are smart, maybe more than some humans. They can manipulate your life, we love it most of the time, they will love you to the ends of the earth if you love them. YOU have to be the boss or they will run your entire life
Chip is a play addict. If we don't make him lie down for sleep time, we turn the lights off, he would go 24 hours.
Unfortunately he gets bored easily and then gets into trouble, as in eating carpet fringe, rope, etc. Chip will be a year old 15th of this month and he is not slowing down on the play.
We try to play with him as much as possible and then simply tell him we are finished. Seems to work most of the time. The remote controlled car I got for him for Christmas is good. It was $22. Some of the best toy money I ever spent. He loves to run from/to it,never tries to destroy it. Provides us with some hearty laughter which we need badly since it is on the fringe of zero degrees. Wife is better at controlling the car than I am. She does it while watching TV in a lounge chair. That is hilarious also.
As always, these little Shelties are smart, maybe more than some humans. They can manipulate your life, we love it most of the time, they will love you to the ends of the earth if you love them. YOU have to be the boss or they will run your entire life
vickaaayhay
Forums Regular
It's just so hard to say no to them! My 5 month old always brings me her balls/toys when I have to study and I just feel so bad ignoring it. Luckily, she has never barked at me for it. If your pup barks at you for ignoring her, don't acknowledge her until she quiets down, even if it's only for 15-30 seconds. Or as trini has said, start saying a cue such as "not now." I've consistently used this method with Aimee ever since I got her and she was a LOUD crybaby in her crate 
hahaha. She never gets her way through barking with me. But because she was crate-trained, she's used to some alone time once in a while. Was Annie crate-trained? An x-pen she could play in sometimes maybe?
hahaha. She never gets her way through barking with me. But because she was crate-trained, she's used to some alone time once in a while. Was Annie crate-trained? An x-pen she could play in sometimes maybe?Cubby is a very good puppy. He has 40+ toys and plays with himself. He also has 2 other dogs to maul. He and the shepherd really tear around up and down the stairs and such. Best bet is another sheltie!
Seriously -- saying not now go get a toy or giving a stuffed kong or bully stick or such will help. You can even teach the dog to push a large ball and let your pup push the ball around the house or yard. It's a herding thing and herders really like it.
I wouuld teach the dog to fetch things by name. Learning activities really wear them out. Go get X toy by name or the phone or remote or shoes or such. Create a little helper who can hand you things commonly used.
Working dogs like things to do and it is a great way to wear them out.
Some dogs really like Dog TV. If you have DirecTV you could wait for a free preview or try it for a month and have the dog watch. My shepherd will watch it all day long but he gets really excited by the segments and barks so we had to drop it. With the new TV's the dogs can see them really quite well (not like the older TV's where the flicker rate was unseeable to dogs) you can try shows like Too Cute or animal shows and see what your dog thinks. Dog TV is really good. I used to leave it on all day and enjoyed working with it on.
Seriously -- saying not now go get a toy or giving a stuffed kong or bully stick or such will help. You can even teach the dog to push a large ball and let your pup push the ball around the house or yard. It's a herding thing and herders really like it.
I wouuld teach the dog to fetch things by name. Learning activities really wear them out. Go get X toy by name or the phone or remote or shoes or such. Create a little helper who can hand you things commonly used.
Working dogs like things to do and it is a great way to wear them out.
Some dogs really like Dog TV. If you have DirecTV you could wait for a free preview or try it for a month and have the dog watch. My shepherd will watch it all day long but he gets really excited by the segments and barks so we had to drop it. With the new TV's the dogs can see them really quite well (not like the older TV's where the flicker rate was unseeable to dogs) you can try shows like Too Cute or animal shows and see what your dog thinks. Dog TV is really good. I used to leave it on all day and enjoyed working with it on.
corbinam
Moderator
Sounds very familiar. Enzo is 9 months old and if I'm not throwing the toy for him, he's cramming it into my leg. I've tried to use the words "that's enough" when I'm done, but he's relentless! In fact, in the past month or so I think he's gotten worse about not taking no for an answer.
I just need to bolster my resolve (seriously, I will look down and realize I'm playing with him without even realizing I started!) and make sure he gets that he's capable of entertaining himself.
I just need to bolster my resolve (seriously, I will look down and realize I'm playing with him without even realizing I started!) and make sure he gets that he's capable of entertaining himself.
RikyR
Premium Member
As I type this, there are two toys at my feet. Zulu just left the room. He is probably going to bring me another toy, but he is starting to learn learn to entertain himself when I ignore him. If he doesn't come back soon and it is too quiet, I will need to go check and see exactly how he is "entertaining" himself!
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
After I've been at the store for the day, the dogs have trained me to give them each a 6 inch bully stick or 4 inch dental chew every time I come home. It's not as good as playing with them, but when I'm tired from work, its better than nothing. Play is better, of course.
Callan has learned to check my briefcase for treats! Silly boy!
Callan has learned to check my briefcase for treats! Silly boy!