Play?
Hannah came over to visit Duncan again on Saturday. They had a great time playing together. I had to leave for work so my Dad stuck around with them for awhile. When it came time for him to leave, I'm told that Hannah would go in the house, but of course Duncan would not. So Dad stood up on the hill a ways and pointed for Duncan to go in the house, saying "Duncan In." Now, Hannah knows what "In" means. So she stood there for a minute looking back and forth from him to Duncan, and then all of a sudden took off down the hill, zigzagging back and forth, and herded Duncan right up into the house. I'm told it was pretty humorous.
We also went for a couple car rides the last few days. I'm still having a little trouble getting him in the car. He won't jump in by himself, and struggles a bit when I pick him up to put him in. But once he's on the seat, he's fine. Also, since Duncan chewed through his halter, I've had to attach his leash to his training collar. I've been using the halter because rescued Shelties tend to be afraid when a collar tightens around their neck. But he seems to be doing ok with the collar. I think next time we go on a walk we'll try with the collar, and we may not buy another halter. We'll see.
On Sunday morning, Duncan came in with me holding the back door open for him! I was so proud. The weather has been very nice lately, and Duncan seems to enjoy being outdoors, so I've let him spend a few hours outside after I get home every day. But I've realized that he's been doing some digging in some spots around the fence line. The book that I've been reading says that many dogs dig because they are "outside dogs" and are excluded from the family's life in the house. They're lonely. Perhaps I've been misinterpreting Duncan's anxiety about coming into the house as enjoying being outside. I'm considering cutting back down on the time he spends alone in the yard. I would also like to be able to spend time with him out in the yard when it is nice, however I'm not exactly sure how to spend that time with him. I sat on the deck and read for awhile the other day while he was out there. But I'd like to be active with him too. And that's where my uncertainty comes in. Duncan does not have a strong prey drive and really does not know how to play. So I'm not sure how to spend time exercising with him in the backyard, or how to teach him to play. If I'm in the backyard with him, he's usually moving away from me, worried I'm coming after him. Anyone have any ideas about how to teach an old dog how to play?
We also went for a couple car rides the last few days. I'm still having a little trouble getting him in the car. He won't jump in by himself, and struggles a bit when I pick him up to put him in. But once he's on the seat, he's fine. Also, since Duncan chewed through his halter, I've had to attach his leash to his training collar. I've been using the halter because rescued Shelties tend to be afraid when a collar tightens around their neck. But he seems to be doing ok with the collar. I think next time we go on a walk we'll try with the collar, and we may not buy another halter. We'll see.
On Sunday morning, Duncan came in with me holding the back door open for him! I was so proud. The weather has been very nice lately, and Duncan seems to enjoy being outdoors, so I've let him spend a few hours outside after I get home every day. But I've realized that he's been doing some digging in some spots around the fence line. The book that I've been reading says that many dogs dig because they are "outside dogs" and are excluded from the family's life in the house. They're lonely. Perhaps I've been misinterpreting Duncan's anxiety about coming into the house as enjoying being outside. I'm considering cutting back down on the time he spends alone in the yard. I would also like to be able to spend time with him out in the yard when it is nice, however I'm not exactly sure how to spend that time with him. I sat on the deck and read for awhile the other day while he was out there. But I'd like to be active with him too. And that's where my uncertainty comes in. Duncan does not have a strong prey drive and really does not know how to play. So I'm not sure how to spend time exercising with him in the backyard, or how to teach him to play. If I'm in the backyard with him, he's usually moving away from me, worried I'm coming after him. Anyone have any ideas about how to teach an old dog how to play?
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1 Comments:
Don't really have any ideas on play- it may just take time, or maybe he needs to see another dog playing with you to get the idea. I had a Sheltie from puppyhood that really didn't play much, never learned to fetch at all. She did like spending time with me outside though as I did the gardening, or watering or just sat and read a book. Give him some time, you'll both find ways to have fun together.
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