How can I teach my dog to play with me or by herself now that her buddy is gone? My wife and I have split up and she took her Pug with her. Now, my Cocker Spaniel is really lost. Her method of playing was waiting for the other dog to grab a toy and then stealing it or just chasing and rough housing. Now I can't seem to get her to play at all. Also, rather than play she is stuck to me like GLUE. I've gone through the handful of toys we have and she isn't interested at all. She is too lazy for Kongs (she gives up in 2 seconds and ignores it). Bought her a rawhide bone, she wouldn't touch it. Squeaky toys scare the crap out of her because in her doggy brain, toys shouldn't squeak apparently.
I got on my hands and knees to try and wrestle with her, which we have done plenty of times in the past and she ran and hid!
I've run out of ideas and I don't have the money to buy a bunch of toys in the hopes she might like one of them, I'm starting to take her to the dog park because I know she desperately needs more socialization with people and other dogs. Other than that, here's two tough questions: how do I re-teach her how to play and how do I pry her off me? It was cute at first because I knew she was comforting me but now I wish I had my personal space back.
I got on my hands and knees to try and wrestle with her, which we have done plenty of times in the past and she ran and hid!
I've run out of ideas and I don't have the money to buy a bunch of toys in the hopes she might like one of them, I'm starting to take her to the dog park because I know she desperately needs more socialization with people and other dogs. Other than that, here's two tough questions: how do I re-teach her how to play and how do I pry her off me? It was cute at first because I knew she was comforting me but now I wish I had my personal space back.
