how to train with toys when dog has no interest in them?

[LouiseLohmann]

HI my rescue dog has no interest in picking up any toys what so ever. She is only interested in food. I have tried smearing peanutbutter on a rope to get her to bite it but she just licks it off. I can get her to take a kong filled with peanut butter and she'll take it to her bed to lick it. That's it.

How do I start training "Drop It"?

I'd like to find a way of getting her into playing. (She doesn't play - only wants to run after other running dogs in the dog park) She is a herding breed mix.

[Adrienne]

Hello, 

Welcome to the forums,

This is not an uncommon issue with rescue dogs, especially if they are a recent addition. It just takes some time for them to adjust to their new place so to feel safe and comfortable enough to play. With rescues, we may also not know what these dogs have gone through. Sometimes, they may have had owners who were very strict and corrected them for touching or picking up anything and this puts a dent in them taking any initiative and can put a real big dent in training things like take, drop or fetch. 

So it may help not to put much pressure on if they won't pick up toys or play. Sometimes, they misunderstand our enthusiastic tones to encourage play or they may feel a bit intimidated. We can try with a variety of toys, but without putting pressure. One toy I have found several dogs find irresistible are tug toys made out of real rabbit fur. The smell seems to awaken their prey drive and desire to play. For herding dogs, toys like big balls that can be moved around may also be attractive. I think she may have fun with Kong Wobbler as it's a toy with food inside. Praise her for playing with it. 

However, not all is lost if you want to train drop. The good news is that you can practice drop with just about anything your dog grabs. So if she is eager to take food, you can try to practice with some type of food that is quite large, safe and your dog in unable to eat or gulp down quickly. For instance, one of my favorite foods I like to practice drops is a big chunk of dry bread. This is hard to eat all at once and even if in worse case scenario, if a dog would end up eating some, it's bland and won't cause big issues. On top of this, it offers a good starting point as it's perceived as lower value to many dogs.

Of course, to get the dog to drop, you have to use something that is perceived higher in value than bread such as a treat that is meat-based. Studies have shown that most dogs tend to find meat more valuable. Once she gets the concept, you can then practice your drops its if you happen to notice your dog spontaneously grabs a stick in the yard or something else she shouldn't have like  he remote control, your slippers etc. Of course, never place items/foods that can pose a danger to your dog purposely on the floor to practice with!

[LouiseLohmann]

THank you yes she is new. We've had her for 2 months - 3rd owners. She has been starved by previous owner so food is a big thing for her. I'll try with the wobbler and see how that goes. And a big ball. Small balls have no interest to her. I still hope I can teach her a lot of other stuff using your methods though she may not like toys so much. She is very smart. Her name is Nina.

[Adrienne]

Awww... your dog looks like a sweetie, and her posture denotes an appeasing, 'I mean no harm" nature. It may take some time for dogs like this to acclimate and feel more comfortable in their surroundings. It's very rewarding though watching them bloom. After the honeymoon period is over (usually after 3-5 months), you may start noticing more confident behaviors as she makes herself more at home.

Fortunately, most of the behaviors taught in obedience 101 require food more than toys.  Even among the brain games, there are a lot of games involving working for food. Another game you can play with her is tossing her some of her kibble to catch. You can do this to reward her for desirable behaviors or just the plain fun of it. As she eats each kibble, praise her starting with a less enthusiastic tone "Good girl!" gradually increasing enthusiasm if she seems OK with it. 

Another toy that comes to mind, is the Premier Tug-a Jug, which consists of a toy made from a bottle and with a rope in it. Because the bottle is filled with kibble or treats, the dog will learn to shake it and tug to release the goodies. 

Or you can even encourage her to play the bottle game:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/high-school/the-bottle-game/

Newly rescued dogs may also benefit from a predictable daily routine (it's reassuring for them) and some confidence building exercises:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/exercises-build-confidence-insecure-dogs/

Keep me posted on her progress. I am here if you need any support or have any questions,

Best,

Adrienne

[LouiseLohmann]

Thank you so much for this!

 

[Adrienne]

You are very welcome, keep me posted on how things go!

Best,

Adrienne