Fetch and other fun things

[burnsyboxer]

We're still getting to know Max, I've been trying to figure out what he likes to do for "fun". The first full day I had with him we spend some time outside, I threw a few balls for him, he would often chase it down but basically just poke at it with his mouth and then leave it. I thought maybe the balls were too big so I got some smaller ones, but he still won't actually take the ball, and probably goes after it only 50% of the time when I throw it.

I tried running around with a soccer ball, kicking it while running around...Max seemed to pick up on this quickly, he began trying to get the ball away from me...he would actually dribble and trap the ball with his front paw while waiting for me to try to get it from him...we did this for about 10 minutes...I wished I had my video camera. Unfortunately, since that day he hasn't bothered with soccer again.

I also picked up a tug rope, but he had no interest in it, he wouldn't put it in his mouth. We also got him a chew bone and he seemed disinterested in that as well. We tried putting it in his crate...a little while later Max took the bone out of his crate and just set it on the floor and left it, guess he didn't want it in his crate!

I'd like to teach him how to fetch, most of the tips I've read assume that the dog is picking up the ball but not returning it, well Max doesn't even pick it up. It almost seems like he nudges it to make sure its dead and then he's off to do whatever.

Any tips on trainng him to fetch, or any other games or activities I should try that Max might like?

 

[sandy's mom]

maybe you will have to "teach" him to play.
My Napoleon wouldn't play with anything or anybody when we first got him.
Now he plays with everybody. He still isn't big on toys.

I guess when they are not introduced to toys when they are babies, they don't know what to do with them.

Training sessions are also fun for them.


Good luck!

 

[DyckDogs]

Possibly try a frisbee. My female loves it (but she loves all toys).
My male boxer was not interested in toys. The only time he was interested was if Lexi was getting attention because she wanted to play with a toy (frisbee, ball, tug rope).
One thing our male did like was plastic pop bottles. We would cut the ring off the top and throw it on the floor. It was the only toy we ever found that he enjoyed. He would chew on it for hours.

 

[mini]

yeah i dont think all dogs like playing ball or have an interest in fetch, dynamite LIVES to play ball but chopper could care less, he does however LOVE squeaky toys or any hard chew toy with bumps or ridges. Maybe he just needs some time to settle in to his new home and get comfortable.

 

[BoxerMom999]

How old is he? Have you tried squeaky toys?

 

[clacoste]

Possibly try a frisbee. My female loves it (but she loves all toys).
My male boxer was not interested in toys. The only time he was interested was if Lexi was getting attention because she wanted to play with a toy (frisbee, ball, tug rope).
One thing our male did like was plastic pop bottles. We would cut the ring off the top and throw it on the floor. It was the only toy we ever found that he enjoyed. He would chew on it for hours.

Aspen too likes the plastic bottles, she likes them more when there is water inside (about half full or a little less), that way the bottle makes a swishing noise when she pushes it around, and also is more controllable for her since there is a little weight to it.

 

[sopachrga]

We went through something similar.
We adopted our bonny at 10 months from an older couple who had fairly limited movement.
They quickly realized a boxer wasn't for them. But of course this also meant that she had never actually "played" with any one.

As soon as we got her home, we brought her a selection of toys (tennis balls, tug ropes, rubber bones etc) and she didn't know what to do with any of them, she seemed fairly uninterested in them. I think maybe she just didn't recognize that these things could be played with. So my wife and I would sit there and throw the tennis ball back and forwards to each other or roll it between us with Bonny watching. She quite quickly realized we were playing and wanted to join in. It took a few times before she was sure that these things were for her and what she could do with them to have fun but she soon learnt!