So Finn is now able to go to dog parks safely, and I've had him there a couple of times. There's a great, huge, open park near me that's amazing. He's been loving it...I just walk from one end to the other and back and he's wiped out. The park must be 20 acres. Anyway, I bring a ball along but he just ignores it! He's only interested in sniffing and exploring. He plays with the ball and his other toys inside quite a bit. Is this just a puppy thing? Will he eventually be less distracted by just being outside and eventually play with some toys out there?
I guess they do. First time at dog park, he ignored all balls and twigs. Just chased other dogs and played. Fourth time or so, he started chasing after balls, but of course, the other dogs are so much faster than him.
Stampy can get interested in toys in our summer room/deck, but as soon as we let him out just into the yard, the toys mean nothing. I suppose the yard does have many more exciting smells and sights so it's probably normal?
I grew up with 3 labs and none of them were ever interested in a ball, EVER! My 20 week old pup, however, loves balls and will run and fetch to her heart's content. But she didn't take to it straight away. To be honest I wish she'd do more sniffing about sometimes! But just think what it's like for a pup new to the outside world with all those smells competing for her/his attention? Paradise! And all the sniffing and exploring tires their little brains out too.
My Tatze isn't interested in a ball either. She'll bring it back, but only because I ask her to, not because she wants to. She just loves bumbling along, reading the p-mails and playing with the dogs she meets.
At home, the ball is more exciting than everything else he sees all the time. Outside, the environment is more exciting. That's perfectly normal and understandable. As your puppy gets more used to the big wide world, he may start finding toys interesting again, but I'm being very proactive with this with my puppy, because play is very powerful indeed and helps to keep your dog engaged with you, which is incredibly useful as he gets older.
There may be hope yet....Finn found the tattered remains of a tennis ball at the park today and had a blast playing with it. Despite the brand new ball I had gotten him.... Guess I'll go buy him some old fashioned tennis balls! And maybe smear some dirt on them for good measure lol.
Quinn says to Finn...Chuck It balls are the BEST! Try them again - way better than tennis balls (though I do collect those on walks as well and store them in the car/outside the front door in case my precious Chuck it ball is accidentally left at home)! Quinn was definitely more interested in the environment when she was small, but would always chase a ball. Her ball drive is way high now - she will ignore everything, including other dogs and focus on a ball. Especially a Chuck It ball. It's to the point that her ball trumps food and I use her ball as a reward in training class.
I am sure the only reason Bailey like balls is so he can destroy them! The one that Finn has picked up could have been left by Bailey
I bought him some regular tennis balls and a chuck it bumper today. He was more interested than before, he would chase them but not really pick them up too much. When I first gave him the bumper he paraded around with it for a bit. But then the environment took over his attention. So maybe he will eventually like them. I just hope he does because I really enjoy being able to play with dogs and I want him to feel like he's doing a "job".
