My adopted dog is scared, won't play or be active. How to help?

Every dog is different, and some dogs simply don't like to play with toys, bark, or sniff things when walking. David is also not a puppy, so he won't be as interested in playing as a puppy would be interested. You don't know his background either as a shelter animal, so it's possible that he came from a home where he was ignored and neglected, and that has caused him to be more withdrawn. It's a good idea that you keep the bedroom door closed to keep him from hiding under the bed. I would brush him daily, as that gives him positive interaction between you both. You can train him to sit, lay down, and stay, again forcing positive interaction. Give him treats and praise him when he comes to you for love and attention. Positively reinforce behaviors you want to him to have, which will make him want to do them more.

In situations such as these, time is your friend, as well as patience. 4 years living solely outside is a long time for a dog, and that's a lot of years of work to reverse. You may want to treat Perseus as if he were a puppy, starting with a similar routine for feeding, potty training, etc to get him used to being around people and in/out of a house. Getting him used to you can take time. Always approach by talking calmly and gently and tossing a treat toward him. Not directly facing him and/or crouching down can also make you less intimidating and scary. Let him approach you first rather than you approach him, and be sure to quietly praise or offer treats any time he does. As he gets more used to you, you can then treat only when he allows petting or approaches you and accepts gentle handling. This can take a lot of time, so patience and always maintain a calm presence can help. It is also a good idea to speak with a trainer or behaviorist in your area who can come to the home and offer more tailored advice for how to help Perseus. They can help formulate a training plan as in the case of a behaviorist may also be able to recommend medications to help keep him stress free and relaxed as he learns how to be a dog.

Poor Scooter! It sounds like he had a hard life before he came to live with you. Many dogs who grew up in environments without toys don't really know how to play - but often, they can learn to get better at this over time :) If the other dogs like to play with toys, I would suggest playing fetch or tug with them when Scooter is around - many shy dogs will eventually get up the courage to give it a try themselves, and will figure out what to do with the toys by watching the other dogs.

Some dogs don't enjoy playing with toys, or may not have learned to play at all. You mentioned he was a rescue, which if he was kept in a shelter too long or didn't have much interaction with toys previously may have stopped him from learning. If he enjoys treats and chew bones, you can try hiding those inside toys to get him to start interacting. If he likes other objects such as sticks or a bone to play fetch, then using that is just fine. As long as he is happy, you are happy and he's getting plenty of exercise and play time, then it's not really a requirement to play with a toy.

tSome dogs just naturally don't care to play, just as some people would prefer reading or knitting to being physically active. It is also possible that Jacki has not been with you long enough to feel comfortable "letting go." If this is a temporary adjustment to a new home (I'm not sure how long you've had her), you may find that she starts to initiate play at some point. Or you may discover that you have a cuddler rather than a player. Maybe she is an earnest chewer--preferably of safe dog bones rather than drywall! As you get to know each other, you will discover new ways to interact together.

Congratulations on adding Scooby to your family! Training should help Scooby, so I am glad you are pursuing that. One thing that will help a lot is to actually take Scooby out for HARD exercise before you allow her to play with other dogs. People often go to dog parks to allow dogs to burn off their energy but some dogs just have too much energy. These dogs then go straight into the park, play too rough and then a fight ensues. For these dogs, burning off that energy beforehand helps them to have better manors. When she does get too rough, remove her from the situation until she calms down. Then you can reintroduce her. Also, keep her ply groups small (1 -2 other dogs) and watch for signs that she is pestering the other dog too much. Continue using your can to distract her if needed. I would also advise to look for a trainer with a background in behavior. There is a difference between training and behavior modification. I hope this helps!

Poor Oakley! It sounds like he needs a little help with socialization and would benefit from seeing a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person. You can have a trainer come to your house to observe the situation, and help provide some more tailored advice to help get him feeling more comfortable, especially since he is still so terrified after several weeks. In the meantime, continuing to try and get him adjusted to things may help. Try tossing a favorite treat to him every time you go near him, or placing a favorite treat or chew toy outside of his kennel to encourage him to go out and explore a little. If he does come out, gentle praise and even more special treats can help teach him that what he is doing is OK! If he's startled by loud noises or objects, soothing music can help drown out scary sounds, while letting him sniff and approach new items on his own (and then rewarding him when he does) can help encourage him to explore some. You can find a local behaviorist in your area, and learn more about them as well, by checking out this link: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/