My rescued puppy mill dog is not playful. How do I help her adjust?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. First, thank you for adopting Maggie. It is always heartwarming when someone takes an adult dog into their homes. I did this several months ago with a pair of bonded adult mix breeds. I am so glad that Maggie is doing well after her illness. The influenza virus has been tough on some dogs. You have not had her very long,

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is going to take time and a lot of TLC and some one on one time. Give her lots of treat and get her to play more. Unfortunately, it just may not be in her personality to be as playful and free as the other dog. Every dog differs and some need different type of attention than others. It is just important to pay attention to these cues and treat each dog as such. Just give her more times and she will likely continue to come out of her shell but just know it may not be to the same degree as your other dog. I hope this helps!

Thank you for adopting Archie! I'm sure he is very grateful to have a loving home, but sometimes it can take a while for dogs to adjust. I've included some links below on how to introduce Archie to other dogs, as well as on how to help him adjust to his new life and family. Keep in mind that some dogs (particularly street dogs, who may not have had traditional dog toys to play with when they were younger) may not show interest in toys, but you can use walks/ runs/ time at a dog park or daycare and training to do tricks as other ways to interact with Archie. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8677941 https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/bringing-a-dog-home/tips-for-first-30-days-dog/ http://www.bcspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DOG_Ado_Packet_updated_1_30_13.pdf

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.

I recommend giving Ella some time. It can take up to 2 weeks for dogs to get comfortable with their new surroundings. Give her attention, love and play time. You should see her slowly warm up to you and your family. Congratulations on your new puppy! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Sometimes dogs feel "ashamed" after being shaved down. She feels different now that she has less fur and probably is not sure how she should feel. I think time will solve this. Eventually she will stop this. Give her a lot of good scratches ad play a lot with her, get her excited so she thinks more of the play rather than the awkward feeling..