My neglected rescue dog won't play. How do I teach him to play?

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.

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!

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so it's possible that he came from a home where he was ignored and neglected, and that has caused him to be more withdrawn.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.

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.

It could be either situation - some dogs are simply not that interested in toys or in playing, similar to how some dogs are not big chewers or don't particularly love to go on walks. It's also possible that she wasn't exposed to toys and never 'learned' how to play. You could focus on other ways to interact with her - perhaps she would excel at simple obedience training, or she may like snuggling under a blanket with you.

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

She is likely a very chilled dog who is more used to interacting in a calm manner with humans. If she doesnt want to play i would just let her do her own thing. She will probably appreciate a bit of fuss from you though.