Why won't my 6-year-old dog play with toys? Age or past trauma?

Question

My dog is only 6, yet she has no interest in toys. She only plays with unused hair ties. We believe she was abused in her past, as we found her in the animal shelter. She was also scared of kitchen utensils and tall men. She is a maltese poodle. Could her little interest be because of her past? Or is she simply too old? I've had Penny (my dog) for about 4 years, and throughout those years, no matter how much I tried, she would show no interest. Pet's info: Dog | Maltipoo | Female | spayed | 6 years and 6 months old | 12 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

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.

Why won't my 6-year-old dog play with toys? Age or past trauma?

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