Is it OK if my dog doesn't play?

If your dog isn’t playful, you must check if they’re experiencing any medical issues, fear, or general anxiety. Some dogs love other forms of exercise. You can try taking them on sniff walks, socializing with other dogs, or taking them to new places such as the beach, campsites, and dog cafes.

Why isn’t my dog very playful?

As much as you want to give your dog everything they deserve, there are some things your pup isn’t a fan of.

Generally, dogs love playing around, jumping up and down, and running after toys; some canines enjoy these activities.

We understand it can get frustrating, especially since we all know that exercise is essential in keeping our pups healthy and free from medical issues such as:

• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• Joint pains.
• Heart issues.

However, there are valid reasons why your pup might not be as playful as you want them to be. We’ll list down a few of them here.

Medical problems

One of the things you need to look at when you notice your pup isn’t as playful as most dogs are their health.

Medical conditions can drastically change a dog’s energy level and hinder their ability to move around. 

Examples of these include:

• Anemia.
• Parasitic infections.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Psychological degeneration.

Your furry friend may also be suffering from physical discomfort caused by pain in their joints, paws, and other parts of their skeletal system.

They’ve experienced trauma when playing

Did your pup get hurt when they were playing in the past?

If yes, then there’s a huge chance your dog is now afraid to get active again outside.

Things like getting injured or being accidentally hurt can cause your pup to avoid playing again. They may also have experienced being the victim of an agressive dog while playing.

If this is the case, you can try to coax your to start playing again slowly. Try doing the following indoor games with them:

• Fetch.
• Tug of war.
• Trick training.
• Interactive puzzle toys.

These are simple games that you can do inside your home where you can control the environment making it relatively safer for your pup.

They’re not fans of playing

Another reason why your furry friend isn’t playing much is because they aren’t a huge fan of strenuous physical activities. Some dog breeds also naturally have low energy such as:

• Pugs.
• Bulldogs.
• Shih Tzus.
• Great Danes.
• Basset Hounds.

If your pup has low energy levels, you can try to do low-intensity activities with them such as:

• Sniff walks.
• Dog cafe visits.
• Indoor scent work.
• Slow hikes in nature.

These are all activities that still help your pup gte the exercise they need without being too intense, especially for those with low energy levels. 

What’s important is you never let your furry friend pass up on their need for exercise.