Learning How To Play
I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Alys does not play. At least not with objects. She probably never learned how. She might run with you for a bit, but throw a ball or offer her a rope for a game of tug of war, she'll look at you confused, and either lie down for a nap or go looking for a mouse.
Sometimes, when we go for a walk, we'll meet Jack and Motte, two dogs from the neighbourhood and somewhat friends of Alys's. Motte more so than Jack because they can go look for mice together. Jack, it seems, can be a little bit intimidating, even though he is the calmest and nicest dog you'll ever meet.
Jack has a Kong. Jack loves his Kong. Jack loves when his human throws his Kong for him. Alys thinks it's curious that he loves that black, inedible thing so much that he carries it around with him wherever he goes. So sometimes she carefully tries to get a closer look at Jack's Kong.
When Jack's human throws his Kong, she gets even more curious and watches him chase after it. Once she even almost ran after it with him.
That's why I went and bought Alys a Kong of her own. And some liver paste for dogs to go with it, because food makes everything more interesting.
This is the result after three days:
She doesn't really play with it yet, but she is very determined to lick out all of the liver paste, and that includes keeping the Kong steady, following it around the room when it rolls away, turning it this way and that, and chewing on it for several minutes. We'll get there.
Sometimes, when we go for a walk, we'll meet Jack and Motte, two dogs from the neighbourhood and somewhat friends of Alys's. Motte more so than Jack because they can go look for mice together. Jack, it seems, can be a little bit intimidating, even though he is the calmest and nicest dog you'll ever meet.
Jack has a Kong. Jack loves his Kong. Jack loves when his human throws his Kong for him. Alys thinks it's curious that he loves that black, inedible thing so much that he carries it around with him wherever he goes. So sometimes she carefully tries to get a closer look at Jack's Kong.
When Jack's human throws his Kong, she gets even more curious and watches him chase after it. Once she even almost ran after it with him.
That's why I went and bought Alys a Kong of her own. And some liver paste for dogs to go with it, because food makes everything more interesting.
This is the result after three days:
She doesn't really play with it yet, but she is very determined to lick out all of the liver paste, and that includes keeping the Kong steady, following it around the room when it rolls away, turning it this way and that, and chewing on it for several minutes. We'll get there.