Dogs that are afraid of squeaky toys and play?

[Dogdragoness]

Because nothing else is on, I am watching the DW episode where he is in Australia and he works with that dog that is afraid of play and squeaky toys.

My question is what causes a dog to be that afraid (maybe someone can post the video link because I am mobile I can't) of play and squeaky toys if they didn't come from a hoarding situation or something like that? What would cause such an adverse reaction to toys when they haven't had a bad experience? So some dogs just have that kind of temperament where thy Re that sensitive? I have had dogs from abusive situations that aren't that bad, even the cameras were enough to out her off play!

 

[Laurelin]

I think there's about a thousand reasons why.

Rose was afraid of clickers. She is just that sensitive to noise. She came through it with a muted clicker and also learning the click meant good things.

Summer hid when I'd squeak the ball. Why? Once I was throwing the ball for Mia and accidentally pegged Summer in the face. So she's learned that squeaky balls are scary when combined with me (I'm a clutz, sorry!). So now if I play ball with Mia, I treat Summer as I do so.

Summer also did not play and I think it was just because it was never fostered in her. She did as a young pup but not when I got her at 4 years old. She had no idea what to do. I think some dogs just don't know what to do with toys. I have had to teach her step by step what to do with toys.

And for the record what one dog finds scary is different for another dog. I've pegged Mia dozens of times playing ball and it doesn't phase her at all. On the other hand, Summer is the dog that has fallen head first off agility obstacles, been slammed in the face by the teeter, etc and popped back up for more in an instant. Mia can't do that.

 

[BostonBanker]

I could definitely see Meg getting like that about toys, and I'm pretty sure she was never abused. She's just soft and worried and errs on the side of being afraid. She likes everything to be familiar, so when I used to start getting silly to try to make her play, it just stressed her out more.

 

[Maxy24]

I think it's probably just lack of exposure combined with a sound sensitivity. It is a strange noise so for a dog that's never been exposed to it and has sound sensitivity issues I can see it happening.


Same with playing in general. If a dog is not used to people acting in a playful manner you might just look like you're threatening them.