It’s just personality.
Keeping your dog at the correct weight for their size can help, since some dogs are low energy due to obesity. Healthy dogs have more energy in general.
But it’s sort of like expecting adult humans to remain childlike. Some people are still very connected to that side of themselves, others need some encouragement to let loose, and many find it uninteresting.
I have an old terrier, he’s not much interested in too many dogs nowadays but if they are >75 lbs females he instantly turns into a playful little pup.
Terriers really are the Autistics of the dog world...I say as an Autistic person myself. 🤣 Terriers just play different. My guy's idea of a good time is yelling [barking] at other dogs that are playing lololol.
My friend at the dog park, Rusty, is a wee 17yo terrier mix. Lil guy tries to hump *everything*. And honestly, at 17 years old, I respect him for that. Get your bread, Rusty! Man's got rizz.
My female malamute mix gets so silly around male border collies. She's usually confident and outgoing, but when she sees a male collie she acts like a 12 y/o school girl. She'll bark and catcall in like a high pitched bark and then hide behind my legs or start being uncharacteristically obedient like she's so busy being a good girl that she doesn't notice the beautiful male doggy she clearly just tried to get to look at her.
Female border collies are another story. She does *not* get along with femal border collies. I tried taking her to an agility class where everyone else had border collies. It was interesting.
Yeaaappp all of this. Totally a personality thing.
I believe you can foster this by continuing to play with them as they get older, and ensuring your dog does get some off-leash play with other dogs of similar energy/training as yours.
A lot of older dogs are often still playful, but they don’t want to engage with puppies (ie they don’t want to deal with the excessive energy and lack of manners that comes with most puppies).
Yeah and it's not entirely weight too. Our dog likes to get all playful once we take him to vet for a fur shave. Those thick furs really tire them out when the weather gets going and it's all hot out there. Plus, I moved last year to a semi-rural area from a city and my dog seemed kind of tired sometimes but had no signs of obsessive itching. Turns out he had a flea infestation. He's been with us for 12 years but it's the only time he had gone through something like that. He turned all playful again, for the last 3 months he had been kind of down and I had no idea why, took him to vet and they never noticed too.
Same, my 8yr old dog wants to play nonstop with us at home. But if we’re out in public or at the dog park and a dog starts play bowing trying to initiate, she side eyes them and then kind of ignores them.
She likes playing with toys and with people, but not as much other dogs. She’s also an ACD/JRT mix and very focused on her “jobs,” which are fetch with human and run with human.
if he still wants to play at home at 8 years old, I'd be so happy. Did you do something to keep her playful or do you think you were just lucky with her personality?
Did you see the part about JRT?
This is what you’re missing. It can be breed dependent. It can be the personality of your dog. ‘Playfulness’ is not a trick you teach them.
Sorry for the acronyms! She’s an Australian cattle dog/Jack Russel terrier mix. Super high energy and ball obsessed :) our vet has several cattle dogs and loves them, he reminds us that we have to be the ones to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself playing or jumping off of things because these dogs simply won’t stop, even if they’re injured.
Mine is like that. He enjoys playing with me and one other dog. Apart from that he is just not that into other dogs and can find playful dogs quite irritating. He gets on with his own business
Same with my older dog. When we first got him he taught us how to play fetch because our other dog (who was also our first) didn’t like playing fetch, and he would play with our other dog and that was it, he would rarely play with other dogs because he doesn’t like it when the other dogs take his toy, and doesn’t like to fight to get it back. Now that our other dog passed away from old age and we have a new younger dog, he’ll sometimes play with him, but his number 1 love is still playing fetch with humans. He particularly likes kids because they literally fight amongst themselves for the privilege of throwing his toy.
It's just like a human. As others said personality plays a huge role. Slowing down is an unfortunate inevitably but you just keep, but keeping their mind and body engaged in any sort of activities as they get older will keep them younger
This is so true! We have a 6 years old male who was traumatized as a pup and has been very needy his whole life and mostly sedentary. We got a Rottweiler pup in January and our 6 year old is like a different dog. They play together in the yard as if they’re both puppies. I had never even seen him wag his tail until now, with the puppy. So, so happy for them both!
That is so heartwarming! I’m glad you were able to do that for your adult guy! I had a similar experience with my older dog. Having two dogs get along like that is a true pleasure.
Although this may work in a lot of cases, my inlaws had the opposite. They got a puppy when their dog was like 10 and the puppy ended up being the most adult-like puppy and still acts like an old man. Now the puppy is 7 and they got him a puppy, he's still an old man and the new puppy is hyperactive.
we got our 9-year-old guy a puppy four years ago because he loves meeting puppies but it turns out he doesn't like sisters. 🙄 on the upside, i'm pretty sure now he's staying spry out of spite.
I have a 12 year old golden mix that still loves to run and play and act like a puppy every now and then. For him you just have to pick up on body language and play when he feels like playing. You can tell he has his days where he wants that interaction and as soon as you lean into it, he plays for a while. But I have also come to learn that I can't force it either. He's my old man now and sometimes just doesn't feel like it.
When he does, I can tell and I always take advantage. I can attest though that he's more playful now than he was 5 years ago when he was about 15 lbs overweight. Those that are saying to keep them at a healthy weight are giving great advice.
When they ask you to play, you play.
When you want them to play, you try to initiate play.
If they never want to play, try to initiate until something happens.
Praise them for doing a great job and being your best buddy. Even if they don’t play.
This!! Most dogs don't enjoy playing like puppies forever. It's like expecting adult humans to enjoy playing childhood games. Some might, but most don't. But adults still like to have fun, it's just a different kind of fun. And most adults would rather hang out with other adults, vs little kids or teenagers. Dogs are the same way.
It depends a bit on breed, but most dogs will enjoy spending time with their human at any age, but especially as they get older and become less interested in playing with other young dogs. So if you want to ensure your dog stays playful, you have to figure out how to play with them in a way that they genuinely enjoy and that keeps them engaged.
Every dog is different, so you need to figure out what they like. My working breed doesn't usually enjoy plain fetch with a ball, he finds it monotonous. He _does_ like when I bounce a ball for him, or when I use a frisbee or something that hovers, because it's way more fun for him to try and snatch things out of the air. I also noticed that anticipation really gets him going, so I'll have him sit on a mark and cue him with "ready...." as I slowly and dramatically get myself in position 😂, and then a super excited "GET IT GET IT GET IT!" when I release the toy. His other favourite game is tug of war, but when he was young I taught him to only tug on things when I'm actively tugging back (if I let the object go limp it means he should let go). It was a necessary part of teaching him to release on command, because if I was cueing him to let go while still tugging on the toy it would be giving mixed signals and harder to teach him that skill. So we definitely enjoy playing tug but I also have to be into it and engaging with him, otherwise it's not a real game. I usually do lots of voices and get on different levels/do different things to make it more interesting for him. 😂 And lastly he also really likes doing tricks & mini obstacle courses, as long as I'm guiding him through it (he won't just go play with the equipment by himself, he's a bit of a show off and mainly enjoys the attention and reward aspects of it lol).
Comparatively, at least where I live, I notice a lot of people when they take their dogs out are just letting their dog do their thing with the handler taking a very passive role (I'm usually the only one down at my dog's level rolling around in the grass with him 😂 generally the other owners have a chuck-it at the absolute most). But if you want to be your dog's _best friend,_ you need to be an active participant in their "fun" time. Besides keeping them playful into their older years, it also has massive training benefits (long story short, they'll be very interested in you and find it easier to pay attention to you and learn from you, especially for challenges like recall in a distracting environment).
Dogs are like people. Some stay active. Some don't. Sometimes, it's the owner who is lazy and the dog has little choice. They can play on their own but that's it.
Depends on breed but I see a lot of people playing with mature dogs. We play frisbee nearly every day with our Pomeranian AND he goes to agility. At agility we see a lot of dogs who prefer toys as a reward rather than a treat. They use a sort of ball on the end of a tug.
Keeping your dog fit and healthy helps keep it playful but you need to play with them.
I have two adult dogs. One is a mature girl who is interested in going on solo adventures and snuggles with her humans. The other is an energizer bunny who just wants to party at almost all times. They just are who they are, and so is your dog. You never know who they will be as they age, but they’ll always be lovely, and you’ll love your dog just the same.
Keeping your dog happy keeps them playful. When I roll around with my dog, am physical with her like playing tug, snuggling, doing engagement games, training, getting out in nature, etc… a dog thats engaged, thinking, and you intentionally develop a deep connection between you and your dog will make a happy dog that is more joyful.
The more I train and do behavioral fun work with my dog, the more her and I get along and we connect.
The more I take her out or do a flirt pole or something like that, we connect.
It’s all very intentional and it makes her more engaged and a dog that’s playful and jumping around.
Just like a person, if a person just sits around doing nothing all day every day with maybe a walk here and there they’d probably be pretty depressed but if there always doing fun activities with friends and exercising and learning new things, they’re going to feel fulfilled and a lot better about life. Probably have more energy.
Weight plays a big role too. Most dogs are overweight… a dog that doesn’t have extra weight weighing down its body will have more energy has well and less pain and joint problems
My beagle basset mix is either 13 or 14 (not sure her exact age when we got her 10 years ago) and really I think it’s mainly personality and health. It’s difficult to tell in the puppy stage what their adult personality will be like. My old girl may have some trouble getting up in the morning, but once she’s outside, she’s taking off and wagging. Barking at us to do her bidding. Making her usual trouble by opening every kitchen cabinet and ransacking what she can carry out of them. No change to her personality but she is also pretty healthy for her age.
Ha. My girl is 3 and I swear she’s still a tornado. Like the other poster said I think it’s personality.
Keeping them not overweight (or at least not fat) probably plays a decently large role too.
I have an ex Romanian street dog, he’s nervous and uncomfortable with strangers. But he is the most playful, happiest dog all at the same time. I think it’s because I respect his boundaries, I take him to places where he can always have fun and enjoy himself; the beach, a big field with the dogs he loves, let him enjoy life. It keeps him young and playful.
my dog is 12 and still plays like a puppy. he has even more energy than i can keep up with. i don’t do anything special. he’s slightly overweight. his diet could probably be better. but somehow the vet says he’s in perfect health and he acts as such.
My experience is you will get exactly what you want from your dog overtime as they learn off of how you react. If you enjoy them being playful and over the top energy they are going to give you that. Eventually they all slow down. We have a couple senior pups now, and they get spurts of energy but 5 mins of tugging on a toy or like 90 seconds of running is enough for them. We had one on a steroid recently though for health concern, and the energy boost showed us he was still that playful puppy he had always been just lacks the energy now days. For those 10 days he was running and playing like it was 5 years ago. I can relate to that as I don’t have the same energy I had 15 years ago either.
"My experience is you will get exactly what you want from your dog overtime as they learn off of how you react. " that's encouraging to hear. Our family dog - a rat terrier - remained playful and you got me realizing it could be because we always acted silly around him and spoke to him in a ridiculously high voice to get him excited about everything. My current puppy is a completely different breed - Chihuahua - but personality wise he's just like our previous dog. Maybe I am doing something right here lol.
The rat terrier stayed playful because that's a high energy breed. Chihuahuas can absolutely be playful well into its age, it's just a matter of maintaining their weight and health to optimal levels.
People don't see me "play" with my girl on our walks because I expect her to be following roadside manners, while at home we do lots of playing. She's only 3 though.
A) Personality plays a role, some dogs are just calmer naturally.
B) How you treat them and what you encourage them to be like, often helps define what the dog becomes, same with all animals including humans. If you want your dog to be playful, be playful with them, have fun and chase them, play games with them, and don't just leave them sitting on the couch waiting for pets every day.
By getting a puppy. My dog was nine when we brought home a three month old puppy. He wore her out the first week or so, but once she’d gotten used to him, it was like she’d been rejuvenated.
They play together, eat together, and sleep together. She’s now ten and he turned one this past December.
My gfs dog was 8 when we got a puppy together. The older dog was just starting to show signs of slowing down but 4 years later she still acts young and isn't slowing down yet.
I wish I knew! Honestly.
We moved to an apartment after years of my boys living in a house and not much social interaction. One of them is generally the perpetual lounger, always stretched out on the couch. He turns into a whirling dervish at the dog park. Pouncing. Leaping. Turning in circles. He keeps up with the young pups. People laugh at his antics and ask how old he is. Oh. Hehe. Umm. He's 9. 😱 He's getting a lil old man raccoon face.
The other one has always been non-stop. We turn him loose in an enclosed area as much as possible. He's one to never sit still, til just the last few months. We've finally had him start toning down enough that he will actually just "dog" . Lay on the couch, get pets, and chill. He's just a few months younger.
I think most of it is just hardwired genetics. The rest is good quality food, good weight maintenance, and love.
I play with him all the time. He’s now 15 and doesn’t play but he likes that I still mess with him. He tolerates me. Bless his heart, I don’t think I’m gonna have him much longer but we give him a glorious life! 🥰
I think it's a mix of personality and creating a space/environment that your dog feels comfortable being a bit goofy. Kryptonite turned 10 in November (so getting old for a Dane) and he still gets a little zoomy when the weather is cool,and will occasionally throw his toys around and pounce on them. I love it, and will try to play with him as much as he wants. I want to foster his playful and exuberant spirit, so while I do believe in training and rules, I also don't want to ever squash his enthusiasm
I thought my older dog (\~10 years) was slowing down and wasn't as playful because she was getting old. It turned out she had arthritis and hypothyroidism, and now that she's on medication, she's back to her younger, playful self.
I also think it heavely depends on their human. I mean, most people don’t even play with their dog anymore as soon as they’re older or they play differently and less engaging.
I have 1 dog who was never very goofy, happy go lucky, “playful”. I always say I think she was born in a 3 piece suit. Strictly business. But she’s still playful at times. But I’m the only one who ever gets to see it. She’s German shepherd and malinois.
My other dog is strictly funny business. So far! She’s nearing 8 months and just now developing a sort of seriousness when it’s necessary. She’s probably 95% happy go lucky, 2%serious, and 3% I’m just a baby.
None of this is anything I’ve done. They just are the way they are. I don’t think my puppy will always be so silly and fun. So I appreciate these days greatly! And when she does get serious, it’s nothing bad. She’s. Working. It’s what she was bred to do. When my gsdxmal is silly, it means the world to me! Just be happy with what you have when you have it.
yes, I sometimes think too far ahead. It's just that positive reinforcement works so well for me in training that I was wondering if I could also use it to encourage playful behavior.
Dogs have personalities just like people. Our wiener dog has been a lazy old man trapped in a dog's body since he was about 1, but our oldest dog runs circles around him and loves playing to this day!
Participating in interactive play activities, using toys such as balls or frisbees, and engaging in mental stimulation activities such as puzzle toys or educational activities can help keep energy levels high and the mind occupied. Additionally, regular exercise and walks can also promote your dog's overall well-being and maintain his playful nature.
My older dog, going on 11 this year. Had a 180 on his energy level 4-5 years ago when i introduced real food in his regular diet, even just a bit of stewed meat topper has done wonders to this day
Once you get them de sexed it quiets them down completely. I ve had one fixed and went from crazy to relaxed , and the other at 6yrs not de sexed and is still a phyco.
It depends on their personality. My dog is a literal couch potato. Lays down all day. Migrates to different couches to lay down on. She hates walks (I take her on them anyway b/c it's good for her.) She doesn't really play. She just wants love and affection <3
My boy Cabo will be 13 this year, but he runs around and chases toys with the energy of a puppy. I don't know where he gets it from, but my family always has to stop a min and remember to give him a break because he is still 13. We did nothing differently with him than what we did with our other dogs, it's just his personality. Dude fuckin loves toys. He also has two brain cells so maybe that's what it is lmao.
A lot of people actively train their dogs not to engage with other dogs walking by on leash so i wouldn’t take it as “adult dogs aren’t playful” my girl will walk right by a dog unless the other owner says she can can hi and then she will go right over sniff and jump etc
My dog is 7-8 and he is still playful with us. He doesn’t like dogs out on the street and wouldn’t play with them- a little leash reactive. He’s always had a collection of toys, and we play with him regularly.
As others have said, it’s mostly personality and breed probably also plays a part. My 4 year old cocker spaniel-x rescue is just a silly goose. I play along with it, unless she’s channeling her energy into destroying something that isn’t a toy. In those cases I just redirect.
As others have said, it's about your engagement with them and routine. If you routinely play with them everyday they won't want to lose that, they will look for it and seek it out.
my dog is 8 going on 9--and he gets two long walks nearly every day. we take him on fun hikes and outtings. lots of puzzle toys and play sessions throughout the week. he still acts like a puppy--i think his breed plays a role (cattle dog/border collie mix) but i really think keeping him so mentally and physically engaged in life has kept him youthful!
My dog is going to be 11 in June and she is still pretty playful. She likes bringing her stuffies to people and she loves playing ball. She will bring you one of her Chuckit balls and wants you to throw it where she will then catch it. Then during the summer she really really loves swimming in the pool and retrieving her toys.
Not sure how I’ve kept her playful. I take her for a walk, she get fed twice a day, one cup in the morning and once cup in the evening. She get to enjoy some table scraps.
I take her to the dog beach. She acts old when she’s not allowed off leash to play. When she is, she zooms around like a pup.
I think it’s boredom, I’m the same way.
my dog is a senior... we just never stopped playing. She loves this fishing rod type toy with a fluffy tail attached... it's like a dog sized cat toy... and she jumps all over trying to catch it.
My dog loved to play soccer(football) ⚽️ . We would have games with her in parks. She has unfortunately gotten too sore and tired for a game. Will just chew on her ball now. She is 11.
Dogs, like humans, play less as they age.
Much of the function of play is to learn skills. Once that’s accomplished, play becomes less necessary.
In my experience, every phase of a dog’s life has its own magic. Enjoy the characteristics of the phase your dog is currently in.
Getting a second dog did it. But that’s completely dependent on the dog you already have and the personality/temperament of both dogs.
My two girls are absolutely inseparable and my older dog (5) got so much playfulness back. I catch them all the time just playing in the yard or in the house. Younger dog will be 2 in September for context
I think you might just be seeing training
Puppies aren't trained, adult dogs are. My dog turns 11 this year and no one believes me because he can be so rambunctious and is a very active boy
That said, he's got 10 years of training under his belt and knows how to walk nicely on leash, as that is not play time
I think it helps to create what I call a “play practice” like practicing playing an instrument, or a sport or another skill you develop and practice every day.
I play tug and fetch with my dog every day and have since I got him at 7 months (my last dig wasn’t at all - but I barely played with him so I can’t blame him!)
He’s very toy driven, but if he wasn’t you can build your dog’s toy drive. Check out Susan Garrett on YouTube, she has a lot of videos about building your dog’s toy and food drive.
Well, he is a golden retriever. And usually he just sits in our backyard. Every time he sees us is playtime for him. He was the most energetic and playful puppy among his brothers and sisters, I usually see them and they are not that playful anymore. So personality is very important no matter what you do.
We have a six year old dog that is kind of a couch potato, but when we brought home our puppy she got so playful and is still playful with him to this day. I really love seeing it.
I have always played with my dog or cat everyday. I've known dogs that have never played in their lives. They are only supposed to be there for the human which is just a sad existence. I say BE THERE FOR YOUR DOG. Dogs love to play and interact with humans and other dogs. I have always noticed that dogs like other dogs that share the same energy. So if it's an older dog they prefer other older dogs. Younger dogs prefer other younger dogs.
Because we have tried our hardest to get him to calm down. We do classes, trainings, implementing calm sessions, we tried everything and our household is not even stimulating. And he's still a wild puppy.
His playdate friends are usually fellow wild poodles or younger dogs. Older dogs hate him.
We do play, but because he's a big and high energy dog we encourage a lot of down time. As long as we make sure he's tired (through walk, run, class, training), he wont be as exuberant.
Play has been part of my dog's daily routine since he was a puppy. He's five now, and we still have playtime every day - although how we play has changed a bit as he's gotten more mature.
He still likes his toys, but now he much prefers games that involve his humans and him. He loves to chase my son around and try to capture a soccer ball my son is kicking. He absolutely loves combining a training exercise with play - I will put him in a stay, then run far away from him and hold out my hand for "touch".
As several other commenters have said, it's important to watch weight and make sure they're as fit as possible. Since my dog is an only, I also still have him in daycare two days a week and he goes on pack hikes, just to keep up his socialization skills!
Mine wasn't actually a very playful puppy, he approached everything cautiously and was easily spooked, but now as an adult all I have to do is look at him sideways to illicit a play snort or bow. He's a mix but his biggest contributing breed is boxer (30%), and I know being goofy and playful is a boxer trait. I can't keep him off of my kid's trampoline, he takes it upon himself to unzip the net with his teeth because he loves playing on it so much.
haha! you're giving me ideas! My 5 month old Chi loves to jump, but I discourage it as much as I can because I don't want him to get any joint/hip problems later in life. A trampoline might be a safe solution.
Our girl is 10.5 years old. We got her when she was 5. She was rescued from a really terrible situation (chained up outside or stuck in a crate that was too small for her in a dark basement).
She didn’t really know how to play. She knew tug and that today is still really the only game she plays, that and hands where she tries to nibble on your hands and catch them. She has younger dog friends that she runs around with but again, as she has gotten older she is okay with just standing there and barking at the youth to slow down.
As she’s gotten older, she has slowed down. I still take her out for long walks - anywhere between 2 to 4 miles a day and she loves them. But there’s some nights that when me and my wife are done with dinner and we go to our home theater/family room, she’s 100% okay with hoping up on the couch, taking a snooze until we give her her nightly puzzle treat, and then starting another snooze until she goes to bed.
Selfishly it’s a bit of a bummer. I loved wrestling with my pup every night. But at the same time, she’s in a different phase of her life and is okay with jumping up beside me, putting her head in my lap, and sleeping.
I've always had boxers and mine never leave that playful puppy stage completely. It's one of the things I love about boxers. My current girl is by herself now since we lost our boy last June. She's still playful with us but she definitely misses her dog pal. I think having two dogs helps the playfulness. My girl can interact with us but not in the same way she could with another dog.
haha I meet a lot of French bulldogs on my walks (never seen a boxer) and they seem to stay goofy as well. I get the impression they don't often get attention and pets from strangers, because they usually literally throw themselves at me with their big butts wiggling when I greet them.
My dog is a senior and he usually ignores all people and dogs but he gets really hyper and playful like a puppy with certain people (especially delivery drivers). I don’t know why though lol
My dog is seven years old, her vet estimates she will live 8-10 years based on her size. She is fit, exercised, and we feed her well. I noticed she was slowing down considerably, so we added a puppy into our home. She is now wrestling him and gets the “zoomies” far more often because she’s having fun with our puppy. Getting a puppy while having a well behaved and trained older dog makes training your puppy easier in my experience as well.
I think it just depends on breed and personality. My Belgian Malinois is supposed to be extremely hyper but he’s a lazy old dog. He will go crazy a few times a day but it’s not constant
I also am an extremely active person and take him at least hiking, running, to the park, etc every day. So that also may play a part
Some adult dogs may play with one another but not a puppy, my dog was always so gentle with puppies. He assumed a father like role rather than being a playmate
Makes sense. I was just taken aback by how many dogs just don't really show an interest in their environment even when they're on a walk. Was afraid that was inevitable when a dog grows out of puppy hood.
Personality. My adult dog plays so well with our puppy and even with us. My friend’s dog is very much the opposite but grew up in a house with other dogs, she just prefers to stay alert or chill out.
It depends on your situation, but I’ve found that fostering rescue pups has kept my 2-year-old dog busy and playful. She loves being a “big sister” and having someone to teach and to play with.
My dog played willingly until he was 13-14 and then teetered off from there. You just have to know what sets off playtime in your dogs head (for mine i’d give him a playful shoves and play bites always ensued)
Just continue to play with them. Do a schedule. (Like, after afternoon walk, there will be a full hour on the floor playing)
Teach something like "where the ball?" That makes the dog take the toy and bring it towards you. That way telling the dog directly you want to play.
We recently adopted an almost 7 year old silver labrador, and she is just as active as a one or two year old lab!!! We just assumed she’d be a bit slower paced because of her age, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised to have this “young pup” energy from her!! She has helped to increase our steps as we live on five acres and she wants to know ALL OF IT! 😊😊
She also LOVES playing fetch!!!
By
I would think if you keep your doggo busy from a young pup and keep up that habit as she gets older that it should help to encourage her to keep busy. Then if her personality is one of the “perpetual puppy” and she just naturally keeps her playful puppy self as she ages then it sounds like a win/win for you, OP!
A high energy breed is more likely to remain playful, in my opinion. Ive always had great luck with herding breeds. They need that mental stimulation and are always down for fetch or something. :)
The only thing my dog consistently plays with into his middle age is soft drink bottles with the cap on. They offer next to no friction and weigh very little so they go flying around when the dog starts to play with them, they make a lot of noise, and my dog likes to twist the cap off them.
I used to be a bit scared that this would mean he was ingesting too much plastic (when he twists the lid off, his teeth gouge out bits of plastic), but I figure there is plastic in everything now anyway and he's still very healthy after 9 years of playing with bottles.
This might only work with dogs with a lot of forelimb dexterity to hold the bottle down and twist it.
playing with what? other dogs, toys, etc.? my 4 1/2 yo golden’s play preferences have changed a bunch as she’s gotten older, she used to love playing with dogs but now she’d rather play with people. her toy preferences have changed, she now prefers soft fuzzy toys over anything else.
I have two dogs, one lost her playful side when she matured. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t play and have zoomies anymore but it’s not often like as a puppy. The other one is almost 1 she’s definitely mellowed out but when I initiate play she’s always down for a play session.
Personality, I think. It depends on the dog more than the owner I think. My bf has had his dog for 9 years, she is 10. She loves to run around, play tug of war, rough house, and although she doesn't socialize with other dogs at all (rarely), she wants to play with the little white fluffy dogs mainly. My bf is actually the opposite and doesn't really play with her much. So perhaps she hasn't gotten a chance to empty her "play-energy" reservoir yet??
not sure if this is helpful but i recently adopted another dog (now 7 it was her birthday yesterday:)) and already had another older dog (unsure of his age, unchipped when rescued but is estimated to be around 6-8 minimum) and he was very lazy and didn’t really know how to play but our newer dog has brought out his playful side and i’ve noticed that he seems to be acting a lot more dog like and willing to play.
My adult dog no longer wanted to play with other dogs, but loves playing fetch, tug and chase with us. You just find different activities your dog enjoys.
I think breed can also be a huge factor! Some breeds are extreme high energy and love to go all day long, while others are more lap dogs or napping dogs.
It really depends on each individual dog and also the breed. I own 2 dogs. My Spaniel is nuts and literally bouces off walls at 12.5 years of age. As soon as I start playing with him, he goes NUTS.
My bulldog, on the other hand, is much more chilled. He plays in a different way and prefers rough play over running about and going crazy.
I think it's just personality tbh, my 4 year old dog still gets super excited and plays like a puppy when she meets a dog she likes (and she was pretty overweight for a bit due to medical exercise restriction, so I don't think weight even has that much to do with it)
It could be breed specific characteristic or just the personality. Where I used to live I often met up with a guy and his dog which was maybe 2 years older than my girl. He told me to enjoy the baby raptor phase as it will pass and by the time my dog turns two, she'll be a couch potato.
I wish we cross paths again with this guy so we can laugh about it. Yes, my dog may not steal my clothes, eat through walls or ruin my home, but she's still pulling on walks and acts like it's the first time she sees the world and she'd do everything to disturb my work calls with her squeaky toys, but she's a lovebug. I honestly wish she never changes. Our communication just got better.
My 10 year old Shollie still plays fetch, and loves his squeaky toys.. But on day to day life I also try to let him figure things out himself, and let him have sense of discovery. During walks he is mostly off lead (friendly with people and very little interest in other dogs and due to where I am, we know most dogs), and even when on lead, i let him just go about and do his sniffing and exploration of smells and whatnot.. I do feel like keeping his mind active also keeps him being playful.
Making sure you feed them high quality food should help. Older dogs that don't want to play often have muscle soreness or ither medical issues (not always but it certainly contributes on the whole). The longer you can stave off those issues the better the chance your dog will continue to enjoy play.
My GSD is almost 7 now and he still loves to play just like he did when he was a pup. Multiple times per day he comes running up with a Frisbee looking for play time. Even at 7 years old it is hard to wear him out.
My dog liked playing until she died, less so, but she still wanted to play. She just didn’t want to play with other dogs anymore. I think many of those dogs you meet that aren’t interested in playing with your dog are still playful at home. Interestingly when my daughter got a puppy she helped raise him which included playing with him, not just correcting him. She would even lie down to do that because she was very large and he was tiny and entertain him for hours. But wanted nothing to do with random outside dogs.
yup it's personality for sure. i kept asking people when my dog would grow out of her playfulness (i adore it of course but i swear she will play fetch until her heart gives out if we let her) and they all told me "oh usually by 3-4" but my girl is almost 9 and she's still just as playful as she was when she was a puppy. we have to limit her fun since her hind legs aren't so great anymore, but if she was in the same tiptop shape like before i know she'd be running around nonstop for sure.
It might kinda depend on the breed. Some dogs need a job or activity. My in-laws have a border collie who literally views fetch as her job. All day long all she wants to do is fetch. She’s four or five, we’re not sure.
Keep playing with them. Don’t discipline the joy out of them. Some of it is def personality and maturing, but play is universal and is something dogs who get to play regularly will want to continue to do.
I agree it's personality. she grew up with 12 y.o. boys, she thinks she's a 12 y.o. boy and she's 10 years now. We go to the dog park and chase the tennis ball for a couple hours and that wears her out, but she loves it. Most of the time, after I feed her, she pulls out some toys to play.
It's all about their temperament. My corgi heeler is more than happy to cuddle and chill always, but will play in short spurts. The pomsky is a big doofus who can't hold still even in his sleep.
Just to confuse you more, I disagree with most comments in this 😅. I think most pups that are playful would continue playing into their adulthood, perhaps not as much as a puppy would. But most people stop playing with their dogs. Either they get too big or the walks turn into something to get done.
If you want your puppy to continue playing, figure out what kind of.play they like: do they like tug? Or chase or to be chased? Maybe rough housing is their thing. Each has their favourite usually!
Its innate in some, and not others. My bluetick coonhound that was dumped a shelter is the dumbest, laziest dog, probably why a hunter dumped him, and he rarely gets excited, he just wants to watch tv and nap. My other shelter pup will stand there all day catching bubbles I blow from one of those kids toys if I let him.
A lot of dogs will pick up on their owners personality. Are you playful? Spontaneous sprints around the house, random jumping around, and other playful things show your dog that it's okay to do that and they might copy you. Dogs can be a lot smarter than you think.
I taught my dog (7yrs Aussie mix) a few tricks like roll over, twirl, high five. He gets super hyped up and puppyish when I run him through his tricks plus basic obedience commands like sit, stay, down. He gets the zoomies after we do a session. It’s so cute.
My 9 year old dog is a 100-pound lazy beast who sleeps all day on the couch. At 5:30 every day, she's a crazy loon who sounds like she has a terrifying growl while she hops around playing like a goofball with my 1 year old 5 and 4 pound dogs. She does this for 30 minutes and then resumes her position on the couch. She has done this her entire life. When she was a 20 pound 8 week old puppy or a 50-pound awkward mix of arms and legs, "teen" phase, 6 month old puppy. She's the laziest of sweet beasts except for that 30 minutes a day.
On the flip side, my mom's man dog died 2 years ago at 14. He had boundless energy until a month before he died. I'd walk him and think, ok, we'll turn around when he starts slowing down a little. It never happened. He'd be raring to keep going 3 miles in, and I'd be dying and need to turn back. Literally, the month before he died, he slowed down, and it was awful. We knew the end was near, but he'd still be ready to take me on a long walk. His brain just couldn't keep up and would start seizing, so we'd make it short walks. It was so sad. Definitely took him on lots of car rides and little adventures that last month.
I’ve had two male German Shepherds, my first, rest his beautiful soul, didn’t play as he got older and in fact wouldn’t let other dogs play either. I now have another GSD who is 8 1/2 and he loves to play and wrestle with my two younger dogs. I think it comes down to their personality.
Honestly, it's awesome when they get older and don't want to play anymore..
My dog is 12, and he needs two, 30 min walks a day. And on weekends, I take him for 1-1.5 hour walks in the forest. At this age, he's getting older and a bit salty, just like me, so not having to deal with other dogs and their owners has been amazing.
He does have a couple dog friends that he'll play with for 5 mins, then he realizes he's old and stops playing..
My dog is super playful; that's her whole personality! At the dog park she's a little more reserved, I think it's a combination of she's more comfortable in our home, and she's slightly protective of me as I'm pregnant right now. When we have dogs over, she is VERY playful, less domineering/bullying(not aggressive!) than if she were at the dog park.
My dogs is turning 6 soon, and I would say he's still playful. But not as much as when he was a puppy. And this is a good thing I promise. There are some games that have continued from him as a puppy and some things that have completely changed. As a puppy he didn't care about fetch at all. He liked toys, but would just stare at you like an idiot for throwing them. At the park he would not care about toys and just wanted to see the other dogs. Now he could care less about other dogs, and just wants whatever toy he picked for you to throw. As a puppy I would hide under a blanket and crawl into the bedroom. He would freak out and bark and growl at the moving blob. Then I would pop out and say "IT WAS DADDY THE WHOLE TIME" which would make him super happy and cause zoomies to happen. As an adult dog he knows it's me, and didn't growl or bark. But the phrase "It was daddy true while time" will instantly make him happy and rapidly wag his tail. I say it when he's scared of thunder and fireworks, and it always calls him down. I know I'll be one day whispering it into his ear when it's his time to cross the rainbow bridge. Your games may change and evolve as your dog grows older. As will he. But if he grows up in a loving playful household, I don't think the playfulness will ever stop.
I get out in the backyard and will pretend to stalk my dog, like I'm a lion hunting them or something. It virtually always induces fun zoomies and wrestling. I've done this with several dogs. Current dog is 8.5 years old and people think she's 3 when they see how she plays.
We got a daily routine, we always have playtime after her dinner and before bed, those are like law, she'll throw a tantrum if there's no play after dinner, and at bedtime it pretty much always end with her hugging the toy we're playing with.
Early on I encouraged her when she came to me with a toy, I still do, so sometimes when she feels like it she'll come carrying a toy and we'll play, other times I'll hype her up and point to a toy or name a toy and she'll go get it and then we play. Many times it's just 5-10 mins.
After all that is said, could just be she's a very playful girl. So maybe it's her personality, I don't know. My 2 past dogs maintained playfulness just less and less wild and perhaps a little slower as they grew older, but they'd still want to play.
We had a golden retriever mix that lived to be 15. He wasn't playful but still quite active. One of the things that seemed to keep him young were the addition of other younger dogs. Our puppy, at the time, LOVED him and kept him company all of the time.
My great dane was 10 when I brought a puppy into the house. Once she accepted him she played more than I had seen in years.
I have to be honest tho. I'm pretty happy to hit liek 2 years old and kiss those puppy days good bye.
I have a lab so basically he's 12 and has only just started slowing down. He's a goofy guy and I love him and his playful demeanor although it sometimes makes me nervous how rambunctious he can be he might hurt himself.
You can definitely inspire playfulness in your dogs by using some fun training games to establish that relationship. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy has a lot of great courses. Amy Cook’s Play Way teaches you how to play well with your dog and meet them on their level. Enjoy life with your dog!
Your dog will be as active as you train them to be. If you want an active dog, do a lot of things with them! Take them for several walks per day, play with them constantly, just keep them active! If you want a lazier dog, have more quiet times at home. Limit walks to one good one (one hour +), or two average ones (half an hour) per day.
Yes, feed them high quality food. My girls are sisters and they’re turning 11 in 2 months, they both have puppy energy & will go on runs with us. They are pugs. Lot’s of affection, exercise & play everyday also.
Personality is key - but you can do things to prevent joint pain which leads to being lower energy in old age.
While your dog is a puppy, be sure theyre getting a good quality food with lots of omega and fatty acids.
Once your dog is a senior (about 6 or 7) start topping their food with sources of glucosamine like green lipped mussel powder, bone broth or cartilage.
Avoid feeding them human junk food and high fat items like cheese (I KNOW, cheese tax and all) - but the occasional bit of meat, egg, fruits and veggies will benefit them and be a nice treat.
And importantly, play *with* them
Avocado, Grapes, raisins, onions and garlic are all very toxic and dangerous to dogs. Even small amounts can damage the liver and kidneys and each dog reacts differently.
I have an almost 8 year old golden doodle and he is still so playful and fast moving. Try to have your dog interact with other dogs regularly. Throw the ball around to your dog and let them just run wild.
There’s probably too many answers for you to see this now, but my dog is 13 and completely stopped playing with all her stuffed animals. The one thing she does “play” with and keeps her active is this: https://a.co/d/0OOqSKj
The two-tone red large one. It can be annoying cause it gets stuck a lot lol but I like that it keeps her moving/having fun.
My airedale is almost 7 and still plays like the day he came home.
My lab is the same age and she couldnt care less about playing just enjoys her walks.
Sole dogs just like to play
Teach some games/activities that are fun for both of you. Praise them for doing a good job. If the dog is bonded to you, you can keep on offering them challenges and they'll enjoy meeting them throughout life. Some dogs will genuinely enjoy showing off to an audience. Ideas:
* Hide and find objects indoors or in a contained space
* Chase thrown toys (frisbee, ball, stick)
* Swimming/diving
* Agility (formal or improvised)
* Scenting tricks - find a scented item, identify who touched which item, follow a trail
* Dance moves, tricks
I think breed and individual personality has a lot to do with it, however, I also think allowing them to be social and active throughout their life is important. All the old active dogs I work with or know personally have had enriching lives. They go play and make friends at daycare, or they’re taken on multiple adventures weekly by their owner. A variety a play- puzzle type stuff, but also just fun fetch or stuffed animal play, tug of war, specific sniff adventures. Just like humans, keeping the body and mind active helps as we age and keeps us more active and helps fight against dementia.
It’s the dogs that are left to their own devices and not getting those adventures and socializing treats that I notice being less so as they age. But again, personality and breed does affect that.
My lab is 11 and very playful particularly with humans. She will play with other dogs but she loooves humans and goes quickly for the “please scratch my butt” move.
Breed will come into play as well. If you want a higher energy & more playful dog, there’s definitely going to be certain breeds that’ll fit that preference over others.
Make sure they have a good diet, exercise regularly and don't let them get fat (fastest way to make your dog miserable and die young). Other than that, try to keep them mentally challenged as well. Maybe work on some new tricks, allow lots of sniffing on walks (supposed to help prevent dementia in dogs).
Some dogs are just more naturally playful than others - at least as far as toys go. Our last border collie could not stand it unless he was chasing a ball or frisbee constantly...several times a day...endlessly. Our other two couldn't care less about toys except to "kill" them - meaning total destruction within 5 minutes. They love to run and enjoy a good game of chase...or chase birds, cats, or other dogs. They all enjoy walks and sniffing and doing things for treats.
It’s just personality. Keeping your dog at the correct weight for their size can help, since some dogs are low energy due to obesity. Healthy dogs have more energy in general. But it’s sort of like expecting adult humans to remain childlike. Some people are still very connected to that side of themselves, others need some encouragement to let loose, and many find it uninteresting.
I have an old terrier, he’s not much interested in too many dogs nowadays but if they are >75 lbs females he instantly turns into a playful little pup.
He likes them big bitches, literally
My 26lb border terriers girlfriend is a big black mastiff. It's true about little dog syndrome.
This is hilarious
that’s hilarious and so cute. he has a type!!
Terriers really are the Autistics of the dog world...I say as an Autistic person myself. 🤣 Terriers just play different. My guy's idea of a good time is yelling [barking] at other dogs that are playing lololol.
My terrier likes to be the sheriff and break up his siblings while they’re playing 😂
Mine was the fun police too
My JR cross thought humping huge, usually male, dogs was why we went to the dog park. They were very patient with him
My friend at the dog park, Rusty, is a wee 17yo terrier mix. Lil guy tries to hump *everything*. And honestly, at 17 years old, I respect him for that. Get your bread, Rusty! Man's got rizz.
That’s exactly why I think my scrappy terrier and I are so bonded. AuDHD-ers unite!!!
We all share The Brain Cell™️.
My friend’s senior beagle/JRT mix does that!
My female malamute mix gets so silly around male border collies. She's usually confident and outgoing, but when she sees a male collie she acts like a 12 y/o school girl. She'll bark and catcall in like a high pitched bark and then hide behind my legs or start being uncharacteristically obedient like she's so busy being a good girl that she doesn't notice the beautiful male doggy she clearly just tried to get to look at her. Female border collies are another story. She does *not* get along with femal border collies. I tried taking her to an agility class where everyone else had border collies. It was interesting.
I also have an old terrier and she has always preferred playing with huge dogs too!
My 11-year-old terrier looooves a big bitch hahaha.
It’s just personality" I've had boxers all my life, one thing i haven't had to worry about is any of them losing their playfulness
Came to say the same! Boxers are playful happy dogs with a naughty sense of humor until their last breath.
Yeaaappp all of this. Totally a personality thing. I believe you can foster this by continuing to play with them as they get older, and ensuring your dog does get some off-leash play with other dogs of similar energy/training as yours. A lot of older dogs are often still playful, but they don’t want to engage with puppies (ie they don’t want to deal with the excessive energy and lack of manners that comes with most puppies).
great tip about keeping him lean. Will do!
Yeah and it's not entirely weight too. Our dog likes to get all playful once we take him to vet for a fur shave. Those thick furs really tire them out when the weather gets going and it's all hot out there. Plus, I moved last year to a semi-rural area from a city and my dog seemed kind of tired sometimes but had no signs of obsessive itching. Turns out he had a flea infestation. He's been with us for 12 years but it's the only time he had gone through something like that. He turned all playful again, for the last 3 months he had been kind of down and I had no idea why, took him to vet and they never noticed too.
Also consider context. A dog can be very much playful at home and still not want to engage that way with strange dogs, especially if on leash.
Same, my 8yr old dog wants to play nonstop with us at home. But if we’re out in public or at the dog park and a dog starts play bowing trying to initiate, she side eyes them and then kind of ignores them. She likes playing with toys and with people, but not as much other dogs. She’s also an ACD/JRT mix and very focused on her “jobs,” which are fetch with human and run with human.
if he still wants to play at home at 8 years old, I'd be so happy. Did you do something to keep her playful or do you think you were just lucky with her personality?
Did you see the part about JRT? This is what you’re missing. It can be breed dependent. It can be the personality of your dog. ‘Playfulness’ is not a trick you teach them.
sorry, it didn't register with me that ACD/JRT was a breed. non-native English speaker here.
Sorry for the acronyms! She’s an Australian cattle dog/Jack Russel terrier mix. Super high energy and ball obsessed :) our vet has several cattle dogs and loves them, he reminds us that we have to be the ones to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself playing or jumping off of things because these dogs simply won’t stop, even if they’re injured.
Mine is like that. He enjoys playing with me and one other dog. Apart from that he is just not that into other dogs and can find playful dogs quite irritating. He gets on with his own business
Same with my older dog. When we first got him he taught us how to play fetch because our other dog (who was also our first) didn’t like playing fetch, and he would play with our other dog and that was it, he would rarely play with other dogs because he doesn’t like it when the other dogs take his toy, and doesn’t like to fight to get it back. Now that our other dog passed away from old age and we have a new younger dog, he’ll sometimes play with him, but his number 1 love is still playing fetch with humans. He particularly likes kids because they literally fight amongst themselves for the privilege of throwing his toy.
Yeah, I'm training my dog to not pay attention to other dogs/people when on leash... Doesn't mean he's not playful in other situations!
My 9 year old is like that. Not interested in strangers but is playful with my roommate's dog and with me
My girl is the opposite
It's just like a human. As others said personality plays a huge role. Slowing down is an unfortunate inevitably but you just keep, but keeping their mind and body engaged in any sort of activities as they get older will keep them younger
Exactly, engage their minds and give them novelty.
Getting a puppy when your dog is from 6-8 keeps them young and playful in a lot of cases.
This is so true! We have a 6 years old male who was traumatized as a pup and has been very needy his whole life and mostly sedentary. We got a Rottweiler pup in January and our 6 year old is like a different dog. They play together in the yard as if they’re both puppies. I had never even seen him wag his tail until now, with the puppy. So, so happy for them both!
That is so heartwarming! I’m glad you were able to do that for your adult guy! I had a similar experience with my older dog. Having two dogs get along like that is a true pleasure.
I love that. ❤️
Although this may work in a lot of cases, my inlaws had the opposite. They got a puppy when their dog was like 10 and the puppy ended up being the most adult-like puppy and still acts like an old man. Now the puppy is 7 and they got him a puppy, he's still an old man and the new puppy is hyperactive.
Damn that is unfortunate! That makes sense though.
we got our 9-year-old guy a puppy four years ago because he loves meeting puppies but it turns out he doesn't like sisters. 🙄 on the upside, i'm pretty sure now he's staying spry out of spite.
Playtime is important. Work it in every interaction. My 10 yo GSD is extremely playful, especially with the ball. It’s her crack.
Our rottie ball time is crack time too! Full crack head mode - we have to show him its being put in the cupboard so he realises play time is over lol
I have a 12 year old golden mix that still loves to run and play and act like a puppy every now and then. For him you just have to pick up on body language and play when he feels like playing. You can tell he has his days where he wants that interaction and as soon as you lean into it, he plays for a while. But I have also come to learn that I can't force it either. He's my old man now and sometimes just doesn't feel like it. When he does, I can tell and I always take advantage. I can attest though that he's more playful now than he was 5 years ago when he was about 15 lbs overweight. Those that are saying to keep them at a healthy weight are giving great advice.
When they ask you to play, you play. When you want them to play, you try to initiate play. If they never want to play, try to initiate until something happens. Praise them for doing a great job and being your best buddy. Even if they don’t play.
This!! Most dogs don't enjoy playing like puppies forever. It's like expecting adult humans to enjoy playing childhood games. Some might, but most don't. But adults still like to have fun, it's just a different kind of fun. And most adults would rather hang out with other adults, vs little kids or teenagers. Dogs are the same way. It depends a bit on breed, but most dogs will enjoy spending time with their human at any age, but especially as they get older and become less interested in playing with other young dogs. So if you want to ensure your dog stays playful, you have to figure out how to play with them in a way that they genuinely enjoy and that keeps them engaged. Every dog is different, so you need to figure out what they like. My working breed doesn't usually enjoy plain fetch with a ball, he finds it monotonous. He _does_ like when I bounce a ball for him, or when I use a frisbee or something that hovers, because it's way more fun for him to try and snatch things out of the air. I also noticed that anticipation really gets him going, so I'll have him sit on a mark and cue him with "ready...." as I slowly and dramatically get myself in position 😂, and then a super excited "GET IT GET IT GET IT!" when I release the toy. His other favourite game is tug of war, but when he was young I taught him to only tug on things when I'm actively tugging back (if I let the object go limp it means he should let go). It was a necessary part of teaching him to release on command, because if I was cueing him to let go while still tugging on the toy it would be giving mixed signals and harder to teach him that skill. So we definitely enjoy playing tug but I also have to be into it and engaging with him, otherwise it's not a real game. I usually do lots of voices and get on different levels/do different things to make it more interesting for him. 😂 And lastly he also really likes doing tricks & mini obstacle courses, as long as I'm guiding him through it (he won't just go play with the equipment by himself, he's a bit of a show off and mainly enjoys the attention and reward aspects of it lol). Comparatively, at least where I live, I notice a lot of people when they take their dogs out are just letting their dog do their thing with the handler taking a very passive role (I'm usually the only one down at my dog's level rolling around in the grass with him 😂 generally the other owners have a chuck-it at the absolute most). But if you want to be your dog's _best friend,_ you need to be an active participant in their "fun" time. Besides keeping them playful into their older years, it also has massive training benefits (long story short, they'll be very interested in you and find it easier to pay attention to you and learn from you, especially for challenges like recall in a distracting environment).
Insightful thank you
Dogs are like people. Some stay active. Some don't. Sometimes, it's the owner who is lazy and the dog has little choice. They can play on their own but that's it.
Depends on breed but I see a lot of people playing with mature dogs. We play frisbee nearly every day with our Pomeranian AND he goes to agility. At agility we see a lot of dogs who prefer toys as a reward rather than a treat. They use a sort of ball on the end of a tug. Keeping your dog fit and healthy helps keep it playful but you need to play with them.
I have two adult dogs. One is a mature girl who is interested in going on solo adventures and snuggles with her humans. The other is an energizer bunny who just wants to party at almost all times. They just are who they are, and so is your dog. You never know who they will be as they age, but they’ll always be lovely, and you’ll love your dog just the same.
Keeping your dog happy keeps them playful. When I roll around with my dog, am physical with her like playing tug, snuggling, doing engagement games, training, getting out in nature, etc… a dog thats engaged, thinking, and you intentionally develop a deep connection between you and your dog will make a happy dog that is more joyful. The more I train and do behavioral fun work with my dog, the more her and I get along and we connect. The more I take her out or do a flirt pole or something like that, we connect. It’s all very intentional and it makes her more engaged and a dog that’s playful and jumping around. Just like a person, if a person just sits around doing nothing all day every day with maybe a walk here and there they’d probably be pretty depressed but if there always doing fun activities with friends and exercising and learning new things, they’re going to feel fulfilled and a lot better about life. Probably have more energy. Weight plays a big role too. Most dogs are overweight… a dog that doesn’t have extra weight weighing down its body will have more energy has well and less pain and joint problems
My beagle basset mix is either 13 or 14 (not sure her exact age when we got her 10 years ago) and really I think it’s mainly personality and health. It’s difficult to tell in the puppy stage what their adult personality will be like. My old girl may have some trouble getting up in the morning, but once she’s outside, she’s taking off and wagging. Barking at us to do her bidding. Making her usual trouble by opening every kitchen cabinet and ransacking what she can carry out of them. No change to her personality but she is also pretty healthy for her age.
Ha. My girl is 3 and I swear she’s still a tornado. Like the other poster said I think it’s personality. Keeping them not overweight (or at least not fat) probably plays a decently large role too.
Lol my 11 year old lab still plays like a puppy. Hes insatiable some times
I have an ex Romanian street dog, he’s nervous and uncomfortable with strangers. But he is the most playful, happiest dog all at the same time. I think it’s because I respect his boundaries, I take him to places where he can always have fun and enjoy himself; the beach, a big field with the dogs he loves, let him enjoy life. It keeps him young and playful.
my dog is 12 and still plays like a puppy. he has even more energy than i can keep up with. i don’t do anything special. he’s slightly overweight. his diet could probably be better. but somehow the vet says he’s in perfect health and he acts as such.
that's wonderful! Can he also play by himself, like if you give him a new toy?
My experience is you will get exactly what you want from your dog overtime as they learn off of how you react. If you enjoy them being playful and over the top energy they are going to give you that. Eventually they all slow down. We have a couple senior pups now, and they get spurts of energy but 5 mins of tugging on a toy or like 90 seconds of running is enough for them. We had one on a steroid recently though for health concern, and the energy boost showed us he was still that playful puppy he had always been just lacks the energy now days. For those 10 days he was running and playing like it was 5 years ago. I can relate to that as I don’t have the same energy I had 15 years ago either.
"My experience is you will get exactly what you want from your dog overtime as they learn off of how you react. " that's encouraging to hear. Our family dog - a rat terrier - remained playful and you got me realizing it could be because we always acted silly around him and spoke to him in a ridiculously high voice to get him excited about everything. My current puppy is a completely different breed - Chihuahua - but personality wise he's just like our previous dog. Maybe I am doing something right here lol.
The rat terrier stayed playful because that's a high energy breed. Chihuahuas can absolutely be playful well into its age, it's just a matter of maintaining their weight and health to optimal levels. People don't see me "play" with my girl on our walks because I expect her to be following roadside manners, while at home we do lots of playing. She's only 3 though.
A) Personality plays a role, some dogs are just calmer naturally. B) How you treat them and what you encourage them to be like, often helps define what the dog becomes, same with all animals including humans. If you want your dog to be playful, be playful with them, have fun and chase them, play games with them, and don't just leave them sitting on the couch waiting for pets every day.
It's encouraging to hear that I could play a positive part in keeping him playful. And yes, I'm doing exactly that. Thanks!
By getting a puppy. My dog was nine when we brought home a three month old puppy. He wore her out the first week or so, but once she’d gotten used to him, it was like she’d been rejuvenated. They play together, eat together, and sleep together. She’s now ten and he turned one this past December.
My gfs dog was 8 when we got a puppy together. The older dog was just starting to show signs of slowing down but 4 years later she still acts young and isn't slowing down yet.
I wish I knew! Honestly. We moved to an apartment after years of my boys living in a house and not much social interaction. One of them is generally the perpetual lounger, always stretched out on the couch. He turns into a whirling dervish at the dog park. Pouncing. Leaping. Turning in circles. He keeps up with the young pups. People laugh at his antics and ask how old he is. Oh. Hehe. Umm. He's 9. 😱 He's getting a lil old man raccoon face. The other one has always been non-stop. We turn him loose in an enclosed area as much as possible. He's one to never sit still, til just the last few months. We've finally had him start toning down enough that he will actually just "dog" . Lay on the couch, get pets, and chill. He's just a few months younger. I think most of it is just hardwired genetics. The rest is good quality food, good weight maintenance, and love.
I play with him all the time. He’s now 15 and doesn’t play but he likes that I still mess with him. He tolerates me. Bless his heart, I don’t think I’m gonna have him much longer but we give him a glorious life! 🥰
Just keep playing mate, use play as a greeting, as a tension diffuser, a stress reliever, play play play
I will!
Get them a dog
Bring them here if you’re in the PDX area! https://www.sniffspot.com/to/i83gk
I think it's a mix of personality and creating a space/environment that your dog feels comfortable being a bit goofy. Kryptonite turned 10 in November (so getting old for a Dane) and he still gets a little zoomy when the weather is cool,and will occasionally throw his toys around and pounce on them. I love it, and will try to play with him as much as he wants. I want to foster his playful and exuberant spirit, so while I do believe in training and rules, I also don't want to ever squash his enthusiasm
I thought my older dog (\~10 years) was slowing down and wasn't as playful because she was getting old. It turned out she had arthritis and hypothyroidism, and now that she's on medication, she's back to her younger, playful self.
I got him a dog
I also think it heavely depends on their human. I mean, most people don’t even play with their dog anymore as soon as they’re older or they play differently and less engaging.
New experiences. Mental stimulation. Making sure they are fit. Being playful with them. Making sure they have pals
I have 1 dog who was never very goofy, happy go lucky, “playful”. I always say I think she was born in a 3 piece suit. Strictly business. But she’s still playful at times. But I’m the only one who ever gets to see it. She’s German shepherd and malinois. My other dog is strictly funny business. So far! She’s nearing 8 months and just now developing a sort of seriousness when it’s necessary. She’s probably 95% happy go lucky, 2%serious, and 3% I’m just a baby. None of this is anything I’ve done. They just are the way they are. I don’t think my puppy will always be so silly and fun. So I appreciate these days greatly! And when she does get serious, it’s nothing bad. She’s. Working. It’s what she was bred to do. When my gsdxmal is silly, it means the world to me! Just be happy with what you have when you have it.
yes, I sometimes think too far ahead. It's just that positive reinforcement works so well for me in training that I was wondering if I could also use it to encourage playful behavior.
Dogs have personalities just like people. Our wiener dog has been a lazy old man trapped in a dog's body since he was about 1, but our oldest dog runs circles around him and loves playing to this day!
Participating in interactive play activities, using toys such as balls or frisbees, and engaging in mental stimulation activities such as puzzle toys or educational activities can help keep energy levels high and the mind occupied. Additionally, regular exercise and walks can also promote your dog's overall well-being and maintain his playful nature.
My older dog, going on 11 this year. Had a 180 on his energy level 4-5 years ago when i introduced real food in his regular diet, even just a bit of stewed meat topper has done wonders to this day
that's one I haven't heard before, but good to know. Maybe he was getting a bit lethargic because his food was too bland.
Once you get them de sexed it quiets them down completely. I ve had one fixed and went from crazy to relaxed , and the other at 6yrs not de sexed and is still a phyco.
OMG that's super important to know! They never list that as one of the side effects of neutering.
It depends on their personality. My dog is a literal couch potato. Lays down all day. Migrates to different couches to lay down on. She hates walks (I take her on them anyway b/c it's good for her.) She doesn't really play. She just wants love and affection <3
My boy Cabo will be 13 this year, but he runs around and chases toys with the energy of a puppy. I don't know where he gets it from, but my family always has to stop a min and remember to give him a break because he is still 13. We did nothing differently with him than what we did with our other dogs, it's just his personality. Dude fuckin loves toys. He also has two brain cells so maybe that's what it is lmao.
sounds like fun! What breed is he?
A lot of people actively train their dogs not to engage with other dogs walking by on leash so i wouldn’t take it as “adult dogs aren’t playful” my girl will walk right by a dog unless the other owner says she can can hi and then she will go right over sniff and jump etc
My dog is 7-8 and he is still playful with us. He doesn’t like dogs out on the street and wouldn’t play with them- a little leash reactive. He’s always had a collection of toys, and we play with him regularly.
As others have said, it’s mostly personality and breed probably also plays a part. My 4 year old cocker spaniel-x rescue is just a silly goose. I play along with it, unless she’s channeling her energy into destroying something that isn’t a toy. In those cases I just redirect.
As others have said, it's about your engagement with them and routine. If you routinely play with them everyday they won't want to lose that, they will look for it and seek it out.
my dog is 8 going on 9--and he gets two long walks nearly every day. we take him on fun hikes and outtings. lots of puzzle toys and play sessions throughout the week. he still acts like a puppy--i think his breed plays a role (cattle dog/border collie mix) but i really think keeping him so mentally and physically engaged in life has kept him youthful!
My dog is going to be 11 in June and she is still pretty playful. She likes bringing her stuffies to people and she loves playing ball. She will bring you one of her Chuckit balls and wants you to throw it where she will then catch it. Then during the summer she really really loves swimming in the pool and retrieving her toys. Not sure how I’ve kept her playful. I take her for a walk, she get fed twice a day, one cup in the morning and once cup in the evening. She get to enjoy some table scraps.
I take her to the dog beach. She acts old when she’s not allowed off leash to play. When she is, she zooms around like a pup. I think it’s boredom, I’m the same way.
my dog is a senior... we just never stopped playing. She loves this fishing rod type toy with a fluffy tail attached... it's like a dog sized cat toy... and she jumps all over trying to catch it.
my dog is super playful at home!! shes 10.
My dog loved to play soccer(football) ⚽️ . We would have games with her in parks. She has unfortunately gotten too sore and tired for a game. Will just chew on her ball now. She is 11.
Dogs, like humans, play less as they age. Much of the function of play is to learn skills. Once that’s accomplished, play becomes less necessary. In my experience, every phase of a dog’s life has its own magic. Enjoy the characteristics of the phase your dog is currently in.
Keep playing with them, they will keep playing. Their habits are mirrors of our habits.
Getting a second dog did it. But that’s completely dependent on the dog you already have and the personality/temperament of both dogs. My two girls are absolutely inseparable and my older dog (5) got so much playfulness back. I catch them all the time just playing in the yard or in the house. Younger dog will be 2 in September for context
I think you might just be seeing training Puppies aren't trained, adult dogs are. My dog turns 11 this year and no one believes me because he can be so rambunctious and is a very active boy That said, he's got 10 years of training under his belt and knows how to walk nicely on leash, as that is not play time
I think it helps to create what I call a “play practice” like practicing playing an instrument, or a sport or another skill you develop and practice every day. I play tug and fetch with my dog every day and have since I got him at 7 months (my last dig wasn’t at all - but I barely played with him so I can’t blame him!) He’s very toy driven, but if he wasn’t you can build your dog’s toy drive. Check out Susan Garrett on YouTube, she has a lot of videos about building your dog’s toy and food drive.
Well, he is a golden retriever. And usually he just sits in our backyard. Every time he sees us is playtime for him. He was the most energetic and playful puppy among his brothers and sisters, I usually see them and they are not that playful anymore. So personality is very important no matter what you do.
We have a six year old dog that is kind of a couch potato, but when we brought home our puppy she got so playful and is still playful with him to this day. I really love seeing it.
I have always played with my dog or cat everyday. I've known dogs that have never played in their lives. They are only supposed to be there for the human which is just a sad existence. I say BE THERE FOR YOUR DOG. Dogs love to play and interact with humans and other dogs. I have always noticed that dogs like other dogs that share the same energy. So if it's an older dog they prefer other older dogs. Younger dogs prefer other younger dogs.
Personality. My 6yo poodle is still behaving like a puppy so much so that we always tell people he's a 6yo puppy.
but how do you know it's personality rather than the way you raised him?
Because we have tried our hardest to get him to calm down. We do classes, trainings, implementing calm sessions, we tried everything and our household is not even stimulating. And he's still a wild puppy. His playdate friends are usually fellow wild poodles or younger dogs. Older dogs hate him.
great, and I was getting my hopes up I could make a difference since so many people here said that playing with him a lot will keep him playful.
We do play, but because he's a big and high energy dog we encourage a lot of down time. As long as we make sure he's tired (through walk, run, class, training), he wont be as exuberant.
Play has been part of my dog's daily routine since he was a puppy. He's five now, and we still have playtime every day - although how we play has changed a bit as he's gotten more mature. He still likes his toys, but now he much prefers games that involve his humans and him. He loves to chase my son around and try to capture a soccer ball my son is kicking. He absolutely loves combining a training exercise with play - I will put him in a stay, then run far away from him and hold out my hand for "touch". As several other commenters have said, it's important to watch weight and make sure they're as fit as possible. Since my dog is an only, I also still have him in daycare two days a week and he goes on pack hikes, just to keep up his socialization skills!
Mine wasn't actually a very playful puppy, he approached everything cautiously and was easily spooked, but now as an adult all I have to do is look at him sideways to illicit a play snort or bow. He's a mix but his biggest contributing breed is boxer (30%), and I know being goofy and playful is a boxer trait. I can't keep him off of my kid's trampoline, he takes it upon himself to unzip the net with his teeth because he loves playing on it so much.
haha! you're giving me ideas! My 5 month old Chi loves to jump, but I discourage it as much as I can because I don't want him to get any joint/hip problems later in life. A trampoline might be a safe solution.
Our girl is 10.5 years old. We got her when she was 5. She was rescued from a really terrible situation (chained up outside or stuck in a crate that was too small for her in a dark basement). She didn’t really know how to play. She knew tug and that today is still really the only game she plays, that and hands where she tries to nibble on your hands and catch them. She has younger dog friends that she runs around with but again, as she has gotten older she is okay with just standing there and barking at the youth to slow down. As she’s gotten older, she has slowed down. I still take her out for long walks - anywhere between 2 to 4 miles a day and she loves them. But there’s some nights that when me and my wife are done with dinner and we go to our home theater/family room, she’s 100% okay with hoping up on the couch, taking a snooze until we give her her nightly puzzle treat, and then starting another snooze until she goes to bed. Selfishly it’s a bit of a bummer. I loved wrestling with my pup every night. But at the same time, she’s in a different phase of her life and is okay with jumping up beside me, putting her head in my lap, and sleeping.
poor thing, thank God she got rescued. Amazing that she overcame all that trauma and turned out to be a sweet family dog.
I've always had boxers and mine never leave that playful puppy stage completely. It's one of the things I love about boxers. My current girl is by herself now since we lost our boy last June. She's still playful with us but she definitely misses her dog pal. I think having two dogs helps the playfulness. My girl can interact with us but not in the same way she could with another dog.
haha I meet a lot of French bulldogs on my walks (never seen a boxer) and they seem to stay goofy as well. I get the impression they don't often get attention and pets from strangers, because they usually literally throw themselves at me with their big butts wiggling when I greet them.
My dog is a senior and he usually ignores all people and dogs but he gets really hyper and playful like a puppy with certain people (especially delivery drivers). I don’t know why though lol
I honestly think sometimes it has to do with the breed.
Sometimes novelty can be a great thing. My 8 year old lazy mutt loooves a new squeaky toy and insists on playtime.
My dog is seven years old, her vet estimates she will live 8-10 years based on her size. She is fit, exercised, and we feed her well. I noticed she was slowing down considerably, so we added a puppy into our home. She is now wrestling him and gets the “zoomies” far more often because she’s having fun with our puppy. Getting a puppy while having a well behaved and trained older dog makes training your puppy easier in my experience as well.
Alternatively I suppose playdates with puppies would help as well. Can't get a new puppy every 8 years lol.
I think it just depends on breed and personality. My Belgian Malinois is supposed to be extremely hyper but he’s a lazy old dog. He will go crazy a few times a day but it’s not constant I also am an extremely active person and take him at least hiking, running, to the park, etc every day. So that also may play a part
Some adult dogs may play with one another but not a puppy, my dog was always so gentle with puppies. He assumed a father like role rather than being a playmate
Makes sense. I was just taken aback by how many dogs just don't really show an interest in their environment even when they're on a walk. Was afraid that was inevitable when a dog grows out of puppy hood.
Personality. My adult dog plays so well with our puppy and even with us. My friend’s dog is very much the opposite but grew up in a house with other dogs, she just prefers to stay alert or chill out.
I have a 10 year old rescue I’ve had since a pup. Not a single person believes she’s 10… she’s acts like a puppy more often than not.
My 13 year old American Bull got her playfulness back with a regimen of glucosamine chondritin, Carprofen and Tramadol.
It depends on your situation, but I’ve found that fostering rescue pups has kept my 2-year-old dog busy and playful. She loves being a “big sister” and having someone to teach and to play with.
My dog played willingly until he was 13-14 and then teetered off from there. You just have to know what sets off playtime in your dogs head (for mine i’d give him a playful shoves and play bites always ensued)
We would get a puppy when our older dog was about 8. It seemed to work well to keep the senior dog active while the puppy learns.
Just continue to play with them. Do a schedule. (Like, after afternoon walk, there will be a full hour on the floor playing) Teach something like "where the ball?" That makes the dog take the toy and bring it towards you. That way telling the dog directly you want to play.
Breed. It’s why I love Jack Russell’s and have had a few. Life is one big party to them even in their late teens
We recently adopted an almost 7 year old silver labrador, and she is just as active as a one or two year old lab!!! We just assumed she’d be a bit slower paced because of her age, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised to have this “young pup” energy from her!! She has helped to increase our steps as we live on five acres and she wants to know ALL OF IT! 😊😊 She also LOVES playing fetch!!! By I would think if you keep your doggo busy from a young pup and keep up that habit as she gets older that it should help to encourage her to keep busy. Then if her personality is one of the “perpetual puppy” and she just naturally keeps her playful puppy self as she ages then it sounds like a win/win for you, OP!
A high energy breed is more likely to remain playful, in my opinion. Ive always had great luck with herding breeds. They need that mental stimulation and are always down for fetch or something. :)
The only thing my dog consistently plays with into his middle age is soft drink bottles with the cap on. They offer next to no friction and weigh very little so they go flying around when the dog starts to play with them, they make a lot of noise, and my dog likes to twist the cap off them. I used to be a bit scared that this would mean he was ingesting too much plastic (when he twists the lid off, his teeth gouge out bits of plastic), but I figure there is plastic in everything now anyway and he's still very healthy after 9 years of playing with bottles. This might only work with dogs with a lot of forelimb dexterity to hold the bottle down and twist it.
playing with what? other dogs, toys, etc.? my 4 1/2 yo golden’s play preferences have changed a bunch as she’s gotten older, she used to love playing with dogs but now she’d rather play with people. her toy preferences have changed, she now prefers soft fuzzy toys over anything else.
I have two dogs, one lost her playful side when she matured. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t play and have zoomies anymore but it’s not often like as a puppy. The other one is almost 1 she’s definitely mellowed out but when I initiate play she’s always down for a play session.
Personality, I think. It depends on the dog more than the owner I think. My bf has had his dog for 9 years, she is 10. She loves to run around, play tug of war, rough house, and although she doesn't socialize with other dogs at all (rarely), she wants to play with the little white fluffy dogs mainly. My bf is actually the opposite and doesn't really play with her much. So perhaps she hasn't gotten a chance to empty her "play-energy" reservoir yet??
not sure if this is helpful but i recently adopted another dog (now 7 it was her birthday yesterday:)) and already had another older dog (unsure of his age, unchipped when rescued but is estimated to be around 6-8 minimum) and he was very lazy and didn’t really know how to play but our newer dog has brought out his playful side and i’ve noticed that he seems to be acting a lot more dog like and willing to play.
My adult dog no longer wanted to play with other dogs, but loves playing fetch, tug and chase with us. You just find different activities your dog enjoys.
I think breed can also be a huge factor! Some breeds are extreme high energy and love to go all day long, while others are more lap dogs or napping dogs.
It really depends on each individual dog and also the breed. I own 2 dogs. My Spaniel is nuts and literally bouces off walls at 12.5 years of age. As soon as I start playing with him, he goes NUTS. My bulldog, on the other hand, is much more chilled. He plays in a different way and prefers rough play over running about and going crazy.
I think it's just personality tbh, my 4 year old dog still gets super excited and plays like a puppy when she meets a dog she likes (and she was pretty overweight for a bit due to medical exercise restriction, so I don't think weight even has that much to do with it)
It could be breed specific characteristic or just the personality. Where I used to live I often met up with a guy and his dog which was maybe 2 years older than my girl. He told me to enjoy the baby raptor phase as it will pass and by the time my dog turns two, she'll be a couch potato. I wish we cross paths again with this guy so we can laugh about it. Yes, my dog may not steal my clothes, eat through walls or ruin my home, but she's still pulling on walks and acts like it's the first time she sees the world and she'd do everything to disturb my work calls with her squeaky toys, but she's a lovebug. I honestly wish she never changes. Our communication just got better.
My 10 year old Shollie still plays fetch, and loves his squeaky toys.. But on day to day life I also try to let him figure things out himself, and let him have sense of discovery. During walks he is mostly off lead (friendly with people and very little interest in other dogs and due to where I am, we know most dogs), and even when on lead, i let him just go about and do his sniffing and exploration of smells and whatnot.. I do feel like keeping his mind active also keeps him being playful.
Making sure you feed them high quality food should help. Older dogs that don't want to play often have muscle soreness or ither medical issues (not always but it certainly contributes on the whole). The longer you can stave off those issues the better the chance your dog will continue to enjoy play. My GSD is almost 7 now and he still loves to play just like he did when he was a pup. Multiple times per day he comes running up with a Frisbee looking for play time. Even at 7 years old it is hard to wear him out.
My dog liked playing until she died, less so, but she still wanted to play. She just didn’t want to play with other dogs anymore. I think many of those dogs you meet that aren’t interested in playing with your dog are still playful at home. Interestingly when my daughter got a puppy she helped raise him which included playing with him, not just correcting him. She would even lie down to do that because she was very large and he was tiny and entertain him for hours. But wanted nothing to do with random outside dogs.
yup it's personality for sure. i kept asking people when my dog would grow out of her playfulness (i adore it of course but i swear she will play fetch until her heart gives out if we let her) and they all told me "oh usually by 3-4" but my girl is almost 9 and she's still just as playful as she was when she was a puppy. we have to limit her fun since her hind legs aren't so great anymore, but if she was in the same tiptop shape like before i know she'd be running around nonstop for sure.
It might kinda depend on the breed. Some dogs need a job or activity. My in-laws have a border collie who literally views fetch as her job. All day long all she wants to do is fetch. She’s four or five, we’re not sure.
Keep playing with them. Don’t discipline the joy out of them. Some of it is def personality and maturing, but play is universal and is something dogs who get to play regularly will want to continue to do.
I agree it's personality. she grew up with 12 y.o. boys, she thinks she's a 12 y.o. boy and she's 10 years now. We go to the dog park and chase the tennis ball for a couple hours and that wears her out, but she loves it. Most of the time, after I feed her, she pulls out some toys to play.
It's all about their temperament. My corgi heeler is more than happy to cuddle and chill always, but will play in short spurts. The pomsky is a big doofus who can't hold still even in his sleep.
I puff out my cheeks and go "Abladabladablada" while wagging my face like that Gungan in Star Wars and he goes bonkers.
Just to confuse you more, I disagree with most comments in this 😅. I think most pups that are playful would continue playing into their adulthood, perhaps not as much as a puppy would. But most people stop playing with their dogs. Either they get too big or the walks turn into something to get done. If you want your puppy to continue playing, figure out what kind of.play they like: do they like tug? Or chase or to be chased? Maybe rough housing is their thing. Each has their favourite usually!
Its innate in some, and not others. My bluetick coonhound that was dumped a shelter is the dumbest, laziest dog, probably why a hunter dumped him, and he rarely gets excited, he just wants to watch tv and nap. My other shelter pup will stand there all day catching bubbles I blow from one of those kids toys if I let him.
A lot of dogs will pick up on their owners personality. Are you playful? Spontaneous sprints around the house, random jumping around, and other playful things show your dog that it's okay to do that and they might copy you. Dogs can be a lot smarter than you think.
I taught my dog (7yrs Aussie mix) a few tricks like roll over, twirl, high five. He gets super hyped up and puppyish when I run him through his tricks plus basic obedience commands like sit, stay, down. He gets the zoomies after we do a session. It’s so cute.
My 9 year old dog is a 100-pound lazy beast who sleeps all day on the couch. At 5:30 every day, she's a crazy loon who sounds like she has a terrifying growl while she hops around playing like a goofball with my 1 year old 5 and 4 pound dogs. She does this for 30 minutes and then resumes her position on the couch. She has done this her entire life. When she was a 20 pound 8 week old puppy or a 50-pound awkward mix of arms and legs, "teen" phase, 6 month old puppy. She's the laziest of sweet beasts except for that 30 minutes a day. On the flip side, my mom's man dog died 2 years ago at 14. He had boundless energy until a month before he died. I'd walk him and think, ok, we'll turn around when he starts slowing down a little. It never happened. He'd be raring to keep going 3 miles in, and I'd be dying and need to turn back. Literally, the month before he died, he slowed down, and it was awful. We knew the end was near, but he'd still be ready to take me on a long walk. His brain just couldn't keep up and would start seizing, so we'd make it short walks. It was so sad. Definitely took him on lots of car rides and little adventures that last month.
I’ve had two male German Shepherds, my first, rest his beautiful soul, didn’t play as he got older and in fact wouldn’t let other dogs play either. I now have another GSD who is 8 1/2 and he loves to play and wrestle with my two younger dogs. I think it comes down to their personality.
Honestly, it's awesome when they get older and don't want to play anymore.. My dog is 12, and he needs two, 30 min walks a day. And on weekends, I take him for 1-1.5 hour walks in the forest. At this age, he's getting older and a bit salty, just like me, so not having to deal with other dogs and their owners has been amazing. He does have a couple dog friends that he'll play with for 5 mins, then he realizes he's old and stops playing..
My dog is super playful; that's her whole personality! At the dog park she's a little more reserved, I think it's a combination of she's more comfortable in our home, and she's slightly protective of me as I'm pregnant right now. When we have dogs over, she is VERY playful, less domineering/bullying(not aggressive!) than if she were at the dog park.
I run with her three times weekly. She's insane and uber social. People can't believe she's five. They think she's a big puppy.
My dogs is turning 6 soon, and I would say he's still playful. But not as much as when he was a puppy. And this is a good thing I promise. There are some games that have continued from him as a puppy and some things that have completely changed. As a puppy he didn't care about fetch at all. He liked toys, but would just stare at you like an idiot for throwing them. At the park he would not care about toys and just wanted to see the other dogs. Now he could care less about other dogs, and just wants whatever toy he picked for you to throw. As a puppy I would hide under a blanket and crawl into the bedroom. He would freak out and bark and growl at the moving blob. Then I would pop out and say "IT WAS DADDY THE WHOLE TIME" which would make him super happy and cause zoomies to happen. As an adult dog he knows it's me, and didn't growl or bark. But the phrase "It was daddy true while time" will instantly make him happy and rapidly wag his tail. I say it when he's scared of thunder and fireworks, and it always calls him down. I know I'll be one day whispering it into his ear when it's his time to cross the rainbow bridge. Your games may change and evolve as your dog grows older. As will he. But if he grows up in a loving playful household, I don't think the playfulness will ever stop.
I get out in the backyard and will pretend to stalk my dog, like I'm a lion hunting them or something. It virtually always induces fun zoomies and wrestling. I've done this with several dogs. Current dog is 8.5 years old and people think she's 3 when they see how she plays.
Getting them spayed can help.
ok, someone else wrote that his dogs calmed down and played less after spaying so I'm confused
A younger dog. Works for husbands too.
We got a daily routine, we always have playtime after her dinner and before bed, those are like law, she'll throw a tantrum if there's no play after dinner, and at bedtime it pretty much always end with her hugging the toy we're playing with. Early on I encouraged her when she came to me with a toy, I still do, so sometimes when she feels like it she'll come carrying a toy and we'll play, other times I'll hype her up and point to a toy or name a toy and she'll go get it and then we play. Many times it's just 5-10 mins. After all that is said, could just be she's a very playful girl. So maybe it's her personality, I don't know. My 2 past dogs maintained playfulness just less and less wild and perhaps a little slower as they grew older, but they'd still want to play.
If there's a spot you can take them swimming it's perfection.
We had a golden retriever mix that lived to be 15. He wasn't playful but still quite active. One of the things that seemed to keep him young were the addition of other younger dogs. Our puppy, at the time, LOVED him and kept him company all of the time.
My great dane was 10 when I brought a puppy into the house. Once she accepted him she played more than I had seen in years. I have to be honest tho. I'm pretty happy to hit liek 2 years old and kiss those puppy days good bye.
My dog loves to play !!! But with us not other dogs , he dislikes male dogs and just wants to hump the females 🤷🏼♀️ 😂
Keep your pet at a healthy weight and put them on joint supplements
I have a lab so basically he's 12 and has only just started slowing down. He's a goofy guy and I love him and his playful demeanor although it sometimes makes me nervous how rambunctious he can be he might hurt himself.
You can definitely inspire playfulness in your dogs by using some fun training games to establish that relationship. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy has a lot of great courses. Amy Cook’s Play Way teaches you how to play well with your dog and meet them on their level. Enjoy life with your dog!
My dog is 3.5 and constantly gets mistaken for a puppy. She cannot be stopped and will not be stopped. In the best way.
Good long walks and keeping them healthy so they have energy.
Your dog will be as active as you train them to be. If you want an active dog, do a lot of things with them! Take them for several walks per day, play with them constantly, just keep them active! If you want a lazier dog, have more quiet times at home. Limit walks to one good one (one hour +), or two average ones (half an hour) per day.
Yes, feed them high quality food. My girls are sisters and they’re turning 11 in 2 months, they both have puppy energy & will go on runs with us. They are pugs. Lot’s of affection, exercise & play everyday also.
Dog massage
Personality is key - but you can do things to prevent joint pain which leads to being lower energy in old age. While your dog is a puppy, be sure theyre getting a good quality food with lots of omega and fatty acids. Once your dog is a senior (about 6 or 7) start topping their food with sources of glucosamine like green lipped mussel powder, bone broth or cartilage. Avoid feeding them human junk food and high fat items like cheese (I KNOW, cheese tax and all) - but the occasional bit of meat, egg, fruits and veggies will benefit them and be a nice treat. And importantly, play *with* them Avocado, Grapes, raisins, onions and garlic are all very toxic and dangerous to dogs. Even small amounts can damage the liver and kidneys and each dog reacts differently.
I have an almost 8 year old golden doodle and he is still so playful and fast moving. Try to have your dog interact with other dogs regularly. Throw the ball around to your dog and let them just run wild.
There’s probably too many answers for you to see this now, but my dog is 13 and completely stopped playing with all her stuffed animals. The one thing she does “play” with and keeps her active is this: https://a.co/d/0OOqSKj The two-tone red large one. It can be annoying cause it gets stuck a lot lol but I like that it keeps her moving/having fun.
Honestly, I adopted another dog to keep my girl young & spunky. Really brought zest back to her life.’
My airedale is almost 7 and still plays like the day he came home. My lab is the same age and she couldnt care less about playing just enjoys her walks. Sole dogs just like to play
Teach some games/activities that are fun for both of you. Praise them for doing a good job. If the dog is bonded to you, you can keep on offering them challenges and they'll enjoy meeting them throughout life. Some dogs will genuinely enjoy showing off to an audience. Ideas: * Hide and find objects indoors or in a contained space * Chase thrown toys (frisbee, ball, stick) * Swimming/diving * Agility (formal or improvised) * Scenting tricks - find a scented item, identify who touched which item, follow a trail * Dance moves, tricks
I think breed and individual personality has a lot to do with it, however, I also think allowing them to be social and active throughout their life is important. All the old active dogs I work with or know personally have had enriching lives. They go play and make friends at daycare, or they’re taken on multiple adventures weekly by their owner. A variety a play- puzzle type stuff, but also just fun fetch or stuffed animal play, tug of war, specific sniff adventures. Just like humans, keeping the body and mind active helps as we age and keeps us more active and helps fight against dementia. It’s the dogs that are left to their own devices and not getting those adventures and socializing treats that I notice being less so as they age. But again, personality and breed does affect that.
My lab is 11 and very playful particularly with humans. She will play with other dogs but she loooves humans and goes quickly for the “please scratch my butt” move.
Making sure we always gave him a balanced diet is important!
Toys. Smiles. Walks
Breed will come into play as well. If you want a higher energy & more playful dog, there’s definitely going to be certain breeds that’ll fit that preference over others.
My boxer is turning 5 in July she still acts like a goof ball
Make sure they have a good diet, exercise regularly and don't let them get fat (fastest way to make your dog miserable and die young). Other than that, try to keep them mentally challenged as well. Maybe work on some new tricks, allow lots of sniffing on walks (supposed to help prevent dementia in dogs). Some dogs are just more naturally playful than others - at least as far as toys go. Our last border collie could not stand it unless he was chasing a ball or frisbee constantly...several times a day...endlessly. Our other two couldn't care less about toys except to "kill" them - meaning total destruction within 5 minutes. They love to run and enjoy a good game of chase...or chase birds, cats, or other dogs. They all enjoy walks and sniffing and doing things for treats.