Wonderful news!

[conuly]

Finn has started to play! He'll chase thrown toys, and sometimes try to catch them in his mouth. (He was successful once, but mostly they bounce of his little nose.)

And Moonpie has also improved, and no longer attacks him if she thinks he's heading for one of HER toys. She is capable of playing with her own toy and leaving him to play with his, or reclaiming her toys in a friendly manner if there's some confusion. This makes life much easier.

It makes me sad, sometimes, to think we had to teach both dogs to play. I hope it was just that they were getting used to us, not that they really didn't understand the concept. Play is important!

Comments

[archangelbeth]

CUTE PUPPERS!

Kind of appalling that Finn wasn't a player. Poor pup.

[conuly]

I know his physical needs were being neglected, badly. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that his emotional and intellectual needs were as well.

[archangelbeth]

O:(

Poor pupper. At least he has Interaction and Health being met now!

[conuly]

We try.

[novel_machinist]

YAY!!

Play is SO important. Almost all living creatures engage in it and it helps build brains.

[conuly]

Also keeps us emotionally healthy.

[hudebnik]

Our first greyhound needed to be taught how to play -- and bark. About a month after we got him, shalmestere was down on all fours on the living room floor, woofing and play-bowing at him, until in alarm he let out a "whiff", then a bigger one, then a full-throated "woof". Like the recipient of a miracle healing, he started running around the apartment woofing at tables, electrical outlets, etc. while I said to shalmestere "Are you *sure* that was a good idea?"

Anyway, he continued to get younger and more puppyish for the remaining seven years of his life.

[conuly]

That's a good story with a happy ending. Rescue dog or?

[hudebnik]

Retired racer, whom we adopted at age two-and-something.

Of course, no dog story has a happy ending, but I won't spoil the mood by going into his ending here.

[conuly]

*hugs*

Of course, none of us escapes the same fate, but I think spending most of your life surrounded by people who love you is a happy ending, even after the end part.