Puppy won’t play

[CatThomas]

Hello, I’m a very worried first time puppy owner.

I have had Austen home with me for two days and I’m worried about his behaviour. He hasn’t made a noise at all and he doesn’t respond to his toys. He loves to cuddle up to us and loves his dog bed, but he won’t play.

He also isnt really walking around very much or exploring. He tends just to lay down and snuggle.

As the breed is known to be energetic, should I be worried that he is so sleepy and non responsive to stimuli like toys and balls?

Thank you
Catryn

[zeta1454]

Hello Catryn and welcome to the Forum

Did you see Austen in his previous home with the breeder and was he playing with his siblings and toys there?

Have you had him to the vet for a health check too?

Puppies when they are only a few months old do need plenty of rest times and shouldn’t be on the go all the time but it is unusual for a puppy not to want to explore and play at all in their new home. If you have not had him vet checked, I would make an appointment as soon as possible to set your mind at rest that there is no health issue. If he was a normal lively puppy before you brought him home and is not like that now, I would be concerned. It may depend too on how much socialisation and stimulation he had while he was still with the breeder as, if he had very little and was confined to a pen/ crate without stimulation this may have affected his responses now but presumably you would know that from when you visited?

[CatThomas]

Hello Roger,

When we visited he was with 8 other puppies and he did initially respond like the rest, jumping up and licking and playfully biting. He was not the most energetic of the group though, he did lay down even then after being picked up and cuddled.

I took him to the vet today and they said that if he’s showing interest in food then it should be fine and it may just be he’s adjusting to his surroundings. But I’m still worried.

[zeta1454]

Hello Roger,

When we visited he was with 8 other puppies and he did initially respond like the rest, jumping up and licking and playfully biting. He was not the most energetic of the group though, he did lay down even then after being picked up and cuddled.

I took him to the vet today and they said that if he’s showing interest in food then it should be fine and it may just be he’s adjusting to his surroundings. But I’m still worried.

Hi Catryn -

Try not to worry if the vet check was fine and just monitor how Austen is over the next week or so. If he is eating and pee / poo is OK it may be as they say that he is just getting used to his new home. Puppies do have different temperaments and some are more outgoing and active than others. He may also be missing play with his siblings especially if he was from a big litter. Some pups do also take a little while to start to bark but, I would be surprised if he doesn’t find his voice before long as mini schnauzers are well known for being vocal. If you can take Austen out and about in your arms or a pet carrier / buggy he may begin to show more interest in his surroundings and you may notice the kinds of things that stimulate him. He may just be taking his time getting to know his new family and staying close to you is comforting him.

Let us know how he gets on over the next week or so and hopefully by then he will have perked up and become more playful.

P.S (Roger Caras was an author I quoted at the foot of my profile - I am Leigh )

[CatThomas]

Oh I’m so sorry Leigh, it’s the only name I saw!

Thank you so much for your help, that’s really reassuring. I ended up ringing the vet to speak to them again and they basically said exactly the same thing. He actually perked up a little bit this evening, I hid some food pellets in his chewy rope toy and he did bite and play for a bit.

I’m trying just to stay happy and loving so that he doesn’t feed off any negative energy. He’s a lovely boy and I just want him to be well.. I will definitely keep you posted. Thank you so much.

Catryn

[Dawnspell]

You could hide a few bits of food in his bed to encourage him to move and sniff about in an area he's comfortable with to build his confidence. As he finds one bit hide another behind him to keep the game going and help him find them if he's struggling.