dog not playing

Question
Hi
Any suggestions about a 3 1/2 yr old lab mix that doesnt know how to play, we adopted her about 5months ago and want to play with her and she doesnt seem interested

Thanks
Jen

Answer
Isn't this the same dog that doesn't bark???  Your dog may very well have come from an environment where play was inhibited by former human owners.  Dogs 'play' as a rank assessment behavior; some dogs as adults will not engage in play behavior either because it has been inhibited (by punishment or simply neglect) by former human owners or because the dog's temperament is such that, in a true dog pack, s/he is not a candidate for rank.  I had a Whippet who lived to be 16 and who never engaged in play behavior because she was a bona fide 'omega' in temperament (certainly not due to any neglect or abuse on the part of her human pack members!)  Give this dog a few harmless dog stuffed toys and play with them yourself by handling them, squeaking them, tossing them to her.  She might come around.  Also, the lab is a genetic expert at retrieval!  Try tossing a large beach ball around in the back yard and verbally reward the dog for attempting to interact with the ball.  Eventually, s/he should respond to his/her strong genetic mandate and will pick the ball up (or attempt to) and that is the beginning of a great game of fetch.