Adopted dog not playing

Question
We adopted a 4 months old collie, chow, ? mix.  He is very good, housebroken, chews his toys, but won't engage much in any kind of playing.  He will play round robin with us for treats, but otherwise is not interested in much play.  Does he still need time to adjust, might it be his personality, did he not "learn" it because he was found wandering in Ohio?  Is there anything we can do to encourage him, should we encourage him?  His favorite thing to do is sleep. Thanks for any help.

Gisela Dunn

P.S. Do dogs get effected by heat and humidity?

Answer
Gisela,

It is common for newly adopted dogs to be a bit insecure and unsure of their new environment at first.  Often it takes a week or even several weeks for a dog to adjust and feel at home.  It is a trust building process so be sure to take it slow, have reasonable expectations and try to keep this in mind when engaging him/her with play.  Try not to force things.  Treats are a good start, but try different toys and try to act as if YOU are having fun.  A dog that hasn't played much or at all doesn't naturally think it's fun to play the typical doggie games.  But if you are having fun the dog will, as he begins to trust more, attempt to join in the fun.

Try a high pitched voice, act silly, and try some of the tried and true games like fetch, chase me, and just getting down on the floor and interacting like another young puppy might do.  He'll warm up to you in his time, just keep your expections low.  Trust building does take time.

And in response to your "PS",  yes, just as people do, dogs tend to be slower or even a bit lathargic in response to a hot humid climate.

Finally, please be sure that there is nothing physically wrong. All newly adopted dogs should get a check up with a vet.

-- Chris.