i have a 9 week old cavalier king charles spaniel bitch. she's v independent (breeder took litter away from mum @ 5 weeks, apparently - we got her @ 8 weeks) amd in general pretty good.

thing is - she's FAR more interested in general in chewing and playing with anything she's not supposed to, rather than her proper toys! She'll play some games with me - will chase a ball to "fetch" and (most of time) brings it roughly back; she loves Tug of War with a rope toy (am careful not to pull toohard); she likes roughly chewing/"fighting" with squeaky-ish or in fact any toys!

But its very rare that she'll play with toys on her own - i try restricting htem to make them more interesting but then she goes off them if i leave them out (i do have own set that i control - i'm just talking about the ones she's supposed to e.g. play with in her cage on her own). I've got quite a lot of toys and chews etc but rotation and restriction and playing with her is the only way to keep hre interested. (And then her attention span's about 5 mins max before she's trying to play ToW w my trousers:S!)

Has she got ADHD *lol!* or i am just a big old worry-wart and this is perfectly normal for a v young pup...?

Toys should never be left out for the dog; they are your toys and you build up a relationship with your dog by playing with them. It is not like giving a child lego to build a house! (LOL)

Remember the value of something is in direct inverse proportion to its availability (that's why diamonds are so expensive; because their issue is strictly controlled by the cartels)!

By all means leave a couple of things she can chew on her own like a stuffed kong etc but games should be interactive; that's how you use them as a reward and a valuable focus of interest when you are training etc.

That sounds reassuring - I shall try rotating her chew toys for her to play with more so she does choose those to chew on.

Incidentally - is my RUby the only dog in the world who ignores a stuffed Kong at the mo? She loves other toys, her rope pull and a sheepskin ball and is happy to chew beefhide and rawhide chews or a nyla bone, but the Kong, we're still working on!

I've only put a rawhide chewy thing in the middle so far - maybe i shoudl put sth more tempting inside but isn't that just going to drive her NUTS as she'll try really hard but get no satisfaction i.e. treat out of it???

Any suggestions?

Look under Kong stuffing on the net and you will find plenty of recipe ideas; kongs are really for when the adult teeth come through not for puppies.

I bet she gets more of a reaction out of you when she chews something she shouldn't rather than a 'proper' toy! ;) So which one is more fun?
:)

Yes - that's SO true! But i am trying really hard to learn. Its the same old thing - she's angelic with me home alone all day [i had to give up work & move home cos i've been ill, but i'm 26, don't want people thinking i am 12 just cos i still live with my mum & dad!] but she gets really hyper & bad when everyone else returns home from work. Part of it i am SURE is that e.g. mum plays with her for say 10 mins really well when she comes home, but then she has to make the tea so she only gives Ruby attention if she's bad and nips or bites her.

Have kept her in kitchen as that's where we all usually congregate, but maybe at exciting times of day for pup, i should make an effort to have her in front room, where people CAN play with her if she needs attention. And she can't get a reaction out of them as they are too busy to give her attnetion unless she's bad....

Hmmm this forum is great for making me see things & situations in different ways! Thanks so much everyone..... I don't know too many people round here full stop, never mind dog-owners to ask advice....as soon as her innoculations are done though its training classes for Ruby & I i think...