Is your dood getting more mature?

[Taylor & Huff]

I don't know if you saw my worrywart discussion post about Huff not playing as much as he used to, but I was wondering, when your doodle started not playing as much as he used to, did you worry like I did? How old was your doodle when he/she started not playing as much as they did when they were puppies?

[Adina P]

My doods have always had another dood to play with so it is tough to assess.

But I don't think I would have worried. NOT playing and not being interested in play are two different things.  It's normal for a dog to be content laying around and happy to be with his people.  Even high energy working dogs typically are good about laying around when they are not working.

 

Does Huff just not play on his own or does he turn you down when you try to play with him? I think that is an important difference.  If he just doesn't play on his own while your family is busy...I think that is TOTALLY normal for a maturing dog.  If he refuses or turns you down when YOU attempt to play with him or get him all riled up with fun and games....then maybe there's something wrong.  But remember the ultimate sign of a bored dog is a dog who starts to stir up trouble (chewing on inappropriate things, digging, barking, trying to get your attention)... But a dog who just lays there when your family is busy is not bored, he's just relaxed being with his people.

[Taylor & Huff]

Ya, Huff plays (unless he is sleeping) when I instigate it. He just doesn't try to play on his own. Sometimes he will go and get stuff out of the trash or off the tables when we ignore him if he wants to play. I was just being a worrywart. He was just tired because I had just given him a bath. He is always tired after he gets a bath (of course only after he's had his zoomies:)).

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper started to calm down when we moved house. My in-laws were visiting to help us move, and though Cooper seemed happy (very happy with Gram-Gram and Grumpy) I did worry a bit as she also wasnt eating as much and would often not eat her dinner at all. 

 

I decided it was her maturing a little - the beginning of the end of puppyhood. She was 1 1/2 years old.

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff is 1 1/2 years old too! Huff only gets one meal a day- dinner. He doesn't always eat all of it. Sometimes he wants more. He always has a little dry food out but doesn't usually eat it. For dinner- he gets chicken, rice, and vegetables. He usually only plays when somebody tries to play with him, not on his own.Sometimes he does, but not usually.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Phoebe still gets two meals a day and she looks for them but she started to slow down a little at a year and then more so after a year and a half--she just turned two.  By slowing down I mean she does not get the zoomies all the time (bummer, I loved that) and she seems very content to just lay around or look out the window.  She is very interested when I ask, "Phoebe, do you want to play?" but she does not play with me for very long.  She loves when I rub her belly or her neck while she holds a toy in her mouth and she could do that foerever!  That said, she is my little walking companion and will easily go 4 miles with me in any season.

[Taylor & Huff]

Does she still get the zoomies after a bath?

[Shelby and Kev]

Shelby is definitely getting there!  It seems now at 3 and a half she is calming down from the puppy stage.  A little more prompting to play but still a lovey Dood.  Yep, a little worried at first but I believe it is maturation.  I am so happy to be on DK and be able to discuss this with all the others like us.  Doodle Kisses to you and have a wonderful Monday, if possible!

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

I think Penny was about 2 years old when I noticed her maturing. She still likes to play when instigated, but she really got laid back at about 2 years old.  Now she's almost 6 and has slowed down a little - but not much!

[Taylor & Huff]

That is good:) An active dood is a happy dood:)

[Michael Gurley]

The reason that my girl started to play less is that she learned that I don't want to play all the time. Now that she picks up on my cues, she doesn't jump all over me and mouth my hands. She just lies down or contents herself with a toy on the floor. That happened at about 9-10 months.