[Cobalt]

I have a 4 year old dog, he's not aggresive at all and has been with me since he was a puppy.
But he's never been very playful at all, even when he was a puppy, he doesn't even tend to react when I call him, or greet me when I come inside.
He doesn't really want to sit close to me or anyone in the house,and when you pet him he usually just goes away.
I've tried to give him more attention, or just leave hime alone and see if he'd come to me, but nothing really changes.
Why is he like this? I don't yell at him or hit him or something.
We do have another dog who's a bit bossy, but that's not really a reason for him to be like that, right?
Any advice? Or a reason why he's... Well no fun as a pet?
Or are there dogs who just don't like humans much, even though they've grown up around them?

[cigwyllt]

What breed is he? Not all breeds are the same - some are miserable without human contact, some are far more aloof and are happy simply to have their basic needs met. You say you've had him since he was a puppy - how old was he? What sort of background is he from? Did you see him with his mother and the rest of the litter?

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

What breed is he? Not all breeds are the same - some are miserable without human contact, some are far more aloof and are happy simply to have their basic needs met. You say you've had him since he was a puppy - how old was he? What sort of background is he from? Did you see him with his mother and the rest of the litter?

I can't really recognise any breed in him, he's probably some kind of terrier mix though. I got him when he was around 8 weeks which is, I think a pretty normal age. His background story was a bit vague though, he was rescued from a boat full of dogs that weren't spayed or anything :s

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Cobalt

I can't really recognise any breed in him, he's probably some kind of terrier mix though. I got him when he was around 8 weeks which is, I think a pretty normal age. His background story was a bit vague though, he was rescued from a boat full of dogs that weren't spayed or anything :s

I was thinking Terrier. It is not uncommon for find terrier breeds that are either one way or the other. Meaning love to be with their family all the time or prefer to just be and left alone. Many terrier breeds were originally feral dogs left to their own to feed and care for themselves with little intervention from humans. Bred as ratters on farms, they were left to do their job. I know in Miniature Pinschers that I breed which are true to their terrier heritage, some are offish with people while others love the attention, though usually only for a minute or two then go about business as usual.

[Suki303]

This is a common symptom that I've found from dogs who came from puppy mills or some other kind of chaotic atmosphere. Some are neurotic, spin in circles, bark incessantly, don't care for the human touch....others act like veggies. But since you can't be sure, I would hope for just a case of laziness. It's canine nature to be active though, so that concerns me.

If he has terrier in him though, I would suggest getting him mobile. Find what sparks his interests. If you can find something he enjoys doing, and do it often, then your bond will strengthen and he will become closer to you.

[DoggieVogue]

I agree with Suki, maybe if you find what makes him happy and playful, you can strengthen your bond. Dogs are all different, they can be food driven, have a favorite toy, love to go running, chasing things? Have you tried a bunch of different activities with him? I'd suggest something like that. And hopefully he'll start warming up. It could just be his temperment though or his background. You'll never really know.

[Marc]

I would attempt various types of toys to see if there's something that meets his fancy.

On a side note, it looks like you found the rare species, Canis catus. Looks like a dog, acts like a cat.

[nattiej1976]

as an owner of an aloof natured dog, I dont find what you describe to be abnormal or strange. Usually our canine companions are the extroverts of the pet world, but this is not a hard fast rule. There are many dogs out there that have a more introverted nature (even breeds that are known for their introversion)
If your dog gets a fit bill of overall health from the vet, and no medical reason can be found for his laid back persona and lack of interest in high energy play, then you have yourself a quiet, gentle companion, who I would almost guess, likes being in the same general area as you as much as possible, without the need of being as tactile or interactive physically as many other dogs you might know.
You may find that your dog may prefer to engage in a gentle slow paced game, or just a really good stroll around the park. Perhaps even starting at an obedience school, just for some simple gentle social interaction, and a bonding exercise for the two of you.

[Marc]

On the other side of the coin, my cat was raised with our Dachshund , and now he plays fetch, comes running when called, and always has to cuddle with the dogs. He plays tug 'o war with the dogs, and I know there's more I can't think of now.

[nattiej1976]

Originally Posted by Marc

On the other side of the coin, my cat was raised with our Dachshund , and now he plays fetch, comes running when called, and always has to cuddle with the dogs. He plays tug 'o war with the dogs, and I know there's more I can't think of now.

LOL yeah we have a dog/ cat too, however grew up without dog companionship, he just likes playing rough and tumble games, loves fetch and tug and was easy to train to sit and drop......lol