[threenorns]

it's the "arachnoid ball" - black spiderwebbing over a brightly-coloured "thing" that squeaks, squeals, and wails under the slightest pressue.

he was totally obsessed with it at the pet store so i bought it.

but he won't play with it! if i squeeze it and make it squeak, he gets right up on his back legs like a prairie dog and sniffs it and licks it but if i toss it, he dodges it, then goes back and sniffs and licks. he refuses to take it in his mouth, which is rich coming from one whose favourite toys included moldy bones and a skecher running shoe that smelled of cat pee! i tried to hold it for him to take for his "put it away" trick (pick stuff up and put it in a box) but he uses his paw to smack it out of my hand and into the box. the plastic bottle, the kong, the slipper, the runner - all no problem, he takes them and drops them in.

his reaction to it is very peculiar. i know another dog who just goes ballistic with those toys - seizing and shaking and tossing it up in the air. dandy - no. just sniffsniffsniffsniffwhifflewhifflewhifflesniff then a series of quick licks.
any idea what gives?

[lange]

hmm maybe he's unsure of the smell? Maybe he;s picking up another dogs smell? It's curious.

[threenorns]

dunno about another dog - it's brand new out of the package.

i like squeaking it just to watch him freeze and do The Stare at it.

[DoggieVogue]

Sometimes when I buy new toys my dog is very ecstatic about them initially, but after a short play period he quits playing with it. He will then avoid the toy for a period of time, like he is sizing it up- Sniffing and eyeballing. Eventually he will start playing with it again. I've never been sure why he does this, since he shows so much joy when they are presented to him, but maybe your pup is doing the same and will start playing with it again soon.

[Lunareclipse]

Give them a box. They always play with a box.
Little kids also like to play with boxes.

Give a little kid some stickers, a box and a dog and you won't see them all day.

[MooreLisa]

I have 2 dogs and they do this on a regular basis. Sometimes they will come back to the toy 6 months down the road, sometimes not. I just don't let it bother me anymore.