Dog doesn't want to play anymore

[cricketball]

I thought I would never write this about my dog. She used to live for a run on a local field with her ball, you couldn't throw it enough for her, but the last two times she hasn't wanted to play and has walked off after one throw.

She is 5, has some arthritis in one joint but that's under control with medication, and it has never stopped her before.

I'm just baffled why she has suddenly lost all interest. She wants to go to the field and pulls to get there, so it's not an experience on the field that has put her off.

Any ideas?

Vet check.

Ball throwing is extremely demanding on a dog and really should not be encouraged but a change in her mood and lack of interest in running is a red flag for pain.

As PO said you need a vet check.

When mine suddenly started sitting down on a walk and then wouldn't jump out of the car it was because he had badly injured his back.

PO = PP

I suspect her arthritis isn’t as well managed as you think.

We've just lost the vet that knew her really well as he retired.

He was previously very happy with her joint.

She still pulls, which if she is in pain I would have thought she would have stopped.

I will give her a painkiller and get her checked over as she is due her boosters soon anyway.

She still pulls, which if she is in pain I would have thought she would have stopped.

They can be really inconsistent when in pain. Mine would still try and run for things and only stop when in a lot of pain.

What breed is she?

I woukd definitely get a vet check. Depending on the breed, trying to guess what it's most likely to be is more difficult. Though even knowing the breed won't guarantee the guesses right.

There's clearly something wrong.

She definitely needs to see a vet - sooner rather than later IMO.

And please, please stop throwing a ball for her - especially as she already has issues with her joints. It's so bad for them as it encourages unnatural body movements - all it takes is for her to land at a funny angle and you have a dog who is injured for life.

You could take her ball and encourage her to 'find it' in grass or behind a tree instead.

She's a springer lab cross.
Loves playing hide and seek.
Still wants to play now.

just gone off her ball?

what happens if you run? does she run alongside?
does she like water?

She hates getting wet.
If I ran she would run alongside me.
She loves a tennis ball. She only has them outside as they can wear down teeth. She has the more expensive tooth kind ones inside.

She might love a tennis ball but chasing balls is really not good for dogs, especially dogs with poor joints.

You can use her love of tennis balls in other ways - use them in treat finding games, hide them in long grass, use them as a reward for trick training or lead walking etc.