If your dog or puppy is anxious or unwilling to engage with you, you can earn its trust through a slow, gentle process of socialization. Once your pet feels comfortable with you, it can learn to play and have fun. Start Slowly, there are several reasons a dog may not have learned to play, one common reason is a lack of early socialization. Some dogs don't play simply because no one has ever engaged in a game with them. Begin by slowly introducing it to toys and games, start by leaving the toys around to sniff and get used to, rather than immediately trying to engage in an all-out game of tug-of-war. Reward Interest, start off with soft praise or a treat for any interest your dog shows in toys, you can even hide a treat or spread a little peanut butter on a tug toy or a ball. Get Involved, once your dog is comfortable with the toys, it's time to start interacting with it, again, start slow, sit close to your dog and roll a ball toward it or shake a tug toy a little. Choose Games According to the Dog's Interests, not every dog is going to like every kind of game, try to choose games that best suit your dog's personality. Patience is your most important tool, it can take time for a dog to start to trust its owners and even more time for it to learn appropriate ways to interact.