What does it mean when your dog carries a toy around?
MY DOG CARRIES THEIR PLUSH TOY EVERYWHERE
Most of the time, these are dogs that are typically used for hunting like labs and retrievers. These dogs have a strong innate response to hunting. After the prey is found they are known to carry around the remains in their mouths very proudly and carefully.
What to do about your dog being attached to one toy
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
One option would be to give your dog alternative toys that it can make use of. This could be especially helpful if your dog currently only has one toy that it can use.
If the toy is one where you can put treats in it, its likely that your dog has associated the toy with treats. In this case, it could help to avoid putting treats in the toy and to wash it so that the toy does not smell of treats.
If your dog seems to be doing it because it is anxious, it could help to limit possible reasons why your dog might be anxious. Ways to do so could include feeding it, giving it exercise and letting it out to pee before leaving it.
Another option would be to take the toy away and see how your dog responds. If your dog doesn’t seem to respond well, it might also be worthwhile to get help from a dog behaviorist in your area.
What do you do when a dog is obsessed with a toy?
A dog having a favorite toy that she likes carrying around isn’t anything to worry about. In fact, it’s pretty cute.
But if your dog starts getting actively obsessed with a toy, that can lead to some big problems.
One way you can tell if your dog is too obsessed with a toy is if she won’t let you take the toy from her. Your dog might show signs of defensiveness. This includes growling or snarling.
If a dog is growling at you because you’re trying to take her toy, that’s a big sign you need to work on training. Remember to never punish your dog for growling. Instead, look at the bigger picture.
You might need to take your dog’s toy away so she can’t act super possessive over it. You should also learn more about resource guarding and how you can help your dog stop. Get your free puppy schedule planner
I have a Clingy Dog
I have spent a lifetime observing dogs and the things they do and have had many years at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts to channel that curiosity. The knowledge gained from working with Dog Trainers and other animal experts that we encounter through this business does not make me a dog psychologist, nor does it make me a dog behaviorist or trainer. But it has provided me a unique opportunity to gain priceless insight on some interesting dog behaviors. Dogs and their “relationship” to toys is one of those intriguing and sometimes puzzling behaviors.
It is rare to find a dog that does not like toys of some kind. Even if it is not the kind of dog toy we generally think of, i.e., the plush, stuffed variety, most dogs will gravitate towards one type of toy or another. Or they may make their own toy out of a non-toy item, like a balled-up wad of paper, or a stick. There could be a deep-rooted attraction to their toy of choice, which we will discuss, but sometimes it is nothing more than just pure fun. What are the reasons dogs choose the toys they do, and what are some of the more puzzling reasons a dog will act “peculiar” towards a particular toy?
Toys are actually important to your dog’s development. We seem to know that instinctively, because one of the first things we do when we get a dog is go buy them a toy! Toys provide our dogs with mental and physical stimulation. If they are bored, they will reach for their toy. If they need to chew, they will go for a toy. And if they just want to rest, they may curl up with a toy. Toys satisfy a need in our dogs.
Often, I witness my own dog heading into the living room and interacting with his toys, whether he is shaking them, rolling over them, or just laying his head on one of them to take a nap. You should see his face when I start straightening the living room and putting his toys in the toy box. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, those are mine!” I think he takes comfort in knowing his toys are all around him. Maybe it gives our dogs a sense of belonging to have their things intermingled with our things in the home.
Toys often satisfy an instinct in our dogs. Retrievers, for example, because of their desire to “retrieve” may be instinctively attached to a ball or frisbee. Many dogs, particularly hunting dogs, enjoy squeaky toys because they sound like prey when they pounce and chew on them. Then you have the female dog that can have an emotional attachment to a toy that reminds them of a puppy. And of course, some dogs just prefer a good-ole chew toy, just because they like to chew!
Sometimes toys will evoke a peculiar response to a toy. It is one of those things that make us cock our head to the side and say, “hmm.” Why is my dog acting that way? Is it normal? Should I take the toy away? Let’s examine some of these scenarios.