It’s always exciting to learn more about our favorite furry friends. Want to know more about how you can support your canine companion? Join our Best Friends Club today to receive our exclusive email newsletter full of articles on training tips, healthy habits, and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac dog food, treats, and other products.
Other dogs take much more care of their stuffed animals, to the point where it’s a regular companion for years. Carrying around and sleeping with a stuffed animal are signs that your canine companion is tapping into her maternal instincts. She may also want to make sure that she has a friend when you’re not around and she becomes anxious. As long as your dog doesn’t become obsessive about her stuffed animal, this is normal behavior – it just means she’s got plenty of love to give to both you and her stuffed animal friends.
While throwable toys come in all shapes and sizes, they each have something in common to your furry friend: the thrill of the chase. Dogs who prefer these toys tend to have a need for speed – or at least have a lot of energy to burn. It’s also a great way to play for dogs who want to feel like they accomplished something. Triumphantly returning to a pet parent with ball or some other toy in mouth is a joyous occasion indeed.
If your dog loves playing with squeaky toys, you’ve got a furry little hunter on your hands. The squeak made by these toys is comparable to sounds that potential prey would make if frightened or injured. As such, dogs with high prey drives that have the instinctual urge to hunt may be more attracted to these types of toys.
A love for stuffed animals can indicate a few different traits depending on how your furry friend likes to play with that plushie. Some dogs are fans of using stuffed animals as substitutes for potential prey, except instead of hunting down critters in the woods they can track teddy bears in the living room. If your dog has a tendency to rip stuff animals to shreds, it’s a good sign that she’s having some fun with this pseudo hunt. While also a hunting instinct, certain breeds like Labs and Retrievers may also play out instincts to take care of recovered animals.
It comforts them
You know when kids have a favorite toy that they carry around with them everywhere? Well, dogs are kind of like kids in a lot of ways!
Your dog might get attached to a specific toy if it’s something she finds especially comforting. It’s just like a little kid needing their favorite doll or blanket when they’re worried, or just when they want to have something nearby.
Your dog might seem especially attached to a certain toy because it’s her favorite! Carrying it around with her brings her comfort.
Stuffed animal toys are very popular with all dogs, thus it is completely normal for your dog to be occasionally nibbling on his favorite one or taking it everywhere, especially if he is a Labrador or another type of Retriever. How they show their admiration is what defines it being safe and healthy or not. See your veterinarian to get a better insight into your dog’s behavior in case of any doubts.
Many dogs seem to be smitten with the stuffed animal toy, and almost every dog owner knows which one is his dogs’ favorite to nibble on, snuggle, or sleep with. What makes stuffed animals so appealing to our canine companions and does a preference of a particular dog toy or what your dog does with it say anything about your dog? If it gently carries it around, is very protective of it, and displays maternal behavior towards it – does that mean your dog is experiencing a phantom pregnancy or that it has been removed too early from his litter as a puppy? Or, maybe your dog is a shredder and you are worried about his aggression levels. No matter what behavior your dog exhibits – it is undeniable that dogs really like stuffed animals.
If suckling on a stuffed animal toy calms your dog down and it is not uncontrollable, you can let him indulge in the behavior from time to time – but don’t encourage it. If you allow it, you have to make sure that the stuffed plushie is dog-friendly, meaning that the material won’t cause any gum irritations and doesn’t have any small elements that your dog could accidentally choke on. It is always best to buy toys that are designed for dogs and have a specific purpose depending on your dogs needs and preferences. For example, a durable toy that provides resistance (like a Kong toy) is great for a dog that destroys everything, a squeaking toy is good for dogs that don’t chew away at their toys but need the sound to keep their attention for longer periods of time, tennis balls are ideal for high energy dogs that love the chase but prefer their toys intact, and so on. If your dog does get obsessive or compulsive about his stuffed animal toy, try to replace it with something else and get him distracted. If he doesn’t let it go and “needs” his toy, it is highly recommended for him to see a dog trainer or a vet who might prescribe a spray deterrent if necessary, depending on their evaluation. Especially and without a doubt see a trainer if your dog shows any signs of aggression – otherwise it could become a more serious issue.
Though your dog being a fan of his stuffed animal toy is normal and typically safe, it is always best to be cautious and observant, especially when it comes to newly acquired habits or behavior. Most dogs really enjoy playtime with their stuffed animal toys and that is harmless as long as they are not acting obsessive or aggressive, and the stuffed toy is specifically designed for dogs. Your dog should not be at risk of a choking hazard unless he is trying to chew through it. If you notice any changes in his behavior or in relation to the stuffed animal toy, consulting a veterinarian is always a good idea if you are worried about anything and can help in ruling out anything concerning.
While it is safe to say that almost all dogs are crazy for the stuffed animal toy, some are genetically predisposed to like them more than others. Labradors and other Retrievers fall into that group as their predecessors were used for hunting and carrying ducks – which would explain their gentle grasps and commitment to always having a plushie in their mouth. They usually like carrying the soft stuffed toys around and don’t tend to destroy them, so the main concern there is making sure to wash the toy from time to time to avoid the build up of dirt and growth of bacteria. The high-energy Terriers and Shepherds are known for their passion of playing fetch and any games that involve chasing things – but that doesn’t mean that the soft stuffed animal toys don’t also hold a special place in their heart as well. Some dogs like stuffed animal toys for their shredability factor – if it can be ripped apart, it’s fun. Even more so if the stuffed toy has a squeaking mechanism inside it. Both preferences are linked to the dogs genetic drive or instinct to hunt and prey on smaller, squeaking, or quacking animals – such as rats or ducks. Given the above, it is both normal and common for dogs to enjoy playing with stuffed animal toys. Though the behavior is generally harmless, there are a few cases that you should be weary about. If your dog seems to obsessing over the toy and suckling on it compulsively, it could be a sign of anxiety or being weaned from his mother too soon. You have to pay close attention to the circumstances during which your dog is most actively going for the toy – does he do it when he’s surrounded by other dogs or loud sounds that could stress him out? Maybe the only time you catch him suckling at his stuffed animal toy is when you get back home. This could potentially be a sign of separation anxiety.
This Pittie Won’t Go Anywhere Without Her Stuffed Shark | The Dodo Pittie Nation
Editor’s note: Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? This article appeared in our Fall issue. Subscribe to Dogster and get the magazine delivered to your home.
Some dogs see a stuffed toy, and their prey drive kicks in. Others like to retrieve them or chase them. What about your dog? Take this quiz to find out the hows and whys of your dog’s relationship with her stuffed animals.
b. Plays fetch for a while. She gently carries it back to you until your arm is tired.
d. Sometimes sleeps with (or humps!) stuffed toys. Or carries it around for a while, then chews it up.
2. When given the choice between a Frisbee, tennis ball, a Kong treat dispenser, and a stuffed squeaker toy, your dog chooses:
3. You get a stuffed toy with a squeaker inside. Once you squeak it and toss it to her, she:
a. Goes right for the jugular. As it squeaks pathetically between her jaws, you decide that next time you’ll buy a toy with replaceable squeakers.
b. Wants you to throw it so she can retrieve it for you. You decide her next toy will be an automatic fetch machine.
c. Takes it from your hand and leaves. Later on, when you try to take one of the other stuffed toys from her bed (gotta rotate those toys to keep them interesting!), she growls and barks at you.
d. Just looks at you. Squeaky, squeaky. Nope, still just a questioning stare and a head tilt.
4. At the vet’s office, your veterinarian mentions a recent surgery in which she removed stuffed toy fluff blocking a dog’s digestive tract. You say something like,
a. “Oh, yeah, I have to buy stuffless toys now. Luckily when my dog ate stuffing, she passed the fluff with no trouble.”
b. “Wow! I don’t think Bella would ever eat fluff. She’s gentle with her stuffed toys.”
c. “After Fifi destroys a toy, she’ll guard its remains, but I’ve never seen her eat them.”
d. “Oh, wow. I’ll keep an eye on Daisy from now on. You never know with her.”
5. Dogs behave differently based on the type of breed they are. Typically, terriers enjoy destroying stuffed toys, retrievers like to retrieve, and herding dogs like to chase toys like Frisbees. Your dog:
b. Is a retriever or probably has retriever blood in her. She certainly acts like it!
c. Is not a guard dog breed, but she guards her toys and will get aggressive if you try to take them away.
Dana Ebbecke, an Animal Behavior Counselor at the ASPCA Adoption Center, is a certified professional dog trainer who has worked with dogs professionally for more than 10 years, so she’s seen all types of interactions with stuffed toys. The most exciting part of a stuffed toy is the squeaker, she said.
“Squeakers simulate prey sounds, and many dogs will immediately locate and remove the squeaker from a toy because it’s the most fun part!”
But this results in a lot of destroyed toys, so buy durable ones and those with replaceable squeakers, and rotate toys regularly. Also supervise your dog to make sure she’s not eating anything she shouldn’t be!
Dana said that many behaviors stem from the dog’s breed type. While terriers are often toy destroyers and herding dogs like to chase toys, “retriever type dogs enjoy retrieving items.”
So if your dog loves fetch and gently picks up toys to bring back to you, perhaps she has some retriever in her lineage.
“Sometimes breed types can contribute to how a dog plays with toys,” she said, but “it varies from individual to individual.” Your dog may just be gentle and love playing fetch!
If your dog gets mad at you when you try to take away a toy, or if she obsessively carries a toy around, you probably already know there’s a problem.
“Some dogs can develop resource guarding of valuable items,” Dana said. “If a dog displays concerning behaviors, especially if they begin to display aggression, contact a certified professional dog trainer to help with these issues.”
Your dog may not fit any of the typical characteristics — she may ignore toys, be a purebred retriever who never wants to retrieve, or play differently with different stuffed toys.
“Each dog is an individual; different dogs have preferences on how they interact with toys,” she said. As long as your dog doesn’t eat inedible toys and displays healthy behaviors, it’s OK if she doesn’t fit into any category!
Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals. Email Let Dogster answer all of your most baffling canine questions!