What’s Up With Dogs Carrying Toys and Whining?
Because dogs cannot talk, we can ultimately only make assumptions for their behavior. The age, gender, and breed of the dog may be factors to keep in mind when looking at specific dog behaviors. Following are several potential reasons why a dog may carry a toy and whine.
If the behavior is carried out by an unspayed female, it may be that she is exhibiting the first signs of a false pregnancy. A false pregnancy in dogs takes place after a dog has gone through heat, but she did not mate/her eggs were not fertilized.
A female in false pregnancy may therefore engage in mothering behaviors such as carrying toys around as if they were her pups. Therefore, she may form an emotional attachment to her toys and whine as she carries them around looking for a place to nest.
However, males, spayed females, and females not actively undergoing a false pregnancy may also carry toys and whine, but for quite different behaviors.
Some dogs, when given high-value items such as bones or certain toys, will whine and walk around for some time. Then they eventually calm down and decide to chew on or play with it.
Certain breeds, especially those bred to hunt rodents like Yorkies and rat terriers, perceive squeaky toys as high-value items. Labs and Goldens instead were bred to retrieve waterfowl, so a squeaky toy making a sound that mimics a downed bird may cause excitement.
If your dog does not normally hide stuff in the yard or under the pillows of your couch, it could be that he instinctively knows that there is something he is supposed to do with his treasured toy, but doesnt know what (especially if he has never seen another dog bury his treasures).
So your dog may carry his toy around whining, but since theres no ground to bury the toy in, hell whine a bit in frustration, not knowing exactly what to do.
Tackling the Problem
Whining around with a bone in the mouth is generally an innocent behavior, but it can be annoying at times. There are several ways to tackle the problem.
Sometimes giving bones that are less valuable and that can be consumed rather quickly in one session are a better option for these fellows.
If there are other pets around, keeping them in separated areas may be a good idea, but remember that you always want to monitor your dogs when giving bones.
Why is my dog suddenly hiding bones?
Possible reasons why your dog hides its treats and bones are possessiveness, nausea, being fed too much, nature, or having learned that the behavior is rewarded. It is possible that there is a combination of causes at play.
Why Do Dogs Whine When You Give Them a Bone?
You may find it peculiar when you think you’re giving your dog a treat by handing over a bone and they immediately find a place to bury it, whether that be in your backyard or under the covers. All animals have natural dispositions that relate to the nature of their ancestors, and dogs are no exception. From chewing to burying, it all comes down to instinct, whether you have a dog with blue eyes, one of the biggest dog breeds, or a calm dog breed. Make sure you also check out the reasons behind your dog’s other weird behaviors.