\n<\/p>\n
Dogs love toys<\/a>. Whether it\u2019s that first stuffie they get as a puppy or the ratty old relic they still drag around as a senior dog, they are absolutely devoted. But can a dog ever love a toy too much? Concerned pet parents might notice that their dogs become way too into certain toys. It can turn from simple love to obsession \u2026 and maybe even addiction. According to a new study, some dogs may display addictive behavior when it comes to their toys.<\/p>\n A group of researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna conducted a study on \u201cexcessive toy motivation\u201d in dogs<\/a> \u2014 and their findings indicate possible addictive behavior<\/a>. But does this one study mean we should all be watching our dogs at home for signs of a problem? Kinship<\/a> unpacks what\u2019s really going on with dogs and their toy obsessions.<\/p>\n In humans, addictive behaviors, or \u201cdisorders due to addictive behaviors,\u201d are recognized by distress and interference with daily life that develop after repeating actions that were initially rewarding, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These are different from substance abuse disorders, which can cause behavioral addiction-like symptoms,<\/a> but in which substances are altering the brain chemistry. Currently, WHO officially recognizes gambling and internet gaming disorders<\/a> as behavioral addictions, and there is research being done on shopping and social media addictions \u2014 your pup\u2019s overly enthusiastic attachment to their saliva-covered plush alien is not currently on the list.<\/p>\n So, when it came to studying similar behavior in dogs, the researchers behind this study specifically looked at \u201cexcessive fixation on toys, reduced responsiveness to alternative stimuli, and persistent efforts to access toys.\u201d The study revealed that some of the dogs who displayed high levels of addictive-like behavior would whine when the toy was not accessible and would even ignore food in favor of the toy.<\/p>\n To be clear, this study doesn\u2019t prove that dogs can develop addictions \u2014 at least, not in the way it is manifested in humans. The key to diagnosing an addiction is to identify the negative consequences that stem from the repetitive behavior. And while the study identified some patterns of this, especially when it came to ignoring food and treats, further work would be needed to determine whether this is a chronic condition.<\/p>\n Veterinarian Dr. Adam Christman knows a thing or two about how obsessed dogs can get with their toys.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen dogs that treat their toy like it\u2019s their emotional support pickle,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve met Labs who can\u2019t function without that one tennis ball and Border Collies who would auction off their soul for a frisbee. If I had to give the emotional support dog toy of the year award, it has to go to the Lamb Chop<\/a> … pick a size, pick a themed Lamb Chop; it doesn’t matter. There is something infused in that fake wool that makes dogs happy!\u201d<\/p>\n But it escalates from simple love to obsession when a dog becomes aggressive and anxious. As the Vienna study indicated, one big sign of this escalation is whining when the toy is taken away and ignoring food in favor of the toy. Dr. Christman and certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Alexandra Bassett<\/a> point out other indicators, like guarding the toy and aggression; repetitive chewing, shredding<\/a>, or even eating toys<\/a>; and physical wear and tear on the dog, like cracked teeth and sore gums.<\/p>\n Bassett says that pet parents come to her with concerns about their dogs\u2019 obsessive toy behavior<\/a> all the time. She says some are just mildly annoyed at having to constantly play with the specific toy, while others have actual medical and financial concerns. Bassett adds that excessive toy fixation becomes a cause for concern when a dog\u2019s response becomes disproportionate, but there are ways to work on this.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, remove the toy temporarily and observe your dog\u2019s response,\u201d Bassett advises. \u201cIf they become highly distressed, aggressive<\/a>, or start to redirect their obsession onto other objects, it\u2019s time to consult a professional trainer or veterinary behaviorist.\u201d<\/p>\n Likewise, Dr. Christman emphasizes that dog parents should be concerned when a dog\u2019s relationship with a toy starts to interfere with their day-to-day life.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the line in the sand,\u201d Dr. Christman says. \u201cWhen the toy stops being fun and starts being a problem. If your dog can\u2019t relax without it, becomes anxious or aggressive, or starts losing interest in everything else, that\u2019s when we\u2019ve crossed into clinical concern. It\u2019s not cute anymore; it\u2019s compulsive. Think of it like a doggie version of screen addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n First and foremost, Dr. Christman advises all dog parents not to panic. \u201cYour dog isn\u2019t \u2018crazy\u2019 … they\u2019re wired to chase, chew, and play,\u201d he says. \u201cSome just take it too far.\u201d<\/p>\n He warns against completely cutting off the toy, though. Instead, dog parents should rotate toys and add new outlets to stimulate the dog. He also suggests reinforcing calm behavior<\/a> in the dog. \u201cReward when they walk away from the toy,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s gold.\u201d<\/p>\n Bassett agrees with adding new enrichment to the dog\u2019s schedule. She also recommends desensitizing the dog to the toy\u2019s absence and implementing tools, such as playpens or baby gates, to prevent access to the toy. Additionally, Bassett says that this intense attachment to a toy might come from underlying reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to recognize that obsessive behavior often has an emotional element \u2014 typically stress<\/a>, anxiety, or unmet needs,\u201d Bassett adds. \u201cWhat looks like a \u2018cute\u2019 or \u2018quirky\u2019 behavior at first can actually be your dog\u2019s way of coping with overstimulation, lack of enrichment, or too much time spent alone. With patience and the right behavioral guidance, most dogs can learn a healthier relationship with their toys. Sometimes, rehoming is the best option<\/a> if a dog’s daily needs and behavioral training requirements are a mismatch for what a household can provide.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Dr. Christman and Bassett say that if the cause does stem from anxious, stressed behavior<\/a>, it might be a good idea to see a veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication<\/a>.<\/p>\n Redirecting this behavior earlier on is always easier than trying to rectify it later. Both experts emphasize that variety is key to deterring this type of behavior early on.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly structure that includes a variety of daily walks<\/a>, enrichment activities, and training goes a long way,\u201d Bassett says. \u201cIntroduce different types of toys and rotate them regularly so no single object becomes too valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRotate toys regularly,\u201d Dr. Christman says. \u201cDon\u2019t let one become \u2018the chosen one.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Customizing playtime around breed instincts also goes a long way. Some breeds, like herding types and retrievers, will naturally need more stimulation than others. Keeping your dog\u2019s daily life full of enough physical and mental stimulation means that they\u2019re less likely to develop obsessive tendencies down the line \u2014 and it just makes them happier. And who doesn\u2019t want that?<\/p>\n This story<\/em><\/a> was produced by <\/em>Kinship<\/em><\/a> and reviewed and distributed by <\/em>Stacker<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Is your dog a toy addict? A new study says it\u2019s totally possible\u00a0 Dogs love toys. Whether it\u2019s that first stuffie they get as a puppy or the ratty old relic they still drag around as a senior dog, they are absolutely devoted. But can a dog ever love a toy too much? Concerned pet […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What did the study say about dogs and toy addiction?<\/h3>\n
What should you look out for in your dog?<\/h3>\n
When should you be concerned about your dog\u2019s intense toy attachment?<\/h3>\n
What can you do about your dogs\u2019 toy addiction?<\/h3>\n
Can this behavior be prevented?<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"