Why Do Dogs Shake Their Toys?

It's been at least 20,000 years since dogs were first domesticated. Over millennia, we humans have tinkered with nearly every aspect of the genetic makeup of our canine companions. We've shaped them into finely tuned shepherds and hunting companions. We shape them into livestock guardians and professional sniffers. We shaped them into pugs.

One of the instincts that has been profoundly altered by domestication is the dog's instinct to hunt, attack, and cull prey. Over the years, we have fine-tuned these instincts, picking out the ones that work best for us. For example, in herding breeds like Australian Shepherds and Border Collies, we choose to stalk and chase rather than attack prey. We chose sporting breeds like hounds and spaniels because of their ability to sniff, scan and grab their prey, but not cull it.

While most dogs are now house pets and don't need to hunt, capture or eat their prey, gene drives aren't completely gone. But with no easy access to rodents and birds, most people leave their remaining predatory drives for play. It's why hounds chase balls, why greyhounds run like lightning, and why many dogs just can't help but shake their toys like ever predators.

Why does my dog like to destroy toys?

In the wild, wolves kill their prey quickly and easily by shaking it. Vigorous back-and-forth head shaking can snap the necks of creatures they bite into between their teeth. The faster you kill, the faster you eat.

While we have eliminated the need for pet dogs to rely on hunting food, their drive to hunt remains. The closest thing to a squirrel or rabbit is a stuffed animal. Shaking a stuffed animal is genetically the same as rocking a rodent. The squeak inside adds to that drive. The high-pitched voice mimics the sounds of distressed animals and most dogs, which they just can't help but love.

Once the toy is intact and "dead" after being shaken badly, some dogs go on to disassemble the captured guts, pulling out the stuffing and squeaking as if it were the ultimate prize. Not every dog shakes to death first. Some people aren't particularly interested in the "kill" part of the game, preferring to bend over and disembowel the toy with their claws. It's also part of the predatory drive, but it's what's left after the dog's genes have "turned off" the hunting instinct due to breeding.

While many dogs will shake their toys, take their toys apart, or both, those with a history of being bred for work may be more likely to exhibit all three parts of predatory drive— - Catch, Kill, Consume - not just one or the other. two. Terriers, many of which were bred to hunt and destroy rodents, are particularly good at toy kills. Northern breed dogs also often have strong predatory drives simply because they are genetically closer to their canine ancestors.

Ask your dog why they are doing this, though, and chances are they won't be able to explain -- not just because they can't speak. Most dogs that shake and break toys likely do so because it feels good to have a job. After all, aren't teeth and claws made for this?

Why is my dog carrying his toys everywhere?

While predatory drives may partially explain why some dogs become overly reliant on a particular toy or type of toy, sometimes even carrying around unstuffed enclosures they've gutted, your dog's love to greet you at the door may also There are other reasons to put a toy in their mouth, or go to bed with a stuffing.

Some puppies with toys are like toddlers with their favorite doll. They do it because it's reassuring. Some dogs may even use their toys as surrogate puppies, just as some children interact with their dolls as if they were parent and child. Having a favorite toy by your side at home or even on a walk can give your dog confidence or comfort.

For other dogs, the reasons are more obvious. The more often they carry toys, the more likely family members are to play with them. If your dog greets you at the front door or picks up a leash every time he gets up from his desk, they may just be letting you know that any time is a good time for entertainment.