If you’ve ever watched your canine companion gently picking up their favorite stuffed toy and carrying it around the house, you may have wondered why they engage in this curious behavior. As it turns out, there are a few possible explanations behind this common habit in dogs.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Dogs carry stuffed animals around for comfort, as part of play, because they have an instinct to carry things, and sometimes to simulate prey during play. It often starts in puppyhood and can persist into adulthood.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top reasons why dogs carry around stuffed toys, when this behavior typically starts and whether it’s something you should be concerned about as an owner.
It Provides Comfort and Security
Reminder of Parents and Littermates
That fluffy stuffed animal your dog carries everywhere can remind them of their parents and littermates from when they were a pup. The soft texture and familiar scents emulate the warm comfort of cuddling up to mom or a sibling when your dog was just a wee little furball (aww!).
For young puppies adopted early, a stuffie can ease the trauma of early separation and serve as a lovey they bond with to alleviate distress.
Transitional Object
Stuffed critters often become transitional objects for dogs – items that ease them through stressful situations. They provide reassurance when you leave the house or when strangers come over. Your dog may suckle, mouth, or carry them around to self-soothe anxiety.
It’s like their security blankie…but cuddlier!
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
That special stuffed friend really does help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs! In a 2020 study, shelter dogs provided with soft toys vocalized less and engaged in less repetitive spinning and pacing. They also showed lower cortisol levels, indicating toys helped relieve their stress.
| Dogs with Toys | Dogs without Toys |
|---|---|
| Less vocalizing | More vocalizing |
| Lower cortisol levels | Higher cortisol levels |
| Less repetitive behaviors | More repetitive behaviors |
So when your dog snuggles up with their favorite stuffie, they’re enjoying more than just physical comfort – that tattered teddy likely provides emotional comfort as well! It’s their own personal stress reducer and a little reminder of you when have to be apart.
Natural Instinct to Carry Things
Descended from Wolves
Domestic dogs evolved from wolves, which had a natural instinct to carry food and other items back to their dens. This instinct served important survival functions like feeding their young pups or bringing bones/toys back for recreation.
Just as wolves carry things in the wild, our pet dogs retain remnants of this primal drive to pick up and carry objects.
One theory is that carrying and chewing on items like stuffed toys allows dogs to tap into their ancestral roots and innate predator behaviors. It activates their natural foraging, hunting and scavenging instincts, even if done just for play or stress relief.
So when your dog insists on packing that plush squirrel toy everywhere, it may be an echo of wolves transporting fresh kills back to the pack.
Satisfies Breeding Instincts
Female dogs have a strong maternal drive rooted in their wolf ancestry. Mother wolves must carry their young pups to move them between den sites. Domesticated dogs retain this innate breeding behavior and need for oral stimulation/carrying behaviors.
According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior(1), spayed female dogs were most likely to exhibit toy-carrying habits. Scientists theorize that stuffed animals satisfy their thwarted maternal instincts. Toting around plush puppy toys may fill an unmet need to nurture pups.
| Breed Group | Probability of Carrying Toys |
|---|---|
| Sporting/Hunting Breeds | 43% |
| Herding Breeds | 39% |
| Mixed Breeds | 31% |
The study found differences among breed groups too. Sporting and herding breeds were most likely to habitually carry toys, satisfying instincts to retrieve downed birds or herd livestock. Mixed breeds showed fewer remnants of these specialized genetic drives.
So if your spayed female Labrador Retriever insists on packing her favorite teddy bear everywhere, it may be an expression of unfulfilled motherhood! Whereas male dogs may carry toys more for recreational reasons.
Play and Predatory Behavior
Puppies Learn Through Play
Playtime serves an important developmental purpose for puppies. Through play, they learn vital life skills like communication, problem solving, and self-control. For example, play fighting with littermates teaches them how to interact with other dogs and read body language.
As the AKC points out, this helps them learn “how to be polite and not bite too hard.”
In addition to social skills, play also allows puppies to practice hunting behaviors like stalking, chasing, pouncing, biting, and shaking toys. These actions all mimic the predatory sequence. According to Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists, this predatory play lets puppies experiment with activities that will later serve an important purpose for survival once mature.
It allows them to safely explore their natural instinct to hunt while learning how to control their bite strength.
Hunting Simulation
The same predatory behaviors puppies practice in play are often evident when dogs grab and shake stuffed animals. This activity mimics behaviors wolves and wild dogs use when hunting. Essentially, shaking the “prey” helps kill it.
So for domestic dogs, carrying and shaking stuffed animals is a way to engage their natural hunting drives safely.
Additionally, the texture and size of many stuffed animals imitates attributes of real prey like rabbits or squirrels. This fuels dogs’ predatory play. As veterinary behaviorist Dr. Klein notes, “This kind of play is satisfying to a dog because it’s letting them practice a normal predatory behavior — hunting a squeaky toy is not too far off from hunting a squirrel in the back yard.”
When Does This Behavior Start?
According to veterinarians and animal behaviorists, the behavior of carrying around stuffed animals often starts when dogs are young puppies. As early as 8-12 weeks old, puppies begin exhibiting attachment to certain toys, which they will carry with them around the house or yard.
There are a few key developmental phases that contribute to this behavior starting in puppyhood:
- Teething – Chewing on toys helps soothe sore gums
- Separation Anxiety – Having a comforting object helps puppies adjusting to being separated from litter mates
- Self-soothing – Carrying a familiar toy helps relieve stress
Additionally, breed matters. Herding breeds like Collies and Australian Shepherds often show strong “carrying” instincts at a very early age. Fetching and carrying objects is a task these breeds were historically bred to perform.
When Does This Behavior Peak?
While some dogs will carry stuffed animals their entire lives, veterinary behaviorists have noticed the height of this attachment behavior occurs between:
| 3-6 months old | Puppies are teething and exploring new surroundings. Carrying toys self-soothes during this transitional period. |
| 1-2 years old | Dogs are more confident in their environment and interact more with their humans. They carry toys to initiate play or interact. |
Generally, as dogs mature around 2-3 years old, the height of their attachment to stuffed toys wanes. However, dogs that are spayed/neutered may prolong their intense attachment. 😍
Is It Something to Worry About?
Generally Harmless
For the most part, a dog carrying around a stuffed animal is completely harmless behavior. In fact, it’s often a sign that your dog feels comfortable and content. Some reasons your dog might exhibit this behavior include:
- Comfort – The stuffed animal might remind them of their mother or littermates. Carrying it around helps them feel safe and relaxed.
- Boredom – When dogs don’t get enough stimulation, they often turn to harmless activities like carrying toys to keep themselves occupied.
- Possessiveness – Some dogs carry toys because they view them as valuable possessions they don’t want taken away.
As long as your dog doesn’t destroy the stuffed animals from carrying them too much, there’s generally no need to curb this behavior. You can even use it as a cue that your dog wants to play or needs more engagement from you!
Consult a Vet if Problematic
In rare cases, persistent stuffed animal carrying might signify an underlying issue like anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Signs to watch out for include aggression when you try to take the toy away or destructive chewing of the toys.
If you notice either of these issues, consult with your vet to rule out any medical factors. They can then advise you on training techniques or lifestyle changes to help resolve the problem behavior.
The good news is problem stuffed animal carrying can often be corrected with treatment. And even dogs without clinical issues benefit from having a safe space filled with toys they truly treasure. So let your pooch carry that special stuffed friend around – chances are, they just love and rely on it!
Conclusion
In most cases, carrying around stuffed toys is completely normal and harmless dog behavior. It starts early in puppyhood and stems from both instinct and play. While the reason may vary by dog, it often brings them comfort, satisfies their breeding urges, or allows them to engage in simulated hunting.
Unless the behavior becomes problematic or destructive, there’s no cause for concern. Just see it as your pooch enjoying the company of their special stuffed friend.
