Does your dog want to play all the time? Why that could be a bad thing
Some dogs’ excessive play and attachment to their toys is similar to behaviours exhibited by human addicts, and could be just as damaging
Ever watched a dog eat? They chow down hard, but for many, not even food can keep their attention, and the sight of a special toy will instantly pull them away – in what researchers say may be a sign of addiction.
Such behaviour resembles human behavioural addictions to gambling or online gaming, says a Swiss-Austrian research team.
If your dog loves their toy so much that they just will not let go of it, it may seem cute, but addiction to play poses a risk to dogs too, according to the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports.
After all, some dogs do not stop playing even if they are totally worn out or injured, say scientists led by Stefanie Riemer from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, in Austria.
They looked at the play of 105 dogs aged between one and 10 with a toy of their choice, with all the animals described by their owners as very playful.
The most common breeds were Malinois (18), border collies (nine) and Labrador retrievers (nine), classic working breeds. They also asked the owners about their dogs’ everyday interaction with toys.