Why Do Dogs Bring You Toys? 6 Vet-Verified Possible Reasons

Dogs have lots of interesting habits. Some of them are adorable and endearing. Some are less desirable. Others are positively puzzling. One habit that a lot of dogs share is bringing their toys to their owners. Typically, a dog bringing you a toy is a sign that they are excited, or they want to play. It can also be seen as a sign of affection, an indication that your dog is trying to strengthen the bond that exists between the two of you, but it can also be their way of coping with feelings of overexcitement and anxiety.

Below we look at the most common reasons that your dog brings you toys, so you’ll know how to respond.

The 6 Possible Reasons Dogs Bring You Toys

1. Showing Affection

First and foremost, your dog bringing you a prized possession like a toy is a sign of the affection and love your dog holds for you. Dogs don’t have a lot of possessions. They essentially just have a bed and their toys that belong to them.

That your dog is willing to share one or more of those items with you is a surefire sign of the affection it holds for you.

2. Building a Bond

As well as being a sign of affection, a dog bringing you its toys is also a show of the trust it holds. It trusts you to look after the toy and it is bringing you a gift to strengthen the bond that exists between you.

If your dog didn’t trust you, it would be less inclined to bring you its possessions.

3. It’s Playtime

Dogs that love to play will bring toys in a bid to encourage you to play a game. They are effectively saying it’s playtime and we should play with this toy. You are many things to your dog, including a feeder and protector. You are also your dog’s primary source of fun and play so it makes sense that they would bring you a toy.

4. Attention Seeking

If they bring a toy and then run away with it before you can grab it, your dog might just want a bit of attention. And, because you reached for the toy, and probably made some comment as your dog took the toy away, it got the desired result.

6. Learned Behavior

When puppies mouth or bite, we tend to give them a toy to chew on because it is less destructive. Some owners give their dogs a toy when they walk in because it discourages them from jumping up. In time, your dog learns that it is encouraged to grab a toy when it gets excited and, eventually, it will do so of its own accord.

Your dog may be grabbing a toy because it is over-excited or because it knows that you take a toy out in the yard to play with.

6. Anxiety and Overwhelm

In times of excitement, such as meal times, walkies, or when you come home, your dog may reach for their favorite toy. This is usually not a simple case of wanting to play, it is actually a method of self-soothing and self-regulation. Life can be pretty overwhelming if you’re a dog, and if they’ve been in trouble for jumping up and getting overexcited in the past, many dogs will use a toy as a target for their exuberance. If you suspect this might be the case, DO NOT engage in play or a game of tug-o-war in these moments as it will only exacerbate the problem and cause confusion for your pup. Instead, acknowledge them calmly with a nod and a quiet “good boy/girl/dog” and then go on with what you were doing. Encourage them to meet your level of calm rather than reach up to their level of excitement. They’re holding the toy to help themselves feel more calm, so it’s best to help them there.

If this happens when you come home, wait for them to settle down before playing. They’ve probably been waiting hours in anticipation of spending time with you, and this is the highlight of their day, but if you launch straight into play immediately after walking in the door, it can increase the tension of anticipation in your absence.

Why Does My Dog Bring Me a Toy but Not Let Me Take It?

Your dog could be encouraging you to play or, by taking the toy away, they could just be after some attention. Your dog might feel that you haven’t paid them enough attention recently. By getting up to grab the toy, you’re giving them the attention they crave.

Conclusion

Dogs have lots of interesting habits. One such habit that a lot of dogs display is to bring a toy or other favorite item to their owner. This can be a sign that they want to play, or they could be showing you affection and highlighting the amount of trust they have in you. But it can also be a self-soothing behavior; a way of redirecting their excitement to a toy instead of jumping all over you, so take a moment to assess the situation before deciding to engage in some play or allow them to calm down for a bit first.

Featured Image Credit: AssiaPix, Shutterstock