Why Do Dogs Always Have Something in Their Mouths?

 

What is it about that squeaky toy you got your dog for Christmas last year or that stuffed animal that he always has with him? Is it true that some dogs like one toy better than others? If yes, why?

 

Some of their favorite toys don’t seem to last very long. Most of them like to play with toys that look like real prey. Since this is just the way things are, you shouldn’t worry about it. Let’s learn more about what’s going on and what it all means.

 

Dogs do a lot of strange things that might make you scratch your head and wonder why. One of these is walking around with something in its mouth.

 

And if you’ve noticed that your pet does many of these things, we’re here to help you figure out why. You can also follow some tips if the behavior gets too bad.

 

Why does my dog carry things in his mouth?

 

Your dog likes to do this for a number of different reasons. The most obvious is that he wants to bring you a gift. There are also other reasons, such as a preference for the object, teething, or stress.

 

Bringing you a present

 

Your dog is carrying something in his mouth just to show how much he appreciates you.

 

His gift is that thing in his mouth. If he shows you what’s in his mouth, you’ll know that this is the reason.

 

If this keeps happening, it would be best not to reward the behavior. You might also want to get rid of things you don’t want your pet to carry, like things that are too fragile or could hurt you or your dog.

 

Preference for the item he is holding

 

Dogs are pretty good at smelling things. If they smell something they like, they will be less likely to give it up.

 

Your dog is carrying something because he likes the way it smells.

 

This is likely to happen if the things he wants to take smell strong, like your clothes, socks, or shoes.

 

Even though it looks gross, this is cute for your dogs.

 

This might also be a sign of being possessive. If your dog seems to be carrying his toys around more often, this could be why.

 

Be careful of aggression, especially if you try to take something out of his mouth or get close to it.

 

Teething

 

If your pet is young, the most likely cause is that it is teething. When he’s at that stage, you’ll notice that the behavior started all of a sudden and that he chews on everything he touches.

 

When your dog starts to get teeth, give him toys he can chew on. Also, don’t forget to take away anything you don’t want him to chew on.

 

Anxiety

 

A sign of anxiety could also be carrying something. Watch what he does with his body when he does the behavior. When you are nervous, like when you are leaving, this is likely to happen.

 

Reinforced behavior

 

If none of the above seems to explain why your dog has something in his mouth, think back to the last time you interacted with your pet. It’s possible that he’s doing this because you told him to.

 

He walks around with something in his mouth because he knows this is a good thing to do.

 

You might have given him treats in the past when he brought you something. He will probably do it again, hoping for more rewards.

 

The root of the behavior

 

You and his favorite toy are the most important things in your dog’s life. Your dog can’t get enough of his squeaky playmate, just like a child can’t sleep without their stuffed animal. What is it that he likes so much about that one toy that he carries it around?

 

Researchers have found that dogs look at toys in the same way that wolves look at their prey. The only things that matter are texture, shape, and size. Dogs like toys that smell like food or can be broken up. And each toy will make your dog act in a different way. 

 

For example, if your puppy likes toys that make noise, it’s because he has a natural desire to hunt. At the same time, dogs who choose plush toys bring back their breed’s natural ability to find dead ducks for their hunters.

 

You probably never thought about it that way, but everything a dog does comes from the way he or she is wired. And speaking of natural tendencies, have you ever noticed that your dog never goes to bed without his favorite toy?

 

You may have seen that your dog sometimes clings to his favorite toy to feel better. Whether he is nervous or excited, this is how he calms himself down or makes a good feeling stronger.

 

Most of the time, dogs like toys that smell good or make sounds they like. When your dog chases something that moves, like a ball, it is acting on its natural desire to hunt. Different types of dogs like different kinds of toys.

 

For example, Labs and Retrievers like soft, plush toys, terriers and shepherds like Frisbee challenges and tennis balls, and English Bulldogs and Frenchies like to play tug-of-war.

 

To fix your dog’s negative habits, you need to figure out why it’s doing it. Before you do that, you need to think about a few things.

 

Look around to see if there is anything new or different. If you notice that he is carrying things at a certain time, look into what is going on.

 

When you come, if he’s carrying something, it’s probably because he wants to give you a gift. If the behavior happens when you leave, it could be a sign of anxiety.

 

Pay attention to how your dog behaves. If he seems calm and his tail is wagging, he is probably happy. Watch out for pacing and a tail that is tucked in.

 

This could mean he is worried and using this behavior as a way to deal with it.

 

Also, remember what was going on before the behavior started. Your dog is teething if it happened all of a sudden.

 

It’s also possible that he did it because he was rewarded for it, which taught him that it was okay.

 

How to address it?

 

If he has something in his mouth more often than usual, you may need to teach your fur baby something new about it.

 

If it’s caused by anxiety, make sure he doesn’t have much contact with or exposure to what makes him anxious.

 

Make sure that all of his needs are met before you leave him. Lessen separation anxiety by letting them run around and play before you leave.

 

You can teach your dog to stop doing something it has learned by not giving it rewards. Don’t stop giving him treats or love when he picks up something. Give him a treat when he does what you want him to do.

 

Try not to yell at him or chase after him as much as you can. This will start a chase, which is something that dogs love. So, he got another reward for what he did.

 

You can also take his attention away from the behavior when he does it. If you see him carrying something while posing, try to get his attention on something else.

 

Doing this over and over again can help him get into the habit of letting you pick things up and carry them out of him.

 

Sometimes, especially when he carries things he shouldn’t, the way he acts could be dangerous. If this happens, take away anything he could pick up.

 

You might want to give him things to carry that you don’t mind. Maybe a bone or a chew toy.

 

And if nothing else works, you can always ask for help. There are several ways to teach your dog not to do that.

 

Other Considerations

 

Problems with aggression can happen when a dog is too protective of his toy. You have to think about whether he will try to get his toy back by being aggressive if someone else has it. 

 

If the answer is yes, you might want to think about asking a professional for help. Your vet can help you figure out what’s making your dog angry and tell you how to treat it best.

 

Most of the time, hiring a trainer will help stop your dog’s aggressive behavior and teach it to play with other toys instead. You could also take that special toy away from him until he calms down.