The New Thing To Do

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Starlit has started to do something new and I wonder if other dogs do this strange behavior.

She picks up one LITTLE stuffed toy--only this little stuffed groundhog and carries it around while whimpering or maybe like a high-pitched talking.   It reminds me of a mother cat talking to her kittens as she moves them to a new safer bed. 

Is she pretending she is a mother?  She doesn't seem upset but she looks like she wants to put it somewhere safe or nest with the little toy.

Anyone else witness this?  I wish I knew what she wanted.  She seems kind of desperate.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Not here, but it sounds precious.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Hi Joanne!! I don't know what it means but Bandit does the same thing with some of his favorite toys, bones. He wil pace the house, look at me and cry, I coax him to the couch but then he is off again, pacing, crying. I think he just has something at that moment that he doesn't want anyone else to get. I think the pups can definately build relationship with toys and maybe she just found one she wants to be "hers":)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wow Suzanne, that's an idea! Spud monopolizes everything. All toys are HIS, in his mind. My socks are his! She is not fond of many toys like he is but she does love this little groundhog.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca does that when someone comes in the door. He runs and grabs a toy and does that high pitch whimpering. They are talking to you and the toy in their mouth is their way of saying "hello". Remember, they are part retrievers. He can't greet someone without something in his mouth:)
It's very cute and sweet to watch. He won't give it to anyone, he just wants something in his mouth when he says hello!!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Carla, True. They are retrievers. My BIL's dog does this when he comes to greet us and no, you can't have the toy he brings to you but still he must show you anyway.

[Linda and Murphy]

Murphy does this. He almost always hears someone before they get there. If someone "sneaks" in and surprises him, he is in a panic to get a toy in his mouth. Thats when anything is fair game..shoe, dish towel, the cat.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara has a stuffed cat that she has had since the ride home from the breeder's. It stays in her crate and she only has access to it at night. But sometimes, even though she has a gillion other toys, I will find her in the bedroom laying in front of the crate crying for "Miss Kitty" . Occasionally we will let Miss Kitty come out for a visit. Tara will prance around the house with her like she has just been reunited with a long lost friend!! She really does seem to feel differently about Miss Kitty then she does about her other toys.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

So maybe you try to hide it with her and give it to her when Spud-the-Stud is not around to help build her confidence. I don't know why Bandit does this because Rosey knows how to share and always gives in to her little bro...This could be a good sign that she feel confident enough to claim something!!

[Adina P]

Rosco did this once with ONE toy. It was one of those GIANT stuffed 'bones'. He whimpered and whined as he paced back and forth begging to go out with it. He ultimately wanted to destuff it...but it was almost like he was conflicted about his desire to destuff it.

[Diana Erhart]

Charlie does this ALOT, especially with his favorite large treats (dried lamb lung) or bone. He wanders through the house whimpering. I think he is trying to find the perfect "hiding" spot for it because he eventually buries it somewhere in the house. Then a little later (and also in the middle of the night) he gets it back out, wanders around whimpering some more, then hides it somewhere else. It reminds of that insurance commercial where the dog keeps hiding his bone and then going to bed and dreaming about it getting stolen and then going back to get it.

[Amy & Bernie]

I totally think it's a protective behavior! Bernie hasn't done it yet, but I've had a dog that did with treats - it was always when we'd offer her something and she wasn't ready to eat it right away. She didn't want to turn down the chance at getting it, she was an opportunist, like most dogs, but she wasn't a chow hound. She'd run around for awhile until she felt it was somewhere safe. Sounds quite cute with the groundhog! Poor girl though, if she is a little anxious because of Spud's dominance with the toys.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I saw a discussion about this a while ago. Lots of dogs seem to do this. I think it sounds so cute!