We all have realized that our dogs go crazy for a particular toy especially if the toy is fitted with a squeaky noisemaker. This leads to the question, why do dogs love squeaky toys?
Fetch Pet Products Hatchables Dog Toy – Puzzle Plush Squeak Toy for Dogs
Although you may think that your dog likes irritating you with the noise from the toy, there are a few theories as to why dogs get attracted to a dog toy that is fitted with a squeaker.
Spot Soccer Latex Ball Dog Toy
Usually once the squeaker is removed from the toy, your dog will over time lose interest in the toy, meaning the dog was attracted to the squeaking aspect of the dog toy as opposed to the toy itself. The fur kids we keep are related to wolves, and some theories state that they related the squeaking sound from the toy to the sound made by an injured or frightened prey, thereby making the sound appeal to the dog’s instincts.
ZippyPaws Burrow Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy
If the squeaker is removed, the dog will assume the prey is dead and may not go after the toy again. On the other hand, it may also be possible that the dog enjoys getting the squeaky feedback from the toy when playing as a reward for itself.
Duck Dynasty DD800004 Phil Duck with Chew Guard Technology Tough Plush Dog Toy, Small
As mentioned above, squeaky toys stimulate and nurture the prey drive in dogs and are sometimes discouraged by some dog trainers as they may promote dominance. Trainers say stimulating the dog’s prey drive may lead to unwanted behavior from the dog. Therefore, you are advised to monitor changes in your dog’s behavior when you introduce them to squeaky toys.
Multipet Sea Shammie 6-Inch Plush Octopus Dog Toy, Green
On the positive side, dog toys offer the pet interaction that helps in stimulating the mind thereby satisfying their chewing instinct as well as keeping them busy. When buying a toy, ensure that it is durable as ingestion of broken parts may be harmful to the dog.
Outward Hound Kyjen Squeakimals Squeaking Plush Dog Toy, 3 Eyed Monster
So does your dog like toys? How about squeaky toys? Kilo had a plush toucan that she carried around until it was just scraps of cloth. Since then she hasn’t really enjoyed any other toys. My big boy Buddy though, adores toys, particularly squeaky balls.
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Norma says
My Shelly loves her piggy! The squeaker stop working but she still plays with it I guess because it has a ball at the end and she loves to grab it in her mouth and flip it up over herself!
kilosmom says
Awww, that’s such a cute photo of Shelly!
Helene says
I’ve had dogs all my life. I’m 66 years old. I’ve NEVER seen a dog increase aggressively towards other dogs after playing with a squeaky toy. I HAVE seen “only”-dogs (being raised without other dogs around) who treated a toy that “responded” as a “friend”… & females who treat them as “pretend puppies”.
kilosmom says
Kilo treated hers as her puppy too.
Kathleen Hastings says
Cilantro absolutely LOVED her blue squeaky Wubba, and I say loved because she played with it til it fell apart. I bought her another one, it was pink, and she wont touch it. I then found another blue one which is now her favorite toy
kathleen Hastings says
by the way, the blue bits shown are what’s left of the original….
Cathy says
LOL. So what kind of toy was it originally?