{"id":4360,"date":"2022-06-12T13:14:47","date_gmt":"2022-06-12T13:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/"},"modified":"2022-06-13T10:25:24","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T10:25:24","slug":"why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is my dog treating a toy like a baby?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_is_my_dog_treating_a_toy_like_a_baby\" title=\"Why is my dog treating a toy like a baby?\">Why is my dog treating a toy like a baby?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_is_my_dog_walking_around_whining_with_a_toy_in_her_mouth\" title=\"Why is my dog walking around whining with a toy in her mouth?\">Why is my dog walking around whining with a toy in her mouth?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_is_my_dog_pretending_puppies\" title=\"Why is my dog pretending puppies?\">Why is my dog pretending puppies?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_does_my_dog_groom_his_toys\" title=\"Why does my dog groom his toys?\">Why does my dog groom his toys?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#What_are_signs_of_a_false_pregnancy_in_dogs\" title=\"What are signs of a false pregnancy in dogs?\">What are signs of a false pregnancy in dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_is_my_dog_so_attached_to_his_toy_all_of_a_sudden\" title=\"Why is my dog so attached to his toy all of a sudden?\">Why is my dog so attached to his toy all of a sudden?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_is_my_dog_whining_so_much_all_of_a_sudden\" title=\"Why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden?\">Why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_does_my_dog_think_shes_pregnant\" title=\"Why does my dog think she\u2019s pregnant?\">Why does my dog think she\u2019s pregnant?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#What_do_dogs_think_their_toys_are\" title=\"What do dogs think their toys are?\">What do dogs think their toys are?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#How_can_I_help_my_dog_through_a_false_pregnancy\" title=\"How can I help my dog through a false pregnancy?\">How can I help my dog through a false pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_licks_you\" title=\"What does it mean when a dog licks you?\">What does it mean when a dog licks you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_does_my_dog_lick_then_nibble_me\" title=\"Why does my dog lick then nibble me?\">Why does my dog lick then nibble me?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Why_does_my_dog_nibble_on_blankets_when_I_pet_him\" title=\"Why does my dog nibble on blankets when I pet him?\">Why does my dog nibble on blankets when I pet him?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#How_common_is_false_pregnancy_in_dogs\" title=\"How common is false pregnancy in dogs?\">How common is false pregnancy in dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#Should_I_milk_my_dog_false_pregnancy\" title=\"Should I milk my dog false pregnancy?\">Should I milk my dog false pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby\/#What_causes_a_false_pregnancy\" title=\"What causes a false pregnancy?\">What causes a false pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_dog_treating_a_toy_like_a_baby\"><\/span>Why is my dog treating a toy like a baby?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<div id=\"cnt_rb_271118\" class=\"cnt32_rl_bg_str\" data-id=\"271118\"><span style=\"font-family: var(--global-body-font-family);\">In the excitement of receiving a new toy, a dog may want to carry it around. This appears to be the same as carrying a new puppy. Don\u2019t encourage obsessive behavior or draw attention to it. Dogs can nurture toys and treat them like puppies due to hormone imbalance that may have resulted in a false pregnancy.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-my-dog-walking-around-whining-with\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_dog_walking_around_whining_with_a_toy_in_her_mouth\"><\/span>Why is my dog walking around whining with a toy in her mouth?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your dog might also be bored and want to play. Her whining is an attempt to get your attention. She might cry with the toy in her mouth or drop the toy at your feet and cry.\u00a0 She knows that she needs to bury bones, among other things, for survival and that might include this toy.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5CJTPLlaidw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-my-dog-pretending-puppies\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_dog_pretending_puppies\"><\/span>Why is my dog pretending puppies?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>False pregnancy in dogs occurs to females that are not spayed. Pseudocyesis is another term for false pregnancy. False pregnancy occurs when the dog is in estrus and her progesterone levels increase. The higher levels of progesterone can trigger the hormone prolactin to be produced.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 1em;\">\n<p><a class=\"uee3b6b579c0d78c32a6b1dbdd6e16d9a\" href=\"\/diseases\/what-supplements-help-with-inflammation-in-dogs.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><!-- INLINE RELATED POSTS 1\/3 \/\/--><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-does-my-dog-groom-his-toys\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_groom_his_toys\"><\/span>Why does my dog groom his toys?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dogs create many positive associations toward licking. Repeated paired with pleasant activities, it comes to signify food and companionship. For this reason, many dogs find it relaxing. Licking at toys can become a means by which the dog self soothes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-129731\" src=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Why-does-my-dog-groom-his-toys.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/18ScrOmWfgI\" width=\"560\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-signs-of-a-false-pregnancy-in-dogs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_signs_of_a_false_pregnancy_in_dogs\"><\/span>What are signs of a false pregnancy in dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The more common signs of pseudo-pregnancy include mammary gland enlargement with or without the production of milk, lethargy, periodic vomiting, and fluid retention. Dogs with false pregnancy often have a decreased appetite but seldom appears to lose weight, likely due to the amount of excess fluid retained.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-my-dog-so-attached-to-his-toy-all\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_dog_so_attached_to_his_toy_all_of_a_sudden\"><\/span>Why is my dog so attached to his toy all of a sudden?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You may notice, in some cases, your pooch will hold his favorite toy just for comfort. Whether he is nervous or excited, this is his psychological way of overcoming distress or reinforcing a positive emotion. In general, dogs will prefer toys that either taste good or make certain sounds.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AXfszibgDFI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-my-dog-whining-so-much-all-of-a-sudden\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_dog_whining_so_much_all_of_a_sudden\"><\/span>Why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dogs often whine in response to pain or a painful condition. If you notice that your dog vocalizes frequently or has suddenly started to vocalize, it\u2019s important to take her to the vet to rule out medical causes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-does-my-dog-think-she-s-pregnant\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_think_shes_pregnant\"><\/span>Why does my dog think she\u2019s pregnant?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once the progesterone levels begin to fall, another hormone, prolactin, naturally rises. These perfectly normal hormonal fluctuations can physiologically make your dog\u2019s body (and sometimes her mind) think that she is pregnant.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tH_dgEva_2E\" width=\"560\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"what-do-dogs-think-their-toys-are\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_dogs_think_their_toys_are\"><\/span>What do dogs think their toys are?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cSome dogs think this reminds them of an animal that they would have caught,\u201d explains Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinary consultant for DogLab.com. \u201cThese squeaky toys sound like an injured rat or rabbit that they may have caught.\u00a0 \u201cTearing up a toy is your dog\u2019s way of re-enacting them, killing their prey,\u201d Dr.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UVC1IzdLJP8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 1em;\">\n<p><a class=\"ubb5c88d9287f0f21bfe7de8a40c28a1a\" href=\"\/diseases\/is-a-leonberger-a-good-first-dog.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><!-- INLINE RELATED POSTS 2\/3 \/\/--><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-can-i-help-my-dog-through-a-false-pregnancy\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_help_my_dog_through_a_false_pregnancy\"><\/span>How can I help my dog through a false pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Phantom pregnancy in dogs is very common and, if symptoms are behavioural and mild, you can try distracting your dog with increased play and walks. While they\u2019re distracted you can remove any toys they have adopted as surrogate babies, being careful not to cause distress.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-does-it-mean-when-a-dog-licks-you\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_licks_you\"><\/span>What does it mean when a dog licks you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cDogs often lick people to show affection, as a greeting, or to simply get our attention. Of course, if you happen to have a little food, lotion, or salty sweat on your skin, that may play a role as well.\u201d Along with affection, these are some other things your dog actually wants from you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-129732\" src=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-dog-licks-you.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-dog-licks-you.jpg 700w, https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/What-does-it-mean-when-a-dog-licks-you-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-does-my-dog-lick-then-nibble-me\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_lick_then_nibble_me\"><\/span>Why does my dog lick then nibble me?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dogs might also gently bite a human because they like the taste of our salty skin. Sometimes the residue or smell of food also gets on an owner, and Boogeyman might playfully lick and bite you to show his interest. Love bites are also common when older dogs play.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/J3iotEeTjas\" width=\"560\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"why-does-my-dog-nibble-on-blankets-when-i\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_nibble_on_blankets_when_I_pet_him\"><\/span>Why does my dog nibble on blankets when I pet him?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nibbling, gentle chewing, and mouthing can be signs of affection in dogs. Dogs lack verbal communication, hence they resort to using their bodies to convey how and what they feel. As puppies, dogs communicate as well as explore with their mouths.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-common-is-false-pregnancy-in-dogs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_common_is_false_pregnancy_in_dogs\"><\/span>How common is false pregnancy in dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s believed that about half of all female dogs will have a phantom pregnancy in their lifetime unless they are spayed. In some breeds, such as Afghans, Beagles and Dachshunds, the likelihood is as high as 75%.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yg-SSYcYEwY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"should-i-milk-my-dog-false-pregnancy\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_milk_my_dog_false_pregnancy\"><\/span>Should I milk my dog false pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is no need to prevent a normally lactating female dog from producing milk, even if it is experiencing a false pregnancy or nursing without being pregnant. Hypothyroidism is typically not preventable; however, mammary gland tumors are almost entirely preventable by spaying your female dog before her first heat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-causes-a-false-pregnancy\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_causes_a_false_pregnancy\"><\/span>What causes a false pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What Causes False Pregnancy? Only recently have doctors begun to understand the psychological and physical issues that are at the root of pseudocyesis. Although the exact causes still aren\u2019t known, doctors suspect that psychological factors may trick the body into \u201cthinking\u201d that it\u2019s pregnant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Why is my dog treating a toy like a baby?Why is my dog walking around whining with a toy in her mouth?Why is my dog pretending puppies?Why does my dog groom his toys?What are signs of a false pregnancy in dogs?Why is my dog so attached to his toy all of a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":129730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[619],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Why-is-my-dog-treating-a-toy-like-a-baby-scaled.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4360"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129733,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360\/revisions\/129733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}