If your dog is crying whilst carrying their toys, this can get a bit annoying. However, there is often a reason behind it. On the whole, this should not be too serious. Having said that, there are one or two circumstances where this may involve a trip to the vet.
why does my dog cry when carrying toys?
There are many reasons why your dog is crying when carrying their toys. As long as it is just about excitement or wanting to bury the toy, everything is okay, even if it is slightly annoying. However, it could be a sign of a mouth injury. In which case, get them to the vet as soon as possible.
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Why does a female dog carrying a toy and crying?
This can be due to a number of different reasons. One is false pregnancy. If you notice that around four to six weeks after your dog’s had their heat cycle they start carrying a toy around and crying, false pregnancy is probably the reason why.
If you have more than one dog and one is carrying around a chew toy and crying, this is because they may want to finish it later and are trying to find a hiding place for it because they are worried your other dog is going to get it.
why is my male dog carrying a toy and whining?
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Even though most male dogs don’t have an active role when it comes to parenting, some do and if your male dog is carrying a toy around and whining, this may be their protective instinct kicking in.
They may view their toy as their child and so carry it around everywhere so no one else can harm it.
why is my dog suddenly attached to a toy?
This is most likely due to your dog becoming obsessive or possessive about the toy. If your dog has been given a new toy they really like, they will become attached to it until, potentially, they get another new toy that they become more interested in.
dog licking toy and crying?
This is simply a sign of excitement. Dogs love to lick things when they are excited and will also cry when excited, so this licking and crying is them simply showing their love of the toy.
why is my dog whining with a bone in its mouth?
One of the reasons why your dog is whining with a bone in their mouth is because they are excited to get the bone. However, this is more likely if they start whining before they get the bone. If they start whining after this, it is probably due to one of the following reasons.
Your dog may have a mouth injury, which is causing them to whine. This will happen as the bone may worsen the injury and there may also be bleeding. In which case, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Just like with the toy, if your dog is whining with the bone in their mouth, they are more than likely trying to find somewhere to hide it to stop anyone else from getting it. And if they can’t find a good hiding place, this is only going to cause them to whine further.
This can be a sign of possessiveness, too. If their issue is with another dog or you potentially taking their bone off them, they will probably start whining. But this can lead to aggression, so it is important you try and nip this in the bud quickly.
Of course, if your dog is only whining a little bit with the bone in their mouth and then stops shortly after, it could just be their way of saying thank you. But if they continue to whine, it is more than likely not due to this reason.
It can also be a case of you having, unintentionally, encouraged the behavior. If your dog has whined in the past and you have then given them a bone to keep them quiet, they then associate their whining with being given a bone.
Why is my dog mothering toys?
This is quite possibly due to a false pregnancy. If your dog believes they are pregnant, which can happen four to six weeks after they have gone through heat, they will start mothering their toys as their motherly instincts kick in.
why do dogs cry with socks in their mouth?
One sign of a dog crying with socks in their mouth (or any object, for that matter) is that they feel possessive over it and want to bury it somewhere, but they can’t figure out where.
This can also cause stress, which can be another reason for their whining. They get stressed because they want to save it for later and either do not want to bury it or can’t find a place to bury it. This then leads to whining and can relieve any stress they’re feeling.
Why does my dog hold a toy, run around & whine after eating?
If your dog is holding their toy and running around, this is more than likely because they are possessive over it and are running around because they want to avoid anyone else from trying to take it from them.
However, if your dog is whining after eating, this could be a sign of a number of things. This includes damaged/broken teeth or issues with their digestive system. In cases like this, it is important to try and get to the root of the issue and take them to the vets if necessary.
Why does my dog cry when he plays with squeaky toys?
Some dog breeds, such as labradors and golden retrievers, see squeaky toys as high value. This makes them feel excited, despite this excitement appearing as crying, and they will eventually calm down and sit and play/chew on it quietly.
My dog thinks that her toy is her baby. What should I do?
First things first, it is worth noting that dogs know their toys are not living beings, despite what you may think, as they can’t feel a heartbeat.
So if they do appear as if they believe their toy is their baby, it is more than likely they are experiencing a false pregnancy and are simply showing off their motherly instincts due to this. This should stop after a little while and is not too much to be concerned about.
Why does my dog cry when he plays with squeaky toys?
Because their breed may be one that associates something that squeaks as being of high value, so cry because they become protective of it because they do not want anyone else to get their high value object and are simply excited to have it in their possession.
11 reasons Why your dog cry when carrying toys
The following are reasons why your dog might be crying whilst carrying their toys:
1. False pregnancy
This occurs four to six weeks after they have gone through heat and can be simply solved by having your dog spayed so they will not experience this again and will put an end to the whining if this is the reason for it.
2. Perceives the toy as having high value
Certain breeds have been previously bred to see animals that make a certain noise as being high value. In the modern-day, this equates to squeaky toys. They cry because they want to protect it and do not want anyone else to take their high-value item away.
3. They have an instinct to bury
This is more common in certain breeds of dogs, just like with some dogs perceiving something as being of high value. If your dog is a breed that enjoys burying or if you have more than one dog, they may be wanting to try and hide it quickly so the other dog cannot get it.
4. They are excited
Crying is another way for dogs to show their excitement. They often don’t know what to do with their excited energy, so this manifests itself into crying.
5. They want to play
Some dogs literally just want some attention from you. Try asking them to bring the toy to you as they may just literally want you to play with them, such as a game of fetch. If they don’t want this, they may start growling or crying more if you try and take the toy from them.
6. They want to soothe themselves
Your dog may have been experiencing some sort of stress which is why they’re crying. For example, many dogs find going to the vet a stressful situation.
So if they’ve just been to the vets or experiencing something stressful and are carrying their toy around and crying, this is why.
7. They are anxious/stressed
As mentioned above, there are multiple occasions where dogs may become stressed, and sometimes holding their favorite toy and crying is their way of dealing with it.
8. They have hunting instincts
This is similar to wanting to bury a toy or perceiving it as having high value. Even though dogs are aware their toys aren’t real, some may see the toy as something they need to hunt so when they get it in their mouth, they cry because they are proud of themselves for getting it.
9. It is reinforced behavior
There may be a time when you have unintentionally taught them this behavior in that they have been crying and then you have given them a toy to try and prevent the crying.
Doing this teaches them that you are rewarding them for crying, so each time they have a toy in their mouth, they cry because that is what they think is supposed to happen.
10. They are naturally vocal
Some dogs just like to be heard and they quite possibly want you to be aware of their presence and the fact they are carrying their toy.
11. They have dental issues
This is an important issue and is one you should take up with your vet if it is why your dog is crying whilst they have a toy (or anything) in their mouth. This can be painful for them and can cause bleeding in their gums/mouth, so taking them to the vet should help get rid of the pain.
5 Things to do about your dog crying while carrying toys
The following are things you can do to stop your dog from crying whilst they are carrying their toys:
1. Buy an interactive toy
2. If they want to play, ask them to bring the toy to you and then start playing a game with them with the toy
3. If they are anxious/stressed, distract them with a treat and then carefully pick up their toy
4. If they are being demanding or are doing it for attention, simply ignore them and they will eventually stop
5. If it is because they want to bury it, buy them a blanket or something they can use to bury their toys in
Signs of a False Pregnancy
The following are the signs and symptoms of false pregnancy in dogs:
– lethargy
– depression and/or behavioral changes
– loss of appetite
– they start nesting, such as moving around and digging bedding
– they start nursing, such as becoming attached to a particular toy
– secretion from mammary glands
– swollen belly
References
Why does my dog whine when chewing a toy?
https://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-cry-after-eating
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/phantom-pregnancies-in-dogs