The obsession of some dogs with balls, ropes or other toys can go beyond a simple desire to play. A study conducted by researchers from Switzerland and Austria suggests that some animals develop motivation levels so high toward toys that they begin to exhibit behaviors similar to those observed in situations of dependence.
Published by the Royal Society, the study analyzed data from more than 1,600 dogs collected through a questionnaire about behavior, play and motivation. The researchers concluded that animals with greater interest in toys tend to show signs such as difficulty interrupting the activity, inability to relax after play, high levels of arousal, and even reduced daytime sleep.
According to the authors, these behaviors were particularly frequent in working dogs, including several herding breeds and terriers, known for their energy and strong predisposition to tasks requiring focus and persistence.
The investigation also revealed that these characteristics can manifest very early, often being observed already during the puppy stage.
Although a strong motivation to play can be an advantage in contexts such as training, canine sport or certain professional activities, scientists warn that extreme levels can have negative consequences for the animals’ welfare.
“We found associations between a very high motivation for toys and traits such as over-excitement, difficulty calming down and reduced daytime rest,” the authors say.
The researchers emphasize that this is not a dependency in the clinical sense applied to humans, but they note that some of the observed behaviors show enough similarities to warrant attention from caregivers.
The results contribute to a better understanding of the behavioral differences between dogs and could help trainers, veterinarians and owners identify situations in which play ceases to be merely a healthy activity and begins to interfere with the animals’ emotional balance and rest.
For the authors, the challenge is to find a balance: stimulate the natural instinct to play without promoting excessive levels of arousal that could compromise the dogs’ quality of life.
