News release

From: The Royal Society

The High End of Toy Motivation in Dogs: Developmental Predictors and Relevance for Sport and Working Dogs

Dogs differ in how strongly they are motivated by toys such as balls or tug objects. In some individuals, this motivation can become so intense that it shows similarities to addictive-like behaviour, including persistent focus, difficulty disengaging, and high arousal. In this study, we analysed data from over 1,600 dogs using a behavioural questionnaire. We found that very high toy motivation was associated with traits such as being easy to motivate, over-motivation, difficulty calming down, and reduced daytime sleep. These tendencies were more common in certain breed groups and in dogs used for sport or work, and were often already visible in puppyhood. While strong motivation can be beneficial, extreme levels may affect behavioural regulation and welfare.

Addicted to you - Some dogs appear to show behaviours similar to addiction around toys. Through an online survey on play and motivation, involving over 1,600 dogs, researchers found some become so motivated by their toys that they display addiction-like behaviours. The behaviours, including difficulty disengaging and high arousal, were especially common in working breeds such as shepherds or terriers and were often visible already in puppies. The authors warn extreme motivation levels could become unhealthy and impact welfare.