Must have something in his mouth???

[phonodel]

Ok, my boy (9mo.) has a very strange habit. He has done this since we got him at 8 weeks. Whenever he wakes up from a nap or first thing in the morning or even mid day if I come home from being out, he must run and grab a toy, any toy. He then just paces back and forth or around the house in circles with whatever he has found to put in his mouth. It Is cute but very odd and I just have to wonder why he does this?? It's like he is wanting us to see what he has and how special it is. It kinda reminds me of when cats bring home their prey and leave it for you on the door step.
Does anyone elses dog do this? Is there a theory as to why?? Just curious.

 

[HurricaneBox]

Oh yes, Hurricane does. Not when he wakes up, anymore, but when we are gone and come home, he will search the house high and low (if there isn't a toy within plain sight) and not greet us UNTIL he has his toy. He will hold on for dear life beaning like crazy, pace back and forth wiggling with that silly toy hanging out of his mouth. After 5 minutes or so he finally drops it. I don't know what makes him do it, but its super cute, and others have shared stories that their babies do the same, so I don't think that it is uncommon in boxers. Maybe they are just so excited they want to do something, and they equate toys=happy or something?

 

[BetsyB]

Mackensie does this too and has since she was only a few months old. I know when the school bus is coming down the road before I actually see it because she runs to grab a toy. I'm told it's actually a self- calming activity. It makes them feel more calm and relaxed. I can tell you she definitely acts calmer and more relaxed during an exciting occurrence like a visitor coming or daddy coming home from work then Angus does!!

 

[DyckDogs]

Lexi does the same thing. As soon as she wakes up she runs for a toy. As soon as we walk in the door from work, she runs for a toy. If visitors arrive, she runs for a toy.
But Lexi loves her toys and is very rarely without one in her mouth.
Not sure why she does this, but she has since she was quite young.

 

[ELubas]

Mine too Always when we come home and sometimes when they wake up. My girl does the best "Woo Woo" with a mouthful of toy No idea why they do it

 

[DiverDiva]

... when we are gone and come home, he will search the house high and low (if there isn't a toy within plain sight) and not greet us UNTIL he has his toy. He will hold on for dear life beaning like crazy, pace back and forth wiggling with that silly toy hanging out of his mouth. After 5 minutes or so he finally drops it.

Oscar does this, too. If he can't find a toy, he will have a sock, shoe, or glove in his mouth. At first we thought he was bringing the toy or other object to us as a present, but, no, he doesn't want to give it to us. Mali does not bring us anything, she just wiggles, jumps, and kidney-beans.

 

[rfdfirewife]

Mine dont do this but my inlaws bulldog does!!! Its hysterical! Hes 10x worse when he has a new* toy. I have no clue why they do it.

 

[phonodel]

Oh yes, Hurricane does. Not when he wakes up, anymore, but when we are gone and come home, he will search the house high and low (if there isn't a toy within plain sight) and not greet us UNTIL he has his toy. He will hold on for dear life beaning like crazy, pace back and forth wiggling with that silly toy hanging out of his mouth. After 5 minutes or so he finally drops it. I don't know what makes him do it, but its super cute, and others have shared stories that their babies do the same, so I don't think that it is uncommon in boxers. Maybe they are just so excited they want to do something, and they equate toys=happy or something?

Yes! exactly. I forgot about the beaning at the same time. Mine also will search high and low til he finds something to show us and he will not give it up After a few minutes he will put it down but it is the oddest thing. I was hoping somone with insight into dog psychology could explain this to us all. Sooo curious.

 

[suzyqdogsmom]

I don't know if this makes sense. But I know that SuzyQ will grab a toy when she is super excited. Also, she will grab one when she is on the edge of pushing too much, being too rough. For example - if we are sitting with our feet up and she is running around, she loves to run by and grab our toes (never with teeth). If we say anything to her (like what are you doing you goofy dog or shake a finger at her) she will back up and woo woo at us. Then she will always grab a toy and just shake the devil out of it. I think it's that she wants to really rough house like she was with another boxer, but she knows that isn't allowed, she has been as sassy as we let her, but she can grab a toy and be a crazy as she wants. Like a safety valve. And of course when she does that she gets a reaction from us, laughing, grabbing for her toy and she can have a good run around and not get in any trouble. I think that they have learned how they can be as crazy and rough as they want and not go over that line with the humans.