Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna examined excessive toy motivation in dogs and concluded that some pets show addictive-like behaviour toward toys.

The study, which explored how extreme interest in play objects can mirror human behavioural addictions, found dogs that prioritized toys over food and vocalized when denied access to a favourite item. Those behaviours, the researchers said, resembled patterns dog owners sometimes describe as obsession or compulsion. Excessive toy motivation can lead to addictive-like behaviors such as persistent efforts to access toys—even pawing at containers—agitation, and vocalizing when they’re not accessible.

Across the study’s observations, some dogs ignored food in favor of a toy and whined when the toy was not accessible, a combination of signs the authors characterized as high levels of addictive-like behaviour. Dog owners can also recognize signs of toy addiction through excessive fixation on toys and the inability to calm down for over 15 minutes after removal of the toy, illustrating the deep emotional investment these dogs may have. The research also noted that when the toy became central to a dog’s emotional state, the animal could show anxiety or aggression around toy removal.

“I’ve seen dogs that treat their toy like it’s their emotional support pickle,” said Dr. Adam Christman, Veterinarian. “When the toy stops being fun and starts being a problem. If your dog can’t relax without it, becomes anxious or aggressive, or starts losing interest in everything else, that’s when we’ve crossed into clinical concern.” In the study of 105 highly toy-motivated dogs, 33 showed addiction-like toy behaviors (approximately 31%), emphasizing that this issue may be more common than previously thought.

Dr. Christman framed those behaviours as more than eccentric preferences, arguing they can interfere with normal eating and social interaction. Alexandra Bassett, a Certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, advised a measured response when obsessive patterns appear: “First, remove the toy temporarily and observe your dog’s response.”

Bassett added that obsessive behaviour often carries an emotional component: “It’s important to recognize that obsessive behavior often has an emotional element — typically stress, anxiety, or unmet needs.” Both experts emphasized observation and temperament-sensitive responses rather than immediate punitive measures.

The study builds on pet owners’ anecdotal reports by applying a behavioural lens to extreme toy motivation. It documented episodes in which dogs continued to seek access to an item, showed prolonged agitation after removal, and sometimes prioritized the object over food, a traditional motivator in many training contexts.

Those findings prompted the researchers to liken the observed cluster of behaviours to what clinicians call behavioural addictions in humans — patterns characterized by persistent, compulsive engagement with an activity despite negative consequences. The study therefore provides a framework for understanding when intense play drives may cross into problematic territory.

Veterinary and training professionals quoted in the research urged owners to monitor the effects of intense toy fixation on daily life, including eating, rest and social behaviour. The study’s descriptive accounts — such as whining when toys were inaccessible and ignoring food in favor of the toy — gave clinicians a clearer language to discuss when intervention may be warranted.

For readers seeking further detail on the study and its implications, the coverage in Kinship summarizes the researchers’ findings and responses from behaviour professionals.

The University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna led the research examining excessive toy motivation in pet dogs and its possible parallels to human behavioural addiction. Two named experts interviewed about the study — Dr. Adam Christman and Alexandra Bassett — emphasized that changes in a dog’s broader behaviour, such as anxiety, aggression or loss of interest in other activities, are key indicators that a habit has become a clinical concern.

Where the research goes from categorizing behaviours to recommending intervention strategies, the authors and the professionals consulted urged careful observation and temperament-appropriate management rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

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Original reporting: view the original article.