5 Things Your Dog Means When They Bring You a Toy

You're halfway through a phone call when a soggy rope toy lands in your lap and your dog backs up, waiting. The obvious move is to throw it. A lot of the time, that isn't what they were asking for. A toy can mean five different things, and you can tell which one in about a second once you know where to look. Get it wrong and you can end up teaching keep-away without meaning to. The last one explains why the toy keeps coming to you, and not to anyone else in the house. Tonight, try bowing to your dog and see what happens. 0:00 A toy in your lap 0:42 The one everybody knows 2:00 The rope they won't let go of 3:06 Chase me 4:48 The one at the front door 5:54 Where you stand Disclaimer: This video shares general information about dog behavior, for education and interest. It isn't veterinary or training advice for your own dog. If your dog guards toys with growling or snapping, a qualified behavior professional can help, and if a dog who loves to play suddenly stops, check in with your vet.