If you have ever wondered why, you’re not the only one. For a long time, this mystery has confused the minds of dog owners the world over. The answer is – a double-coated dog shakes their dog toys for several reasons.
Watching your dog shake its toy may appear entertaining and a lot of fun in the beginning. Over time though, this simple action can become an issue when your dog begins to behave aggressively or attacks other things, animals, or children. Hence, you should know the reason behind the typical dog behaviour, so you can address the issue early on.
There are several reasons as to why double-coated dogs shake their toys. So, let’s break it down.
Your Dog Is Just Being Playful
One of the most obvious answers to the question, “why do dogs shake their toys?” is that they are simply in a playful mood and want to have some entertainment, even though they are a born hunter and fighter. One of the motives behind your dog shaking its toys, is that it makes them feel good!
To Mimic the Hunting Action
Dogs also shake their toys when imitating the hunting action. For some dog owners, their double-coated dogs’ aggressive shaking can be pretty confusing.
However, as a dog owner, you should remember that your dog is just simulating an act of their ancestors— the wolves.
Wolves grasp and shake their prey to snap it. Your dog may be the cutest creation on earth, but beware, their killer instincts are well-embedded within the subconscious.
Your Dog Is Feeling Aggressive
Just like us humans, one dog can be more aggressive than another, which is perfectly fine. Some dogs are aggressive in nature, and they display their emotions by holding onto their dog toys and shaking them as if they have started a fight they can’t lose.
You can curb this aggressive dog behaviour by discipline or positive reinforcement.
Your Dog Has Frustration or Separation Anxiety
Most dogs that shake or chew their toys very aggressively are seeking to ignore the frustration and stress induced by separation anxiety. This separation anxiety tends to increase, mostly when a pet has been left isolated for an extended duration, or its owners don’t pay much attention to it.
In this case, some other signs include defecation, urination, excessive barking, and occasional whining.
Your Dog Is Feeling Bored
Your pet may damage and shake its toys due to boredom as well. Dogs demand a lot of attention and need to be kept occupied. They think that destroying toys is worth it if they can get a response from you.
If your double-coated is bored, take them out frequently and occupy them in physical movements that keep them active.
Your Dog Is Hungry
Dogs also shake their toys to tell you they are hungry. If you feed your dog a relatively low-calorie diet, your dog could lack some nutrients that are essential for its development. Thus, your dog may employ destructive chewing and other aggressive actions to get your attention.
It Is Teething
That’s right. Exactly like human babies, double coated puppies also shed their milk teeth and develop new ones. However, the teething isn’t as painful for puppies as it is for human babies. So, to relieve the discomfort, they engage in chewing and shaking.
Some veterinarians advise placing an ice cube in the puppy’s mouth when it experiences teething.
Your Dog Lacks Mental Stimulation
Dogs display such behaviours when they lack activity and mental stimulation. Dogs are highly energetic animals, and not letting them enjoy sufficient physical exercise can lead to abnormal habits like destructive chewing or shaking their toys.
The best thing an owner can do to avoid these is to take your pets for a walk or engage in a fetch game now and then.
So, what can you do to help your dog?
As a smart dog owner, you should be prepared to identify if your dog is being aggressive or shaking its toys due to anger. If it is angry, your role is to mellow it down a little. You can train it to listen to commands like “No” or “stop it” to discourage the action. If it hears your orders, you can reinforce it positively. This will help curb the activity in the future as well.
But, no matter how your double-coated dog behaves, you should never lose your calm as panicking would be the worst thing you can do. Preferably, you should create a bond with your pets that is so solid that it helps you recognize everything your dog does.