Drop it! Dogs that won't let go of toys may be addicts

Whether it is a spaniel obsessively chasing a ball or a retriever that cannot be without its squeaky bear, dogs do love their toys. So much so, that researchers say some may even show signs of addiction.

- Nicola Davis Science correspondent

While humans can take a host of activities to excess, only gambling and internet gaming disorders are officially recognised as behavioural addictions. Their main feature is the repetition of acts that are initially rewarding but can result in longer-term harm.

Stefanie Riemer, a coauthor of the study at the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine, said genetic and environmental factors were probably at play.

“We think the genetic component is pretty strong,” she said, noting that the researchers found differences among breeds and followup work suggested that owners of dogs with high levels of addictive-like behaviour did little to encourage it.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Riemer and colleagues outlined how they studied 56 male and 49 female dogs, aged one to 10, some of which were known to show “excessive” motivation for playing with toys.