Why Do Dogs Like Stuffed Toys?

I think that dogs feel closer to being a dog when they actually have a stuffed toy in their mouth because they feel that they have caught it. They can carry it around, they can claim it, they can retrieve it (especially retrievers), and it's theirs. And, it feels good to them.

Depending on the breed you have, some dogs will kill the stuffed toys, some dogs will love it, sleep on it and snuggle with it. Retrievers will consistently have it in their mouth when you return home.

You can buy heap, right sized stuffed animals yard sales and give it to your dog. But, considering dog allergy problem, you should clean the stuffed toy properly. These toys are a very cheap alternative to expensive pet store toys.
Precaustion : Do not give toy which are stuffed with small, styrofoam beads because
dogs often rip open their stuffed toys, and the styrofoam beads could become a hazard to your dog.
I know of some big dogs that shake their stuffed toy to so much that they are actually killing it. If you have more than one dog watch that the other dog doesn't get hurt by the toy that is being shaken. It is easy to have your other dogs eye get punctured or hurt.

So to repeat the question, why do dogs like stuffed toys? Well, it seems that we all love stuffed toys. Adults have them, kids love them, cats play with stuffed mice, and dogs claim them to kill it, to claim it, or just to love it.
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