My dog takes a toy outside to pee: common behavior or a problem?

Okay, so the other day I noticed something kinda weird with my dog, Buddy. Every time I let him out to pee, he'd grab his favorite squeaky toy and take it outside with him. At first, I thought it was just a one-time thing, but then it kept happening. I was like, "What's the deal, Buddy?" So, I decided to do some digging and figure out this quirky little habit.

My Little Investigation

Step 1: Observation

I started by just watching him closely. I mean, really paying attention. I took him out multiple times, at different times of the day, and every single time, he'd snatch his toy before heading out. It wasn't just any toy, either. It was always his blue, rubber bone – the one he's had since he was a puppy.

Step 2: Ruling Out the Obvious

• Is it boredom? Nope. He has plenty of other toys, and he plays with them inside.
• Is it just excitement? Maybe, but why only when he goes out to pee?
• Is he marking territory? I thought about this, but he doesn't really "use" the toy, he just carries it.

Step3: My theory

My current theory is about him.

My guess? It's all about feeling secure. Maybe that toy is like his safety blanket. He's been carrying that thing since he was a puppy. It has smells. Maybe he feels a bit vulnerable when he's doing his business, and the toy makes him feel a little safer, or it’s become a ritual.

So he grabbed his comfort object. Then he went out to pee.

Step 4: The Experiment

I decided to try a little experiment. One morning, I hid the blue bone before letting him out. Poor Buddy looked around frantically for it! He seemed a bit lost without his toy, so I gave up my little attempt.

Then I quickly gave it back to him, and he happily trotted outside, bone in mouth, to do his thing.

The Conclusion (For Now)

After all this watching and thinking, I've come to the conclusion that it's probably a mix of comfort and habit. It seems like that squeaky toy is his security blanket when he's out doing his business. It's become part of his routine, and it makes him feel safe.

Dogs are funny creatures, aren't they? They develop these little habits, and we humans try our best to figure them out. I guess as long as Buddy's happy and healthy, I'll let him take his security toy outside whenever he needs to pee. It's all part of what makes him, him.