Dog Crying with Toy in Mouth: Is It Normal? A Guide for Concerned Dog Owners!

Today I want to share a pretty interesting thing I saw my dog doing. I’ve seen it before but never really thought about it too much until today. So, the scene is this: my dog, he’s got this toy, right? A squeaky little thing he’s had for a while. And he’s just walking around the house with it in his mouth, not really playing, just carrying it. But here’s the kicker, he’s crying while doing it. Not like a painful cry, but more like a soft whine, you know?

At first, I thought, “Is he in pain or something?” So, I checked him over, looked at the toy to make sure there was nothing wrong with it, nothing sharp or anything that could hurt him. He seemed fine, tail wagging when I was checking him, no signs of distress other than that whine. It got me thinking, why do dogs do this? Is it normal? Is it some kind of instinct?

I went down a bit of a rabbit hole today trying to figure it out. Turns out, it’s more common than I thought. From what I read, it could be a bunch of things. Some folks online were saying it’s like when a dog is feeling super chill and happy, they just like to have their favorite toy with them. Like a comfort thing. Makes sense, I guess. We all have our favorite things we like to keep close when we’re relaxing.

• Relaxing and Happy Pup: The first theory I came across made a lot of sense. It suggests that dogs might carry their toys and whine simply because they’re feeling content and relaxed. It’s like their way of showing they’re in a good mood, and having their favorite toy with them just makes it even better. I’ve definitely seen my dog do this when he’s lounging around, so it tracks.
• Mothering Instincts: This one was interesting. Apparently, some dogs, especially females, might exhibit mothering behaviors with their toys. They carry them around gently, and the whining can be a form of nurturing. My dog’s a male, but I read that it can happen with any dog. It’s like they’re practicing being a parent or something.
• Playful Antics: I did find that dogs can simply cry while carrying their toy because that’s how they play.

It’s kind of cute when you think about it. Here I was, worried that something was wrong, and it turns out it might just be my dog’s way of showing he’s happy or feeling motherly.

My Conclusion

After all this, I’m leaning towards it being a mix of contentment and maybe a bit of that instinctual, motherly behavior. It just seems like a dog’s way of communicating, even if it’s in a way that seems odd to us. From now on, I won’t worry too much when I see him doing it. Instead, I’ll probably just give him a good scratch behind the ears and let him enjoy his toy in peace. Dogs, man, they’re something else.