Is Your Dog Addicted to Their Favorite Toy? Science Says Maybe

New research reveals that some dogs display behaviors strikingly similar to human gambling and gaming addictions—but instead of slot machines or smartphones, their obsession is with squeaky toys and tennis balls.

We've all seen it: the dog who won't let go of that one ratty tennis ball, the Border Collie who whines incessantly when their frisbee is out of reach, or the Labrador who keeps playing fetch until they're limping. Until now, these behaviors have been dismissed as quirky personality traits or simple enthusiasm. But groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports suggests something more complex may be happening.

When Play Becomes Compulsion

Scientists led by Stefanie Riemer and Alja Mazzini have conducted the first formal scientific study examining whether dogs can develop addictive-like relationships with their toys. The results are eye-opening.

The research team studied 105 dogs—ranging from one to ten years old—whose owners all described them as "motivated to play with toys." The dogs were primarily working breeds known for their intensity: Malinois, Border Collies, and Labrador Retrievers made up the largest groups.

What they discovered was striking: nearly one in three dogs showed behavior patterns that mirror human behavioral addictions.

The Warning Signs

The 33 dogs identified as displaying addictive-like behaviors weren't just enthusiastic players. They exhibited specific patterns that researchers recognize in humans struggling with behavioral addictions:

Obsessive fixation. These dogs became excessively focused on one particular toy, unable to redirect their attention even when better options appeared.

Loss of normal priorities. Food? Not interesting. Playing with their beloved owner? No thanks. These dogs would choose accessing their toy over eating or social interaction—a reversal of natural priorities that raises red flags.

Inability to disengage. Even after all toys were removed, these dogs couldn't calm down for at least 15 minutes. They remained agitated, searching, unable to let go mentally.

Persistent seeking behavior. When their toy was inaccessible, these dogs spent significantly longer trying to reach it, showing the kind of persistent seeking behavior seen in other forms of addiction.

More Than Just Ball-Obsessed

This isn't about dogs who really love fetch. The researchers carefully distinguished between healthy enthusiasm and concerning patterns. These 33 dogs showed a compulsive quality to their toy engagement—continuing even when it might cause them harm, unable to control their behavior, and experiencing what looks remarkably like cravings.

Think of it this way: a dog who happily plays fetch and then settles down for dinner is enjoying a healthy activity. A dog who ignores dinner, ignores their owner, and frantically searches for the ball hours after playtime ended? That's a different story.

What It Means

The researchers are careful to note that this is just the beginning. The study documents that these behaviors exist, but many questions remain unanswered:

Why do some dogs develop these patterns while others don't? Is it genetic, environmental, or both? Are certain breeds more susceptible? And perhaps most importantly: does this excessive engagement negatively impact the dogs' welfare and quality of life?

These aren't just academic questions. If roughly one-third of toy-motivated dogs show addictive-like behaviors, that's a significant proportion of our canine companions potentially struggling with a form of compulsion we've never formally recognized before.

Food for Thought

The next time you see a dog obsessively focused on their toy—unable to eat, unable to relax, unable to engage with anything else—it might be worth considering whether this is healthy enthusiasm or something that deserves closer attention.

After all, we've learned to recognize when screen time becomes screen addiction in humans. Perhaps it's time we extended the same awareness to our four-legged friends and their favorite squeaky toys.

Study Reference: Riemer, S., Mazzini, A., et al. (2025). Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-18636-0