Why Do Dogs Shake Toys?
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All domestic dogs can trace their ancestry back to the wolf. The wolf is a skilled hunter and even though most domestic breeds have lost any resemblance to their wolf ancestors, many of the predatory behaviors and instincts of wolves are still present in modern domestic dogs. One of the actions many dogs use during play is called worrying. You may have seen your dog grab his toy in his teeth, clamp his jaw down tight and give it several vigorous shakes back and forth. This is an instinctive behavior that is an effective way to injure and kill prey and, if performed on smaller animals, will commonly result in a quick kill by way of a broken neck or spine. It is also part of pack behavior. Hunting dogs have been observed using this shaking motion together on a single prey, cooperatively breaking the spine of their catch.
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Dogs that shake their toys during play are exhibiting normal behavior that usually remains a playful act that can provide an outlet for a dog's natural predatory desires. Common to many terrier breeds, worrying has proven to be a valuable skill in the case of dogs bred to catch and kill unwanted vermin.
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Unfortunately worrying is also a behavior that can have tragic consequences in cases where dogs have attacked cats, other dogs and human beings. The speed in which a dog can kill or seriously injure another animal by shaking it can be faster than a person can intervene. Even though selective breeding has created a domesticated dog, their powerful hunting instincts and skills have remained intact.
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