Why do dogs bring you their toys?

Dogs are often known as “man’s best friend.” And for good reason.

These friendly animals are loyal, loving, and always happy to see us.

One of the things that dog owners love most about their pup is when they bring them a toy.

But do you ever wonder why dogs bring us their toys? Is it just out of happiness or is there something else going on?

Today we’re going to take a closer look at why dogs bring us their toys and what it means to them.

It might seem like they’re just trying to be cute, but there are good reasons behind it.

Dogs bring their toys to humans as a way of requesting interaction. By bringing us their favourite toy, they’re engaging with us and looking to spend some time playing or similar. It may be when you come home from work or while you’re relaxing but whenever it is your dog is looking for attention. So the next time your dog brings you a toy, take some time to think about what he wants.

Table of Contents

Why does your dog bring you his toys?

Dogs are well-known for bringing their owners toys.

Whether it’s a rubber bone, a stick, a stuffed toy or even an old shoe or slipper, dogs love to share their toys with the people they love.

But why do they do this? What is the purpose of this behaviour?

There are several suggestions about why dogs bring us their toys, and each has its own merits.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these and see which one makes the most sense to you and your dog.

Dogs bring toys as a greeting

You”ll often find that your dog brings a toy or other object when you come home and this is actually their way of greeting you.

Dogs see us as members of their pack and when we leave, it’s like they’re losing a pack member.

When we return, they want to show us that we’re still part of the pack and welcome us back and, as well as the wagging tail and excitement that they show, they will often bring us a toy as part of their greeting.

Dogs use toys to get our attention

Sometimes dogs will bring a toy to a human when they want something from them.

This could be because they’re bored, hungry or just want some attention.

By bringing us their favourite toy, they know that they’re likely to get our focus and hopefully whatever it is they were after.

Dogs need mental stimulation

Dogs are very intelligent creatures and need mental stimulation just as much as physical activity.

Playing with their toys is one way dogs can keep their minds active and sharp.

So, if your dog seems to be bringing you their toy more often than usual, it could be a sign that they’re bored and in need of some extra mental stimulation.

This is especially important for dogs who are left alone for long periods of time as they can become easily bored and frustrated.

If you think your dog might be bored, try increasing the difficulty of their toys or adding new ones to their collection.

You could also try teaching them some new tricks or taking them to a doggy playgroup where they can socialise and have fun with other dogs.

Your dog brings you toys out of respect

Often you’ll find that your dog will bring one of his toys and leave it next to you or at your feet.

This is actually a sign of respect and shows that they see you as the leader of the pack.

They’re essentially showing you that they recognise your status and are offering you their toy as a sign of respect.

He wants to play with you

Of course, sometimes dogs just want to play and have some fun.

And what better way to do that than with their favourite human?

By bringing you their toy, they’re inviting you to join in the fun and spend some quality time together.

Your dog is showing off

Dogs can and do ‘show off’.

Known as ‘parading’ this happens more often than many people realise.

Dogs will often bring their toys and stay at a ‘safe’ distance so you cannot get the toy.

Whenever you move closer he will back away, staying out of arm’s reach so that you cannot get it.

This is often accompanied by the dog walking around, showing the toy off with his head held high – hence the term parading.

The key reason for your dog doing this is that he wants your attention and, by keeping his distance and you ‘chasing’ him, he has achieved his mission.