Why dogs shake their toys
Dogs’ wild ancestors, wolves, would grab a prey in their mouth and shake aggressively from side-to-side until it was dead.
The faster the kill, the quicker the dinner.
When your dog shakes their toy, they mimic the action wolves use to kill small prey.
But make no mistake! This doesn’t mean your pup is aggressive! Even thought their roots lie in hunting for survival, most canines like to shake their toys because it's fun.
You see, without access to birds and rodents, today's domesticated dogs save what's left of their predatory nature for fun.
It's why golden retrievers fetch balls. Your pet just can't help but shake their stuffed animal like the predators they once were.
And remember, dogs may also shake toys out of boredom or frustration. This is most common in dogs left alone for long periods of time or those with severe separation anxiety.
