Canine animals could have typical symptoms of obsessive behaviors such as a person may present.
A study carried out by researchers from the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine revealed that some dogs can develop obsessive behaviors towards his toys, similar to human addictions. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, analyzed more than 100 dogs and detected that certain specimens show a extreme hold for their play objects, to the point of ignoring other stimuli, such as food or interaction with their owners.
This phenomenon had not been studied with scientific rigor until now. They only existed anecdotal stories which suggested that some dogs could become overly dependent on their toys.
To carry out the study, the specialists first identified the typical symptoms of behavioral addictions in humanssuch as difficulty controlling impulses or obsession with an object, and then compared those patterns to the animals’ behavior.
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Dogs could develop addictions, according to science
The analysis included 105 dogs between 1 and 10 years old, belonging to breeds such as Malinois, Border Collie and Labrador Retriever. The researchers surveyed their owners about the pets’ daily habits and observed that 33 of the dogs presented behaviors compatible with an addiction.
These animals demonstrated a constant search for his toysthey expressed frustration at not having access to them and they had difficulty calming down even 15 minutes after they were removed.
According to researcher Stefanie Riemer, what distinguishes these dogs is their ability to “attributing excessive importance to their toys”prioritizing them over other rewards, such as food or the affection of their owners.
Although the study does not confirm that dogs can experience addictions in the same sense as humans, it opens a new line of research on compulsive behavior in animals.
Scientists highlight that are still required more studies to understand why some dogs develop these obsessions and how they affect their well-being and their relationship with people. This finding could contribute to improving the understanding of behavioral disorders in pets and, consequently, optimizing their quality of life.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
