SOME dogs can become so attached to a particular toy, ball, or food that they display behaviours that would be associated with addiction, like gambling or gaming in humans.
A study completed by a group of Veterinarians at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, with 105 dogs found when certain dogs were deprived of their toy or ball they became so fixated on what they had lost that their blood pressure increased, they became anxious and ignored everything else.
This behaviour is described as a compulsive engagement with a specific activity regardless of any negative deterrents.
Before this study there were only anecdotal evidence to suggest that dogs have addictive like behaviours towards items that was similar to human addictions.
This phenomenon is commonly called ‘ball freak’ or ‘frisbee junkie’.
The most obsessive breeds being working line Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds and Border Collies.
Toy obsessed dogs displayed increased levels of frustration and they had very little self-control, even in a cool-down period when the obsession article had been removed for 15 minutes, dogs remained aroused.
Blood pressure and heart rate remained elevated and they kept on focusing on the door from which the article was removed.
It seems dog addiction is directly related to Dopamine, (as in human addiction) a hormone that plays a crucial role in the brains reward and motivation system.
It is released during pleasurable activities and reinforces behaviour.
Different dog breeds and individuals can experience dopamine release in different ways.
For some it will a ball, others food, following a scent or chasing moving prey.
Some dog behaviours may be unwanted, but we need to understand that dogs have been bred to have these drives.
Dog addiction only becomes a problem when the dog becomes so obsessed his attention cannot be broken, or he becomes possessive and will avoid his human in preference, or whining or barking for the object.
Many dog fights occur this way.
There needs to be a clear start and finish with words; being able to leave the ball or toy is rewarded either with a treat, praise or another throw.
Doing this regularly and the dog will come to understand verbal and non-verbal cues.
