Behavioral Addiction in Dogs: New Research Identifies Compulsive Toy-Seeking Patterns
A landmark study published in Scientific Reports provides the first scientific framework for identifying and understanding addictive-like behaviors toward toys in dogs—with implications for behavioral medicine and welfare assessment.
While canine compulsive disorders have long been recognized in veterinary behavioral medicine, a new study by Riemer, Mazzini, and colleagues breaks new ground by applying behavioral addiction criteria to toy-related behaviors in dogs. The findings suggest that what clients often describe as "ball obsession" or "being toy crazy" may, in some cases, represent a clinically significant behavioral pattern worthy of veterinary attention.
Study Design and Methodology
The research team evaluated 105 dogs (56 male, 49 female) aged 12 months to 10 years, with high representation of working breeds including Malinois (n=18), Border Collies (n=9), and Labrador Retrievers (n=9). All subjects were owner-identified as highly toy-motivated.
The study employed a dual approach:
Direct behavioral observation during controlled toy interaction and removal scenarios
Owner surveys documenting everyday toy-related behaviors
Critically, researchers adapted diagnostic criteria for human behavioral addictions—including loss of control, continued engagement despite negative consequences, and withdrawal-like symptoms—to create an evidence-based framework for canine assessment.
Clinical Findings
Approximately 31% of subjects (n=33) exhibited behavioral patterns consistent with addiction-like toy engagement. Key diagnostic indicators included:
Compulsive seeking behavior: Persistent, intense efforts to access toys when unavailable, superseding normal behavioral priorities including feeding and social interaction with owners.
Failure to habituate: Subjects remained in heightened arousal states for >15 minutes post-toy removal, unable to return to baseline behavioral states.
Disrupted motivational hierarchy: These dogs consistently prioritized toy access over primary reinforcers (food) and social engagement, suggesting altered reward processing.
Object fixation: Excessive focus on specific toys with inability to redirect attention to alternative stimuli or activities.
Clinical Implications
Differential Diagnosis Considerations:
These findings add nuance to our understanding of canine compulsive spectrum disorders. While traditional canine compulsive disorder (CCD) typically manifests as repetitive motor behaviors (tail chasing, flank sucking, light chasing), this research suggests that object-directed compulsions may represent an underrecognized presentation.
Breed Predisposition:
The overrepresentation of working and herding breeds in the affected cohort (particularly Malinois and Border Collies) aligns with known breed predispositions to compulsive behaviors. However, whether this represents genetic vulnerability, environmental factors related to breed-typical management, or gene-environment interactions remains unclear.
Welfare Assessment:
The study raises important questions about welfare impacts. Dogs displaying these behaviors showed:
Disrupted feeding behavior and social bonding
Prolonged stress responses (extended arousal post-toy removal)
Potential for injury through overexertion (owner-reported)
These findings suggest that what owners may view as "high drive" or desirable working motivation could, in some cases, represent behavioral pathology requiring intervention.
Clinical Management Considerations
While the study does not propose treatment protocols, the findings suggest several clinical considerations:
Client education: Practitioners should help clients distinguish between healthy play drive and compulsive patterns. Warning signs include inability to disengage from toys, prioritizing toys over food, and extended agitation after play sessions.
Behavioral modification: Standard approaches to CCD—including environmental enrichment, response substitution, and controlled exposure protocols—may warrant investigation for toy-directed compulsions.
Pharmacological considerations: Given the parallel to human behavioral addictions and traditional CCD, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have a role, though this requires further research.
Activity management: For working and sport dogs, the findings suggest the need for balanced training approaches that don't inadvertently reinforce compulsive patterns.
Research Gaps and Future Directions
The authors appropriately note significant questions requiring further investigation:
Etiology: What genetic, developmental, and environmental factors contribute to these behaviors?
Welfare impact: Do these patterns cause measurable stress, compromise quality of life, or predispose to other behavioral pathologies?
Intervention efficacy: What behavioral and pharmacological approaches effectively manage these patterns?
Neurobiological mechanisms: Do affected dogs show altered reward pathway function similar to human behavioral addictions?
Clinical Bottom Line
This research provides veterinarians with a validated framework for recognizing and discussing potentially problematic toy-related behaviors with clients. When dogs display persistent toy-seeking despite interference with feeding, social behavior, or normal activity patterns, practitioners should consider behavioral consultation rather than dismissing these patterns as breed-typical enthusiasm.
As our understanding of canine behavioral medicine continues to evolve, this study reminds us that compulsive behaviors may manifest in unexpected ways. The "ball-obsessed" Border Collie in your waiting room may not just be highly driven—they may need help.
Reference: Riemer, S., Mazzini, A., et al. (2025). Addiction-like behaviors toward toys in dogs. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-18636-0
