It’s an undeniable fact that dogs love walks, and they often go crazy for it. For our pets, this is often the only time that they get to go outside and play, and interact with other humans and pets. But during these walks, it is inevitable that your dog will end up with a stick or a branch. So why is that?
We’ve all come across images of dogs carrying sticks either on the internet or in our daily lives. Sometimes, the sticks that the dogs are carrying are nearly twice the size of the dog itself. While it definitely makes for an adorable picture, have you ever wondered why?
Well, dogs are naturally curious. They love to engage with different sights, sounds and smells, especially those that they have never encountered before. Thus, when you take your dog for a normal walk around the neighbourhood, they are inundated with an overwhelming amount of new smells, sounds, and views. Given their curious nature, these new senses will no doubt peak their interest.
But Why Sticks?
Given the overwhelming number of things in nature, why do dogs gravitate toward sticks as their natural toy of choice? Well, it might be because they come in different shapes and sizes. Regardless of the size, the age, or the breed of your dog, there is a stick that will suit their preference. Regardless of the size and type of the stick, your dog will always tend to choose a stick that is able to sit comfortably in its mouth. In fact, you may have actually noticed that your dog tends to search for sticks with a similar size and shape every single time.
While most dogs choose a stick based on how comfortable that stick sits in their mouth, other dogs may see this as a challenge and try to drag the biggest stick that they can find.
So Where Did This Habit Originate?
The short answer to this question is that we don’t quite know why dogs love to search for sticks, or where this love came from. However, there are a number of theories out there that try to explain why.
The first theory is that the stick foraging habit is based on the dog’s ancestral instincts. Millenniums ago, dogs assisted with the hunting and foraging of food. And after a countless number of generations, it seems like this instinct is still in the DNA of our little best friends.
Another hypothesis is that the sticks remind them of their favourite bone or chew toy they had growing up. Thus, they associate the stick with their favourite toy.
Others believe that the stick acts as a reward for your dog after a long walk. Your dog may believe that he/she ‘earned’ the stick after a long walk. Or maybe your dog just wants to show off its strength by holding such a big and heavy object.
No matter the reason, you should continue to let your dog search and carry sticks as long as it keeps them happy. Besides, the soft, wooden texture of the sticks is perfect for your puppy to gnaw and sink their teeth into. However, you should refrain your dog from chewing on the stick. Due to the brittle nature of most sticks, chewing on them can be dangerous for the oral health of your dog. Especially if they break apart into small pieces and splinters, which can injure the inside of their mouth.
