Buddy, a five-year-old chocolate toy poodle, begins signaling for his Greenie every evening at 7:30 and becomes excited until the treat is placed in his mouth. Before eating, Buddy often places the Greenie on a favorite stuffed toy, watches over it for about ten seconds, then consumes it. Comparable behaviors occur in other dogs, often involving high-value treats and beloved objects. Possible explanations include desire for companionship with the toy, an offering or sharing ritual, or a developed habit. Several homes report squirrels tearing seat cushions and umbrellas and approaching front porches, creating a need for prevention solutions.
The key to all those reports and Buddy's actions is that they involved a high-value treat and a beloved object. The why isn't as clear, but it is likely that Buddy is so pleased with his treat that he wants to enjoy it in the company of something he also puts high value on. It's also possible that Buddy loves his stuffy so much that he wants to share his favorite treat and offers it to the stuffed animal first.
He can hardly contain his excitement until it is placed securely in his mouth and then he is off to enjoy his favorite treat. However, most evenings he makes one stop before consuming the treat. He takes it and gently places it on his stuffed sleep toy, or another favorite toy, watches over it for about 10 seconds, then, and only then, happily enjoys his treat.
Collection
[
|
...
]