WHY DO DOGS LIKE STICKS

I’m ready to wager that we’ve all seen a dog playing fetch with a stick or a big old branch like it’s the premier league trophy. Like ducks and water, we assume that dogs will enjoy playing with a stick, but we rarely stop to consider why.

While why is it that none of our other pets show even the slightest interest in sticks, but dogs love them? Let’s investigate your dog’s peculiar fascination with sticks and investigate all the various “twiggy” that can explain your dog’s irrational adoration of tree limbs.

WHY DO DOGS LIKE STICKS?

Nothing short of communicating with dogs or reading their minds can ever reveal why they are so fond of sticks. When it comes to twigs, some dogs couldn’t care less, while others would go absolutely bonkers if they got their paws on the largest twig they could find. What’s the deal with dogs and sticks, then?

It has been hypothesized that this is due to the similarity between the shape of a stick and a human skeleton. The only similarity is their length. Even while sticks don’t have the same texture or flavor as bones, they may nevertheless help your dog satisfy its innate drive to hunt.

It’s possible kids see them as prizes given to them because of the way they carry them about. Your dog has been patiently prowling the park, preparing to pounce once they find the ideal stick. It’s possible that they’re just acting on their own inclination to hunt and play with whatever they can find, and because sticks are easy to come by in most parks, this could be the case.

It’s possible canines’ fondness for sticks is also teachable. When we go for walks with our dogs, we typically bring a stick to toss for them to retrieve. Your dog will quickly learn that bringing you a good stick increases the likelihood that you will play a game with them, and he or she will begin seeking for sticks independently.

The most convincing reason why dogs adore sticks is that, to your dog, sticks equal fetch, which equals fun.

To satisfy their natural instinct to play, dogs can and will make anything interesting enough to play with. Your dog will likely find the heft and weight of a stick to be satisfying in the hand. It’s no surprise that dogs come to enjoy the twiggy toys their owners throw for them.

WHY DO DOGS CARRY STICKS?

Carrying objects can be a compulsion for some dogs, while for others it’s all about the weight and sensation of having something in their mouth. When your dog learns that the sight of a stick equals a game of fetch, it will do its best to guard its new toy from your further play.

Your dog, like you, may have been fastidious in their search for the ideal walking stick, and once they’ve found one they like, they may refuse to let go of it.

Can you tell me why my dog always seems to have sticks on him?

Inquiring minds want to know why Fido always seems to be armed with a stick.
Dogs like the Labrador Retriever and the Springer Spaniel were developed specifically for the task of retrieving game. Fetching and carrying objects like twigs is a natural behavior for these dogs because they were developed specifically to inherit the desire to do so for their people.

In some cases, your dog may be saving a stick for later chewing. Dogs have a natural urge to chew, and they find it comforting and relaxing to do so on toys, but you shouldn’t give your dog sticks to nibble on.

WHY DO DOGS FETCH STICKS?

If you’re wondering why canines enjoy sticks, here’s a good reason. That’s why we use sticks to play fetch. Then why do dogs go and get sticks?

Dogs will fetch a stick because they are naturally playful animals and because sticks can serve as a good substitute for more expensive toys. You probably already know that if your dog brings you a stick on a walk, you should throw it. This reinforces the behavior and teaches your dog the value of the stick as a toy.

As was previously said, several dog breeds were originally developed to assist humans in the pursuit and retrieval of game. Because dogs have been used to assist humans hunt for thousands of years, they all have a natural tendency to run after and catch everything that moves.

Your dog’s natural instincts to chase and retrieve can be satisfied while they burn off some steam and have some fun when playing fetch. Your dog will have a lot of fun playing fetch with you, and in exchange, you will get lots of quality time together and maybe even some praise. Maybe you don’t reward them with a treat when they bring you a stick, but I bet you pet them and throw the stick again after they bring it back.

Your dog will associate you playing with them, praising them, and giving them treats as positive reinforcement for their obedience when they fetch sticks.

If your dog has ever picked up a stick, you’ve probably taken it away and started a game of fetch with them, or at the very least, you’ve probably picked up a stick and thrown it across the park. Your dog will quickly pick up on the fact that you reward them with treats whenever they return the stick to you.

Not to mention, just like when we humans engage in competitive games or sports, playing fetch is incredibly satisfying. Dogs play “fetch” because it’s a game they enjoy and one that requires little in the way of equipment or time commitment. It’s no surprise your dog constantly wanting to initiate a game of fetch, after all!

IS IT SAFE FOR DOGS TO PLAY WITH STICKS?

Dogs can play with sticks without worry so long as they don’t get the idea to gnaw on them or consume them. Few things are as natural as a dog bringing you a stick, and there’s no harm in using a stick as a makeshift toy while you’re on your walk.

Stick-playing can be a lot of fun, but sometimes it turns ugly. In addition to the problems connected with swallowing sticks (which I will discuss below), your dog can inflict harm on themselves by puncturing their own skin.

The dog is running and stumbling with a stick in its mouth or body, which causes an amputation. The risk of injury to your dog is much reduced when you “stick” to using a dog toy instead.

WHY DO DOGS EAT STICKS?

Your animal pet is probably fond of carrying sticks because they can use their mouths like hands. From firm and sturdy wood to that half-rotten variety that crumbles in your hands, these twig toys have it all.

Dogs have no aversion to chewing, and they often use their toys to exercise their jaw muscles, relieve pain in their gums and teeth, and just for fun. Sticks are treated here as though they were simply another “toy” to gnaw on.

The aroma of the tree, dirt, perhaps a bird that has rested on it, or perhaps the scent of another dog who has carried it are just some of the many scents that a stick must convey that we humans cannot detect but which your dog adores. Sticks provide a dog with a plethora of new and exciting olfactory, gustatory, and tactile experiences.

IS EATING STICKS BAD FOR DOGS?

Even if it’s a frequent and normal behavior, it’s not good for your furry companion to eat sticks. Some dogs may unintentionally or purposefully ingest wood splinters while chewing, even though the vast majority will vomit them out.

Your poor dog may have a lot of trouble if one of these splinters makes it inside of him. Imagine the pain of a splinter in your dog’s gums, because we all know how much it hurts to get a splinter in our fingers.

Additionally, they risk harm and infection from splinters and shattered wood puncturing or scratching their throat and digestive tract. There’s also the risk that these splinters will cause a blockage in your dog’s esophagus or stomach, requiring veterinary surgery to remedy.

If your dog prefers to chew on sticks rather than chase or carry them, you should either remove the stick from their reach or distract them with another toy before they try to break it apart. Even if it’s the last thing you want to do, protecting your dog from harm and avoiding unpleasant, costly trips to the vet is the responsible thing to do.

Dogs shouldn’t be allowed to chew on sticks, but you can keep them from getting hurt by switching them out for something like a ball. That way, Fido can play fetch, carry things, and chew without fear of splinters.

SOME STICKS ARE POTENTIALLY POISONOUS

There may also be dangers associated with eating sticks, depending on the type of tree they originated from. Your dog could get sick from chewing on a stick from any number of trees native to the United Kingdom. These include the yew, beech, horse chestnut, apple, and cherry trees.

Sticks and branches that have been lying about for a while, regardless of the species of wood they were originally cut from, may be home to a variety of fungi and bacteria. This is usually not an issue as long as your dog stays away from them, but any dog should be kept away from sticks as a snack.