Scientists suggest ‘ball junkie’ dogs may become addicted to their toys

dogs may show symptoms of Addiction for them toys which are similar to those shown human beings with Gambling Issues, new research has revealed.

some dogsAccording to the researchers, those referred to in the dog training world as “ball junkies” experience an “extreme fixation on the toys”, leading to the development of “addiction-like behavioral symptoms”, including cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Study This is the first time scientists investigated whether dogs can become obsessed with toys kind of similar Behavioral addiction in humans, such as gambling or gaming.

A behavioral addiction in humans has been described by researchers as “the repeated failure to resist an impulse, drive, or urge to perform an action that is beneficial to the individual, at least in the short term, despite long-term harm to the individual or others”.

The scientists conducted their research on 105 dogs, which their owners described as particularly interested in the sport, consisting of 56 males and 49 females, ranging in age from one to ten years and belonging to different breeds.

The animals were able to choose their own toy to play with before it was removed. Their behavior was then analyzed using an “addictive-like behavior test”, which found 33 people to have “addictive-like tendencies”.

Study, published in journal scientific reportdiscovered “similarities between excessive toy motivation and human behavioral addictions in dogs”.

It is hoped that the findings will “provide fundamental insights and propose future research directions that have the potential to significantly deepen our understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying behavioral addictions across species”.

Researchers from the University of Bern and the Veterinary University of Vienna, told many times,[Addictive behaviours] This includes focusing excessively on its toy, showing a lack of interest in alternatives to its toy such as food or playing with its owner, making persistent attempts to reach its toy when it is unavailable, and not being able to calm down for 15 minutes after all toys have been removed.

However, he said it’s important to note that many dogs like toys but are not addicted to them, and therefore do not have a negative effect on them.

“Some people are excessive gamers, but only a minority would be classified as addicted,” he said. “Similarly, many dogs can thoroughly enjoy playing with toys without developing harmful compulsions.”