Researchers found that some dogs exhibit behavior towards their toys reminiscent of gaming addiction in humans.
The experiment involved 105 dogs. In a special room, the animals were allowed to interact with their favorite toy in the presence of their owner and the experimenter, and then — alone.
Later, the scientists observed how the dogs reacted to the unavailability of the toy while the owner tried to attract their attention.
In the second experiment, the toy was placed in a box, and to distract the dog, a food puzzle was offered.
According to the researchers, 33 animals exhibited behavior similar to addiction. The scientists note that further research is needed to understand the causes and possible consequences of dogs' excessive fascination with toys.
