Seeing a dog with their squeaky toy is like seeing a kid in a candy shop. If you have ever witnessed a dog viciously biting and swinging a squeaky toy around, you might have wondered what causes this infatuation. Nowadays, just about every dog toy has some for of squeaker in it to stimulate your dog. In this article, we are going to cover the main reasons why dog toy manufacturer put squeakers in dog toys. 

Why do dog toys have squeakers in them?

The 3 main reasons that dog toys have squeakers are:

1) The squeaker simulates small prey:

While it may be hard to imagine your domesticated dog as vicious hunting carnivore, it is important to know that for 98% of their existence, dog’s have been wild hunters. Dog’s prey were typically smaller mammals and rodents. These rodents, like squirrels and mice, typically make a loud squeaking sound when  they feel threatened. Therefore, it is in a dog’s natural instinct to get excited (and sometime aggressive) when they hear the squeaker sound in a toy. You should be happy that at least it is not a really animal.

2) The squeaker acts as a reward

While it might be hard to understand, dog’s are always searching for methods of gratification. Sometimes, even the simple pat on the head (or in this case the squeaking of a toy), makes them feel accomplished. For some dogs, the squeaking of the toy emulates an owner saying “Good boy!”

3) The squeaker is a way to communicate with owner or other dogs

While dog’s certainly have their own methods of communication, the squeaker in a toy is a great way for them to get the attention of their owner or another dog. If a dog is feeling neglected, or maybe just wants someone to play with, they may excessively squeak the toy to get your attention. 

Conclusion

While you may get tired of hearing the constant sound of a squeaker in your dog toy, you should be rest assured that your dog is having a great time. It is important to know that dog squeakers have different levels of squeakiness. If you are getting annoyed of the loud squeaking of a dog toy, we recommend visiting your local pet store and finding a squeaky dog toy that has a lower sound pitch. A great alternative to a squeaky dog toy is a small, tough peace of rope.