We shall explore this dog behavior in a bid to understand it better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
You’ll also get tips on handling the behavior, possible dangers a dog might face with sticks, and what steps to take to prevent that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Let’s dig in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Dogs and Sticks: Understanding This Behavior in Canines<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Because dogs don’t speak human languages, we can’t get one of them on a popular TV show and interview it to understand why they love sticks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Our only best chance is by studying their behavior, the attraction towards sticks, and what it might mean to them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Not all dog breeds are fond of sticks, though.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Some may give you a weary look if you dangle a piece of wood at their faces. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Others will act like they just won Who wants to be a millionaire?<\/em> and would show signs of restlessness till you do something about it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We see it in movies, at the park, or even in our pet parenting journey.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In many cases, this behavior is harmless. That being said, let’s be sure there are no medical conditions linked to it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Turns out there is a medical condition that could be responsible for your dog’s love for sticks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It is known as pica, though it doesn’t apply to every dog-love-stick<\/em> situation.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What does pica mean?<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to experts<\/a>, it is “a condition in which dogs crave and eat non-food items. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some dogs may only eat one type of object, while others will eat a wide variety of items.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pica can endanger a dog\u2019s health because what they swallow may be toxic, disrupt normal digestive process, or get lodged in their intestinal tract.”\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you find your dog craving to eat socks, rocks, golf balls, and even sticks, you should ensure that it isn’t pica before you get too comfortable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While it isn’t a fatal illness, it can make the dog chomp on an object that would be dangerous.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pica can be caused by a hormonal imbalance and low nutrition. It is diagnosed by the behavior itself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once we’re sure it isn’t pica your dog is struggling with, know that it is pawfectly<\/em> normal for your dog to enjoy having sticks around.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some of the reasons are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Many dogs fetch by instinct, following some of their initial roles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Labrador Retriever, for instance, used to retrieve fish for fishermen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Hunting dogs also see the game of fetch as an expedition. The object is prey and they are the predators.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For others, fetch translates as fun and an opportunity to let out energy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It is one popular physical activity dog owners love, so the dogs enjoy them too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Balls and sticks are the objects often associated with fetch, and they have been used many times for dogs to make the mental connection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Thus, once a human holds a stick, they think of fun. These are the probable reasons dogs fetch sticks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Besides the medical condition we pointed out above, dogs use their mouths to explore the environment the way we do our hands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Just as we feel objects to get accustomed to it, they use their mouths to ‘feel’ things.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Chewing is also helpful to exercise a dog’s mouth. Owners are usually advised to get chew toys to help work the jaw muscles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another obvious reason why dogs chew sticks is that they enjoy them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Chewing is a dog behavior that seems to be fun for them, and sticks might just be another ‘toy’ to play with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Then, there are scents and aromas sticks have that we miss but dogs grasp because of their strong sense of smell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They could also have a taste that dogs enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While it is normal for dogs to eat sticks, it may not always be the safest option. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to the American Kennel Club, sticks can injure<\/a> a dog and cause some damages, much like chewing on soft bones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Related:<\/strong> Let us look into the possible dangers of dogs eating sticks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When dogs eat sticks, they tend to break them into splinters, especially when the stick is soft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n These splinters can stick in a dog’s gum, causing more pain than a splinter in a person’s finger.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The broken splinters can also injure a dog’s throat and digestive system, making it more prone to infections of all kinds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What’s more, sticks are known to sometimes block a dog’s throat, effectively choking it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In addition, some sticks are poisonous when they come from toxic woods like cherry trees and yew.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n These sticks could also have fungi or bacteria that would make your dog sick.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It is safe for a dog to play with sticks, but not to chew on them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you discover your pooch chomping on a stick, here are ways to stop it:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sticks are light and easy to carry, so dogs seem to find them convenient to hold in their mouth. It may also be a prize to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dogs love to chew many things, including sticks.<\/p>\n That said, chewing sticks have some disadvantages to a dog and may cause some injuries. They shouldn’t chew sticks.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dogs like the smell of sticks and the taste of it. They also see sticks as an opportunity to play because sticks are readily available for their owners to throw.<\/p>\n For these reasons, some dogs like sticks even more than their toys.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are crazy about sticks for many reasons, the most compelling one being that it is fun.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n It is a normal doggy behavior for your pooch to be fascinated by sticks, and you might have contributed to that by throwing a stick around and asking it to fetch. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Though not universal to every dog breed, this isn’t a trait that may disappear anytime soon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It can be an advantage as it provides dog owners an opportunity to have fun with their dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We shouldn’t ignore the downsides, though, particularly when a dog eats a stick. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Consult your vet to be sure it isn’t pica, and prevent your dog from putting itself in harm’s way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n These would help keep your furry friend safe and healthy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You May Also Like:<\/strong> There are many similes one can use to compare dogs and sticks. They are like 5 and 6, macaroni and cheese, bread and peanut butter, cake and its frosting…you get … Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-behavior"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5558"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5558\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Rule Out Medical Conditions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why Do Dogs Like Sticks?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-Carrying-Stick.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Pooches certainly do, and they’re eager for it, especially if they’ve nothing to do all day.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhy Do Dogs Fetch Sticks?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-Playing-Fetch-with-Stick-.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhy Do Dogs Chew on Sticks?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dog-Lying-on-Grass-Chewing-Stick.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIs It Safe for Dogs to Eat Sticks?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u00a0Can Dogs Eat Pork Rib Bones (Raw or Cooked)?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDangers of Dogs Eating Sticks<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Steps to Stop Your Dogs from Eating Sticks (Pro Tips)<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Related Questions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why do dogs like to carry sticks?<\/h3>\n
Is it OK for dogs to chew on sticks?<\/h3>\n
Why does my dog like sticks more than toys?<\/h3>\n
Why is my dog obsessed with sticks?<\/h3>\n
Bottom Line<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why Do Dogs Roll In Dead Animals? Science Explains<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"