Why dogs always greet people with a toy or present in their mouth explained

If you've ever owned an excitable dog, you're probably been greeted at the front door with some kind of present, whether it be a toy, a shoe, or even a pillow.

Plenty of people excuse the behaviour as an invitation to play, but it's actually something much cuter than that.

A video posted to TikTok recently has been shared around by pet owners, receiving many “aws” and “we don't deserve dogs” in response.

Watch the video above

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The video explained that the common behaviours is known as “excitement displacement.”

Basically, when you or a guest arrives at the front door, sometimes dogs can get so overwhelmed with excitement they need to put that energy into something else.

“They are so overwhelmed with excitement or emotion, they attempt to calm, distract or relax themselves,” read the text over the adorable clip.

Certified dog trainer Five by Five Canine gave their own explanation, saying that displacement behaviours occur “when your dog is having really big feelings and chooses to put those feelings into an out of context behaviour.”

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Just like humans, dogs need an outlet for their overwhelming emotions, and while them bringing you a dirty shoe when you get home from work may not be the most exciting thing in the world, it's one of the better options.

Other ways dogs are known to express their overwhelming feelings is by behaviours such as jumping or barking. We'll take a dirty shoe any day.

Dr. Stanley Coren, who specialises in the psychology and behaviour of dogs, said that sometimes when a dog gets really excited, grabbing a toy can be the only option they have to calm themselves and release some emotions.

But he also offered up another adorable explanation.

Dr. Coren said that it can be as simple as your dog brining you something that makes them happy because they love you and hope it has the same effect.

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”At one point when I had my first cavalier, Wizard, I had a major illness,” he told The Farmer's Dog Digest.

“I was bed-bound for a while, and at one point I woke up to find that Wiz, who—the only thing in the world he was possessive about was his toys—had very carefully laid three of his favorite toys on my chest while I was sleeping.

“I always considered that sort of a mark of affection.”

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