New toy and whining

[Cash_Dolly]

My little whippet boy loves all toys and is the most playful dog I have ever owned! He gets so excited when I bring new toys home. A couple of weeks ago I brought them some new toys home (as I often do) and he has taken a real shine to one of them! He will literally carry it about everywhere in the house (though still prefers his ball on a walk) and won't even put it down to sleep! I actually have videos of him dozing off with it in his mouth! He also regularly lies with it (in his mouth) and whines. At first I thought it was because he wanted to play (as Dolly isn't as playful) but when I went to wrestle a bit with it with him like we do with any other toy he wasn't interested....he seemed quite happy just to lie there and whine. At first I was worried there was something wrong but he is perfectly happy in general...eating, walking, stealing food and being his general cheeky little self! And he walks about wagging his tail quite happily when he has it.

Anyone got any ideas and should I worry?

 

[Biker John]

My Whippet has one toy that is never played with but she often lies down with it holding it gently in her mouth and yes she makes a quiet whine. I take it its like a comfort thing to her. All the other toys get played with, chewed and thrown around but that soft rabbit never.

 

[JoanneF]

No idea. But if it makes him happy, then

- good ?

 

[gypsysmum2]

I wonder if he loves it so much he is "protecting" it from being stolen/lost?

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Has your whippet always done it Biker John or is it a new thing?

I'm thinking that Joanne, I just wanted to check it wasn't an obvious sign of some kind of distress. The whining makes him sound sad but everything else about him says "I'm happy" I read online somewhere that the whining can be because he wants to bury it to keep it safe but there is nowhere to bury it so he just keeps it with him!

It does seem to point towards that gypseys Mum

 

[Biker John]

She has done it since that toy rabbit first came into the house about three years now, and with her gentle treatment of it its lasted longer than any other toys have. I'm sure she would miss it if I took it away.