7 Reasons Why Do Golden Retrievers Like To Hold Things In Their Mouths?

If you’re wondering, “Why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths?” , you’re not alone.

Does your Golden Retriever like to bring you things in their mouth, and you are curious about why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths?

Golden Retrievers holding things in their mouth is actually quite common as it is formed by their natural behavior.

Goldie, my Golden Retriever, likes to hold things in her mouth, especially her leash. Now, why do dogs hold their leash in their mouth? Well, this is Goldie’s way of telling me that it is time for her daily walk!

Well, read on as I will explore why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths, whether is it normal for my Golden Retriever to hold things in their mouth, and I will also share some useful tips to manage this behavior. 

7 Reasons Why Do Golden Retrievers Like To Hold Things in Their Mouths

1. Natural Behavior

Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters, so it is unsurprising why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths. 

Part of this behavior is due to their “soft-mouthed” trait, meaning they can gently pick up and carry objects, so carrying things in their mouths is second nature.

Golden Retrievers are known for their friendly and tolerant attitude, and your Golden Retriever’s mouthiness is part of their playful nature. You may notice this when they pick up random objects at home or during walks.

Look at what Goldie brought inside the house which she caught. A pigeon!

Even Goldie who is a house dog also retains her roots to retrieve birds. Here she is giving my mom a pigeon that she caught from outside the house.

Even Goldie who is a house dog also retains her roots to retrieve birds. Here she is giving my mom a pigeon that she caught from outside the house.

Solution: Training

Since carrying things in their mouth is their natural behavior, why not redirect this instinct into something more constructive and beneficial? 

For example, train your Golden Retriever to bring you specific items, such as your slippers. 

Read on below to see how Golden Retrievers holding things can be beneficial.

2. Teething

Why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths when teething? Having something in their mouths and chewing relieves them from the discomfort and sore gums.

Your puppy may become more destructive and mouthy due to teething pain.

Also, if you notice your Golden Retriever puppy drooling excessively, don’t panic, as this is normal.

Look at how Goldie loves chewing on her rubber football when she was a teething puppy.

Solution: Teething toys

If your Golden Retriever puppy is holding something in their mouths due to teething, give them rubber teething toys, such as teething rings, to relieve your puppy’s sore gums and teething pains. 

Besides frozen toys, chewable dental treats help soothe their gums.

Here is a pro tip  I used for Goldie’s teething phase: I put her teething toys in the freezer, and she loves having her teething toys cold. 

This prevents your puppy from chewing on something else forbidden, such as your shoes or the edge of your couch.

3. Anxiety

Why do Golden Retrievers hold things in their mouth when they are anxious? Holding their favorite stuffed toy around can comfort them and make them less anxious.

In dogs, anxiety can manifest in various ways, and Golden Retrievers like Goldie are no exception. But why do Golden Retrievers like holding things in their mouths when anxious?

The Comfort Factor

When Goldie is anxious, she often loves to sleep with a blanket and a toy with her.

Her stuffed toy and blanket is a “security blanket and a pacifier” to help her feel more at ease in stressful situations. 

Signs of Anxiety-Related Holding

How do you know if your Golden Retriever likes to hold things in their mouth as a sign that they are using the toy to cope with anxiety? Here are some factors that you can relate to:

• During thunderstorms
• When new people visit
• When in a new environment

Solution: Spend time with them

If you suspect that your Golden Retriever’s habit of holding things in their mouth is anxiety-related, get advice from your vet to can help you manage your Golden Retriever’s anxiety.

Another way to help with their anxiety is to give them lots of cuddles for reassurance and to spend time with them.

4. Possessiveness

Possessiveness is a common behavior among dogs, and also notice why Golden Retrievers carry things in their mouths, especially something they are very attached to. 

Goldie is no exception. Goldie has a favorite stuffed toy that I nickname cow- cow that she often carries around. She loves sitting by the corner of the room, enjoying her toy.

If you think that your dog is possessive over their toy, it is usually not a reason to be concerned unless they show signs of aggressiveness such as:

• Not letting go of the toy when requested
• Growling at other pets or humans while clutching the toy
• Being aggressive towards other dogs that approach while he has the toy
• Hiding or burying the toy
• Showing teeth as a warning to stay away from the toy.

Solution: Training & Socializing

If you observe any of these aggressive behaviors in your dog, get help from a dog behaviorist or engage in obedience training. Training your dog using commands like “drop it” or “leave it” can help them overcome their possessive behavior.

Regular socialization and obedience training can help reduce possessiveness. Always ensure you’re trading up; for example, if you’re taking away a toy, replace it with a treat or another toy.

5. To Seek Attention

Why do Golden Retrievers steal things and carry things such as socks in their mouths to get your attention?

Stealing socks is a way for your Golden Retriever to seek attention because they are bored and want to engage you to play with them. Golden Retrievers get bored because of a lack of exercise or not getting enough cuddles from their owners. 

So, if you see your Golden Retriever holding things in their mouths, they are just enjoying the interactive nature as it can be a form of mental stimulation and play for them.

Solution: Give them attention

Why do Golden Retrievers steal things from you is because they crave your attention.

So make sure you give your Golden Retriever cuddles and the attention they need, so they do not need to steal or howl to get your attention. 

Goldie never fails to steal a cuddle whenever and wherever. Even when we are travelling in the car! Goldie just loves the attention from me.

6. To Give Something to You

Why do Golden Retrievers always have something in their mouth to give to you? 

Goldie loves bringing me her favorite toy as a gift, and I acknowledge it as a sign of her love for me. This behavior is related to her historical background as a retriever trained to fetch and bring waterfowl back to hunters.

When she sees me smiling when she brings me a gift, sometimes I even catch my Golden Retriever smiling back at me. How awesome is that?

So, don’t perceive them bringing you things in their mouth as a nuisance, as Golden Retrievers holding things in their mouth can release endorphins and have a calming effect on them.

Solution: Acknowledge their gesture

The only solution to your Golden Retriever bringing things in their mouths to you is to acknowledge their gesture with a thank you or a treat. 

7. To Bond With You

Golden Retrievers love bonding with their family. So why do Golden Retrievers carry things to their owners? Holding things in their mouth is a way for your Golden Retriever to initiate play and interaction.

Your Golden Retriever brings you something as their way of saying, “Look what I have! Let’s play or spend time together.”

Look at the photo above of how she wants me to play with her. Who can resist those eyes?

Solution: Spend time with them

Play with your Golden Retriever when they bring you a toy, whether it is a short game of fetch or just a moment of cuddling with them.

This gesture gives your Golden Retriever a sense of security so they do not have the urge to run away.

How Golden Retrievers Holding Things In Their Mouth Can Be Beneficial

1. Search And Rescue Dog

Golden Retrievers are known for their instinct to retrieve, so they are often trained as search and rescue dogs.

Here is a real-life example of Bretagne, a Golden Retriever. Bretagne assisted in the search and rescue mission at Ground Zero during the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. 

Here are other examples of how a Golden Retriever can help as a search and rescue dog. 

i. Mountain Rescues

Golden Retrievers can assist in locating lost hikers or injured individuals in mountain rescues due to their sturdy body that was bred as working dogs.

ii. Natural Disasters: 

Golden Retrievers are often part of the first responder teams, sniffing through rubble and debris to find survivors after earthquakes or tornadoes. Their sensitive noses can detect human scent even under layers of wreckage.

iii. Water Rescues

Golden Retrievers are excellent swimmers and help in water rescue operations to locate and save individuals who might have gotten trapped or lost in water bodies.

To Retrieve Evidence

In crime scenes, Golden Retrievers can help locate pieces of evidence due to their retrieving instinct and good sense of smell.

2. Assistance Dog

Golden Retrievers can be great mobility assistance dogs for people with mobility impairments because of their natural behavior to hold and retrieve things with their mouths. 

Some tasks often involve using their mouths:

• Fetch items for their owners, such as remote controls, phones, or medications.
• Open and close doors using adapted handles.
• Pull wheelchairs or support their owner to stand up or stabilize themselves.
• Retrieve dropped items

Here is a touching true story of Fiona and her Golden Retriever, Mr. Wiz, and how Mr. Wiz helps Fiona, who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), in her daily tasks like picking up things that drop with his mouth for Fiona.

FAQ On Why Do Golden Retrievers Like To Hold Things In Their Mouths

Why Do Golden Retrievers Like Socks?

Golden Retrievers like socks because they were bred as hunting dogs to retrieve waterfowl and have the instinct to carry things. Golden Retrievers steal socks because they are soft and easy to pick up and carry, like birds.

Pica could also be a contributing factor caused by mental health conditions such as boredom, depression, or anxiety due to lack of exercise or mental stimulation.

Why Does My Golden Retriever Carry Around Stuffed Animals?

Golden Retrievers carry around stuffed animals like a security blanket that acts as a companion. 

Golden Retrievers love to play and spend time with their owners, so make sure to spend quality time with them so they do not get bored. Why Golden Retrievers are the worst dogs because they turn destructive and hyper when they lack attention.

Why Does My Dog Carry Food In Her Mouth Away From Her Bowl And Eat It On My Rug?

Your dog carries food in her mouth away from her bowl and eats it on the rug because of their natural instinct and behavior, and may not even be aware of their behavior. 

Your dog instinctively takes food from its source and brings it to a place they consider a “safe” spot to eat it. 

The rug acts as a grassy area, and the legs of the furniture feel like the trees in the jungle, which makes them feel secure. 

Why Does My Dog Hold His Treat In His Mouth

It is common to see your dog hold his treat in his mouth. Here are some reasons for this behavior.

• As a natural response to being rewarded
• To please their owners
• To prevent the treat from being stolen
• To keep the treat fresh
• To show affection
• To show off

Why Do Golden Retrievers Pick Up Objects With Their Mouths When Their Owners Come Home?

Golden Retrievers pick up objects with their mouths when their owners come home as a way to welcome their owners home. 

Goldie’s favorite object to greet me at home is her favorite squeaky cow soft toy. Golden Retriever’s favorite toys are soft or squeaky, possibly due to their natural instinct and her “soft-mouthed” trait.

Conclusion

Golden Retrievers owners often ask, “Why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths?”

This behavior, deeply rooted in their history as retrievers, is a blend of instinct, playfulness, and purpose. 

Whether it is your Golden Retriever playfully holding their leash asking you for a walk or assisting in crucial tasks, this trait is a testament to their versatile and loving nature. 

I hope my article above helps you understand why do Golden Retrievers like to hold things in their mouths. Do share this article with any of your friends who have Golden Retrievers with this behavior.