Does your dog refuse to sleep without his favorite toy?

A new study aims to determine whether dogs create an emotional attachment to toys in the same way as young children with blankets and stuffed animals.

Researchers from Bristol University Veterinary University and the School of Psychological Sciences will examine the behavior of a wide range of dogs during work.

Some breeds of dogs are thought to be more likely than others to bond with objects such as toys and bedding.

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Bristol researchers will examine the behavior of a wide range of dogs for work. It is thought that some dog breeds might be more likely than others to form attachments.

Professor Bruce Hood, of the Faculty of Psychological Sciences at the University of Bristol, said he was "fascinated" by the subject.

"We are conducting the first survey of this behavior to see how widespread it is and to determine whether certain races have particular traits or not," said Professor Hood.

"We have an badumption that some races will have stronger attachments than others.

"We would like to hear as many dog ​​owners as possible – we need thousands of people to do a detailed badysis."

Previous research has estimated about 60% the number of Western children who bond with soft toys and blankets.

Studies in the Far East have reported much lower levels.

All children do not create emotional attachment to soft toys. A recent study showed that it was both gene and environment.

Some breeds of dogs are thought to be more likely than others to bond with objects such as toys and bedding.

"Some dogs have toys in their routines, others have been bred to be salvagers," added Professor Hood.

& # 39; This study concerns all object-related behaviors. We will also study other factors such as the dog's sleep pattern.

"It's not just dogs tied to a toy, we have to include all the variations."

Dr. Emily Blackwell, Director of Animal Health at the Bristol Veterinary School, said the owners had anecdotally reported that their dogs were attached to specific items.

"This study is the first large-scale systematic investigation of the phenomenon," said Dr. Blackwell.

"The findings will provide fascinating insights into the changing social behavior of dogs and their owners."