15/04/2026
When a dog picks something up during greetings, it’s not “stealing” or being naughty.
It’s a predictable response to increased arousal.
Guardian comes home → arousal spikes → behaviour needs an outlet.
Grabbing an item becomes that outlet.
From a behaviour standpoint, this is typically displacement behaviour: a functional response that helps the dog manage emotional intensity.
You’ll often see:
• increased movement
• object carrying
• inability to stay still
Over time, this becomes a rehearsed pattern; especially if it’s been repeated or gets a reaction.
So the goal isn’t to stop the behaviour entirely.
It’s to make it more appropriate.
Set the dog up:
• have items available near entry points
• reinforce picking up appropriate objects
• keep greetings low-key and predictable
Does your dog do this too? 🫶🏻
