Why Does My Dog Steal Toys From the Other Dog? Georgie and Teddy Explained

Last Tuesday Georgie ate my sock and acted like I’d wronged him when I took it back. He’s usually pretty good about leaving my laundry alone, but I guess a rogue sock is just too tempting for a miniature wolf trapped in a Morkie’s body. Anyway, you asked about Teddy always stealing Georgie’s toys. Oh man, do I have experience with this. It’s like a daily drama in our house, a tiny, fluffy, surprisingly aggressive drama.

It’s Not Always About Dominance, But Sometimes It Is

Okay, so first off, everyone online, every article, every single “dog expert” will immediately jump to “dominance.” And sometimes, yeah, that’s what it is. Teddy is bigger than Georgie, and he absolutely knows it. Georgie, bless his little cotton socks, thinks he’s a 90lb German Shepherd. He’ll strut around with a toy, look at Teddy like, “Try me,” and then Teddy just ambles over, takes the toy, and walks away. Georgie will look shocked, then let out a frustrated little bark, then eventually go find something else to chew on. But it’s not always this clear cut. Sometimes Teddy just wants what Georgie has because Georgie has it. Like a toddler. If Georgie’s playing with a ball, Teddy suddenly NEEDS that specific ball, even if there are identical balls all over the floor.

Possession Is 9/10ths of the Law (According to Teddy)

One thing I learned the hard way is that simply buying more toys doesn’t solve the problem. I tried it! I went full-on crazy dog mom at Petco. I bought two of everything. Two Kong Extreme dog toys (the black ones, because Georgie destroys anything less), two of those crinkly fox toys he loves, two identical tennis balls. My reasoning was, “If they both have the same thing, there’s no need to steal, right?” Wrong. So, so wrong. Teddy would still go for Georgie’s toy. Even if his own identical toy was right next to him. It’s like a weird power play. Georgie could be gnawing on his Kong, completely absorbed, and Teddy would just stroll over, sniff it, then gently (or not so gently) nudge Georgie out of the way and take it. Georgie would protest, but Teddy just ignores him. He acts like Georgie is being unreasonable for even having the toy in the first place. Georgie would huff and puff, then go find Teddy’s now-abandoned Kong and start chewing on that one, glaring at Teddy the whole time. It’s ridiculous.

The “No More Yours, No More Mine” Strategy

What actually helped a little bit, surprisingly, was making toys less “theirs” and more “ours.” We used to have separate toy bins. Georgie’s was a little fabric bin in the living room, Teddy’s was a bigger one by his bed. Guess what? Teddy would still go into Georgie’s bin and “shop” for toys. So I got rid of the separate bins and got one giant toy basket, the Paws & Pals Collapsible Dog Toy Storage Container, Large, for about $20 on Amazon. It’s a big, open basket, so it’s easy for them to both access it. This didn’t stop the stealing entirely, because again, sometimes it’s about what the other dog HAS, not what’s available. But it did cut down on the initial “mine vs. yours” territorial vibes. Now, if Georgie goes to the basket and pulls out a toy, Teddy might still try to take it, but it feels less like a transgression to him than raiding Georgie’s personal stash. Georgie still thinks he’s a supreme overlord, so he’ll try to guard the entire basket sometimes, which is hilarious because he’s like 12 pounds.

Intervention and Distraction

Honestly, a lot of it comes down to active management. I used to let them just sort it out, thinking “they’re dogs, they’ll figure it out.” They did, but Georgie was always the one getting the short end of the stick. So now, if I see Teddy heading for Georgie’s toy with that look in his eye, I intervene. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling Teddy’s name and giving him a different toy. “Hey Teddy, look at this!” and throw him a ball. He usually gets distracted. Other times, if Georgie has something he’s really invested in, like a bully stick (we get the Best Bully Sticks Odor-Free Standard Bully Sticks, 6-inch, from Chewy – worth the money for the lack of smell), I’ll put a baby gate between them, or put Georgie in his crate with it so he can enjoy it in peace. He loves his crate; it’s his sanctuary. The Frisco Fold & Carry Double Door Dog Crate, 24-inch, from Chewy for about $40 is perfect for him.

Understanding Georgie’s Outrage

Georgie has opinions on everything. He has opinions on squirrels, on the mailman, on me taking too long to get his breakfast. So when Teddy steals his toy, it’s not just a minor inconvenience for Georgie, it’s a personal insult. He’ll bark, he’ll stomp his little feet, he’ll even try to bite Teddy’s ear (which Teddy just tolerates with a sigh). He doesn’t understand why I don’t immediately step in and restore justice. He looks at me like, “Mom, are you seeing this egregious violation of my property rights?” So, I’ve had to teach him that it’s okay to have his own space and that I’ll back him up. I praise him when he stands his ground (within reason, obviously no actual fighting), and I make sure Teddy gets consequences (like a time-out in another room for a few minutes if he’s being a persistent bully).

Chew Toy Strategy

One thing that’s been invaluable is having different types of chew toys available. Georgie is a chewer. He needs to gnaw on something constantly. Teddy is more of a “play with it for a bit, then move on” kind of guy. So, Georgie has his indestructible chews, like his Benebone Wishbone Durable Dog Chew, Bacon flavor, Large, about $15 on Chewy. Teddy doesn’t really go for those. He prefers softer toys, or things he can carry around. This naturally creates a bit of a divide in their preferred toys, which cuts down on the direct stealing a little. It’s not foolproof, because as I said, sometimes Teddy just wants what Georgie has. But it definitely helps when I need Georgie to be occupied for a while without Teddy immediately trying to snatch it. For example, if Georgie is happily working on his Benebone, Teddy will usually ignore it and go find a squeaky toy instead.

It’s a constant negotiation, honestly. If I were you, I’d try the single toy bin and active intervention first.

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