We have an 18 month old springer/lab cross bitch who is the loopiest hapiest dog ever (I swear she'll wag that tail off one day). She was 3 days old when she had her mother taken away (due to the mothers ill health). When we picked her up we did see the mother and father as recommended for getting a pup.

Anyway since getting her we have noticed that she will have 1 toy (had an Ikea octopus that lasted a year and not a white teddy bear) that she treats like a mother, holding it in her mouth and kneading it. She doesn't get defensive with the toy (so we are able to remove it from her - like when it needs washed), but I am just curious as to whether it's a healthy thing for her to be doing.

Mollie does that hers tends to be pieces of cloth, she had a pink flannel for a bout a year, then half a pillow case, she has a sock at the moment that goes almost everywhere with her. She has done this for the past 8 years and it has done her no harm it's just part of her personality. I think more harm would be done by stopping her really.

Smudge has a favourite toy too, a soft duck thing (actual dog toy) - on the odd occasion that we have had to take it from him (to stitch it back up usually ) he will sit and watch its every move until he gets it back.

A couple of weeks ago, he burst into it, so I took it off him and lobbed it onto the bedroom windowsill until such time as it could be repaired, and then I promptly forgot about it. For the next two days, I was quite perplexed when he would keep disappearing only to be found lying in front of the bedroom window whining, or trying to climb around/over the computer desk (in front of the window); thankfully I twigged what he was after before he called DoggieLine or something onto me for cruelty

It's very common for dogs to carry soft toys around with them or just hold them in their mouths. It's a great thing to teach timid dogs to hold soft toys as well because the soft pressure on the roof of their mouths helps release endorphins in the brain which make the dog feel better & more able to cope. If you have a dog that is timid of meeting new people, give them a soft toy to hold & they become much "braver" plus it gives the visitor the "aah" factor ~ doesn't he look sweet holding that cuddly bear. The visitor's reaction means that they automatically have a "soft" face, smiley eyes etc which in turn also makes the dog feel better. A huge hairy GSD I used know would do this. He was very intimidating to look at but as soon as had a cuddly toy in his mouth everyone who met him immediately went "aah ~ how sweet"!

Thank you for that explanation Wilhemina, I often wondered if there was a reason for it and Mollie is a nervous dog but much calmer when she has her cloth so I think you hit the nail on the head !