You might’ve seen the ‘viral egg TikTok challenge.’
It’s where fur parents give a raw egg to their Fidos to see how gentle they are.
A few Fidos dropped it and failed the test.
But surprisingly, most dogs succeeded.
So, why’s that?
Do canines know eggs are fragile?
Continue reading to find out:
- Whether all dogs are gentle with eggs or not.
- If this is a normal or learned behavior in canines.
- 7 strange reasons why dogs are gentle with eggs.
- The list of most careful and gentlest canine breeds.
- And a lot more…
Why dogs are gentle with eggs – 7 reasons
#1: They’re ‘bird dogs’
Our furry friends tend to chew anything in their mouths.
Give your Fido a bone, and they’ll bite it with no hesitation.
While some dogs even try to eat stones, like Huskies and German Shepherds.
And they usually do it when stressed or bored.
So if this is the case, why are dogs careful with eggs?
Well, it might be in their blood.
“What do you mean?”
Some canine breeds have an innate ‘soft mouth.’
And these are ‘bird dogs’ like:
- Golden Retrievers.
- Labrador Retrievers.
- Curly-Coated Retrievers.
- Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.
People bred these canines to locate and recover downed birds in the water during hunting.
Hence, their name.
And they must return those prey without injuries or even damaged feathers.
So as a result, bird dogs can hold anything in their mouths without breaking them.
And this even includes a fragile raw egg.
#2: They treat eggs as their ‘prized possessions’
Is your Fido not a retrieving pooch?
But still gentle with eggs?
Then, your dog might see them as ‘treasures.’
So they hold the egg carefully in their mouth like a new toy ball.
“But why would my Fido do that?”
It’s because you gave them a novel item.
According to a study…
Most dogs have ‘neophilia’ or a fondness for novel objects
To determine this, researchers showed new and familiar toys to 17 Fidos.
And the results were as expected.
The dogs chose the novel item first in 38 out of 50 trials.
So if you ask your Fido to pick between their old toy and an unfamiliar egg…
They’ll likely be more curious about the latter and go for it.
Well, raw eggs aren’t supposed to be given to and played with by dogs.
Also, you may serve this yummy protein source to your pooch cooked or out of the shell.
And if that’s the case, it was your dog’s first time encountering an egg in its natural cover.
So they’ll be “egg-cited’ to have it and see it as a precious item.
Moreover, dogs can also treasure the things you give them
May it be a tree branch or an ordinary raw egg.
Fidos might not feel the same when we get gifts from our loved ones.
But new simple items can still make a dog happy. So they would feel the need to take care of it.
And that could be the reason why your Fido couldn’t crack an egg.
Think about it…
Why would they crunch down this precious hard, round thing if they can play with it instead?
Also, your dog might as well hide it to save it later.
And if your pooch’s like this, they might even bring it to you like a toy.
Learn more: 15 Weird Reasons Why Dogs Hide Their Treats, Toys & Bones
#3: They’re being protective
They protecc.
They attacc.
But most importantly, they won’t give the egg bacc.
Is this how your Fido acts during the viral egg challenge?
If so, your pooch decided to keep it for themselves, and they’re ‘guarding’ it.
“What do you mean?”
Your dog may also see the egg as an important item.
But unlike the previous reason, they’re unwilling to share it with anyone – even with you, their human.
Now, why’s that?
Dogs can become possessive over things or people too
Vets say this behavior usually starts as a cute, playful one.
But if you don’t correct it asap, it could lead to ‘possessive aggression.’
In this case, Fidos will become violent if they catch someone near their:
Also, when triggered, dogs won’t listen to anyone. And they might:
- Bite.
- Snap.
- Growl.
- Lunge.
This is often the reason why dogs are so greedy.
If your Fido’s like this, they may also bark when you kiss someone. And they can become aggressive to other pets, like your cats.
Now, let’s go back to the egg challenge.
If your pooch has resource guarding issues, they might not also break the egg in their mouth.
But this ‘gentleness’ is due to being overprotective
Your dog doesn’t want to break the egg.
However, they won’t return it to you either. Even if you say “bring it back” or “drop it” a hundred times.
Your Fido will run away or walk with the egg somewhere. Like what most of the dogs in this funny clip did:
So to retrieve it, you need to offer them your best weapon. Say a yummier treat or a new toy.
Reading tip: How do you know if a dog is protecting you?
#4: They feel awkward
You suddenly put an egg inside your Fido’s mouth.
And it’s something they’ve never touched or seen before.
So, what will your dog feel?
If they’re naturally anxious, to begin with, your pooch might feel awkward and look tense.
They may think…
“Why you makin’ me swallow diz awful-smelling thing, hooman?
I hate you.
But I’m a good boy/girl, so I’ll let it pass this time.”
So your Fido gently holds the egg in their mouth as they’re confused at the moment.
The egg doesn’t taste nor smell delicious either.
So your dog can’t figure out what to do with it at first.
And they’ll only realize what it is once they crack it and lick the yolk inside.
However, you may also wonder…
Is it safe for dogs to eat eggs?
Cooked eggs are safe for Fidos in small servings.
You can give plain scrambled or hard-boiled ones to your pooch. And it’s because eggs are a good source of:
- Protein.
- Minerals.
- Vitamins.
- Fatty acids.
“What about raw eggs?”
Based on vets, raw eggs can put your Fido at risk of Salmonella infection.
It’s a condition due to ‘Salmonella bacteria.’ And these mainly targets the intestines.
So it might also lead to stomach irritation and even miscarriage in dogs.
A study shows that dogs usually get it from eating:
- Raw food.
- Impure water.
- Contaminated raw meat.
And canines will display these common symptoms:
- Fever.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Stomach pain.
- Loss of appetite.
If you want to know more, read this next: Cracked Raw Egg Over Dog Food: 5 Benefits & 7 Risks
#5: They love carrying something in their mouth
Some dogs may have this tendency too. Especially retrieving breeds.
So if this is your Fido’s case, they may also be gentle with an egg and hold it for as long as they want.
“But what’s the reason for it?”
Excitement is one. And it’s also the reason why dogs cry while carrying a toy in their mouth.
Your pooch received a new object from you – their beloved human. So they love it so much and whine.
But ‘bird dogs’ may also have this behavior. And it’s because they were bred to hold something in their mouths.
Other possible reasons are:
- Anxiety.
- Reinforcement.
- A fondness for the object.
#6: They’re afraid of the eggs
While doing the viral challenge…
Does your pooch look ‘egg-ceptionally’ worried?
That’s when they show some signs of a stressed dog, which are:
- Pacing.
- Shaking.
- Freezing.
- Drooling too much.
- Having pinned back ears.
- ‘Whale eyes’ or mostly showing the whites of their eyes.
If that’s the case, then your Fido might also be terrified of the egg.
“But what makes them scared of it?”
I can’t say the exact reason.
However, dogs’ fears always have a particular cause.
It could be a phobia they developed due to a bad encounter.
Or dogs weren’t exposed to different people or places when they were young.
So they grew up fearful of the world.
Thus, some Fidos can have unusual fears too. With that, they’re afraid of things that don’t seem threatening to most of us. Such as:
Therefore, dogs might also fear eggs.
And that may be why your Fido doesn’t crack it inside their mouth.
Or why they drop it gently on the floor without intentions of touching or playing with it.
Eggs could look ‘funny’ or scary to a fearful Fido who’s never encountered one.
They don’t know if it’s solid or fragile. And the smell and taste of its shell don’t seem good either.
So some Fidos are careful with it.
Then once you put it in their mouths, they’ll also be frightened to move.
You might also like: 7 Weird Reasons Why Your Dog Is Acting Scared + Tips
#7: They mastered bite inhibition
Lastly, although your Fido isn’t a Retriever, they can also have a ‘soft mouth.’
And it’s another term for ‘bite inhibition.’
“What is it?”
It’s a dog’s ability to control the force of their bite.
And puppies who haven’t learned this tend to play too rough.
So they may hurt their humans or other Fido pals when they’re mouthing.
“When do puppies learn this?”
Young dogs usually develop this skill when they play with their littermates.
How?
As they bite and pounce, some pups will be hurt and stop playing.
Then over time, dogs will realize that being rough means the ‘fun’ or game ends. And they’ll learn how to control their bites next time.
So if your Fido has mastered this, and they also have a calm temperament like giant dogs…
Then you might have a naturally gentle pooch.
Are all dogs gentle with eggs?
Not all dogs are gentle with eggs. Some Fidos don’t have a ‘soft mouth’ and bite whatever you give them. But, most dogs will be careful of eggs and treat them preciously.
And the latter refers to retrieving breeds. Such as Golden and Labrador Retrievers.
“What are those?”
These are dogs bred to find and get birds in the water. And bring them back to the hunters unharmed.
People trained them to be gentle when carrying things in their mouths. So they won’t even think of cracking a raw egg.