Amusing Dog Bahaviour

Question
I'm quite curious about a behaviour our dog, Bloo, exhibits.  Bloo is - as far as we can tell - a 4-year-old Staffordshire Terrier Whippet cross.  We're not really sure, though, as we got him from a shelter.

Anyhow, when greeting members of the pack or people he's familiar with, he'll often run off and retrieve his favourite toy, or the toy he can find of highest value.  He'll then bring it back to the new arrival to show them the object (usually his rawhide bone).  He doesn't expect them to take it, and he never drops it at their feet - just sort of parades around joyously.  

My question is why does he do this?  Is he proving his standing in the pack or just trying to keep his favourite toy from becoming someone else's?

Thanks,

L.

Answer
I think he wants you to fight him for it or chase him.  That is one of the favorite games of young dogs, to have something and the other one try to get it.  Most of us are careful to teach dogs not to keep things away from us.  He hopes if it is valuable enough, somebody will finally play the game.  I once remember a Lab that seemed very disappointed I had no interest in the dead chipmonk he had.  

I don't trust any of the consumable chews. Rawhide is especially bad because it swells after being swallowed. The dogs just gnaw them down to a dangerous size too quickly. These problems are the worst with, but not limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.