If your dog is always sucking on a blanket during their free time, you may wonder what the underlying cause of this behavior could be. We want to help you better understand your blanket-loving canine friend, so let’s break down the most common causes of this behavior below.
Is It Normal for Dogs to Suck on Blankets?
If your pup always turns to their favorite blanket for comfort, you may wonder if this is normal. While not all dogs will rely on a coping mechanism to help them relax, blanket sucking is fairly common in the dog world. Many dogs will suck on their comfort blanket each night before they go to sleep, with some dogs even carrying around their favorite blanket throughout the day. There is nothing abnormal about this behavior, but there is usually an underlying factor behind it. To make sure you understand your canine family member’s habits, we will answer each of your blanket-sucking questions below.
Suckling Is a Natural Behavior for Dogs
It’s important to realize that suckling is a natural behavior for our canine companions. Suckling is as natural as barking for dogs, and it is something they were doing from the moment they were born. Dogs are born with a natural instinct to suckle on their mother’s teats to consume her milk, so not only is this a way to receive nourishment, but it also becomes a soothing act that brings them joy. If the mothers did not eventually push their puppies away as they grew older, many puppies would continue to participate in the nursing behavior. Due to the joy that suckling brought a dog during puppyhood, many will associate this behavior with comfort and happiness. This can lead to them suckling on blankets, toys, and any other item that is accessible when they need comfort.
Why Is My Dog Sucking on Blankets?
Now that you are aware of how natural of a behavior suckling is in dogs, let’s break down the most common reasons why your dog is always sucking on blankets below. Ranging from helping them fall asleep to missing the comfort of their mother, let’s dive in!
They Are Missing the Comfort Of Their Mother
If your puppy has been recently separated from their mother, this could lead them to search for comfort in other ways. Sucking on a blanket might remind your puppy of nursing on their mother, which in turn helps to soothe them as they adjust to being an independent pup. Some puppies will grow out of this habit as they become more comfortable in their new home, but some will bring this habit into their adulthood.
They Are Teething
Does it seem like your puppy is chewing on everything from their blanket to your fingers? If so, this could be a sign that they are teething. A teething puppy will experience discomfort when their adult teeth are growing in, causing them to chew on everything in their path in search of relief. During this time you will want to offer them as many appropriate outlets as possible for chewing, as this will help them find relief and outgrow their teething discomfort at around six months of age.
It Is Their Comfort Item
Similar to a child walking around with their favorite blanket or stuffed animal, your dog can have a comfort blanket as well. Some dogs will just suckle on this blanket as they are falling asleep, while others will carry it around in their mouths throughout the day. As long as your dog does not become possessive or aggressive over their comfort blanket, this is typically a harmless comfort behavior.
It Helps Them Fall Asleep
Oftentimes puppies will suckle on their mother’s teats until they fall asleep. Some puppies will adopt this behavior even after they leave their mothers, leading them to seek out options to suckle on when it is time to rest. Many of these pups will end up sucking on a blanket as they try to fall asleep each night, and this will help to soothe them into a slumber.
It Soothes Their Anxiety or Fear
If it seems like your dog only sucks on a blanket when they are anxious or nervous, this might be a coping mechanism for them. Similar to humans biting their nails when they are overwhelmed, our pups may turn to their favorite blanket to suckle on when they are struggling. Dogs can experience anxiety due to the absence of their owners, during loud events like storms or firework shows, or even a new person or animal being in their home.
It Has Become a Comforting Habit
If it seems like your dog sucks on a blanket each time they wind down to rest, this may have just become a soothing habit for your dog. This is comparable to a person reading a book during their downtime, or even a person writing in their journal at the end of the day. Sucking on a blanket can be your dog’s way of self-soothing or relaxing.
Is Blanket Sucking Bad for Dogs?
Blanket sucking in dogs is not bad for them as long as this does not turn into a compulsive habit. If this is an occasional habit they use to fall asleep or self-soothe during stressful occasions, then there is absolutely nothing to worry about. However, if it seems like their blanket sucking ever turns into a compulsion that your dog cannot stay away from, it is likely time to intervene. Your dog may have developed an obsessive compulsion to blanket sucking if they are carrying their blanket around at all times, they become possessive of their blanket, they display aggression if you come near their blanket, or they become distressed when they cannot find their blanket. If this is the case for your canine friend, it might be time to start the process of ending their blanket-sucking habit.
How Do I Stop My Dog’s Blanket Sucking?
Most dogs with a blanket-sucking compulsion will have an underlying issue leading to their compulsion. These compulsions are usually fueled by stress and anxiety, or the inability to release their pent-up stress appropriately. To help you put an end to your dog’s compulsive blanket suckling, let’s list a few of the most effective methods below.
Determine their stress trigger:
Many dogs with an obsessive blanket-sucking habit will turn to this behavior when they are stressed. In order to get to the root of this behavior, it’s up to us to determine their stress trigger. We encourage you to examine the environment each time they turn to their blanket for relief and try your best to either limit this stressor in your home, or offer them appropriate outlets for this stressor. For example, if your dog begins to suck their blanket obsessively when it storms, we suggest playing soothing music to help drown out the sound, playing with your pup to help distract them, or any other method that seems to bring your pup relief.
Offer them plenty of stimulation:
Many dogs will experience exacerbated stress and anxiety when they are not getting enough mental or physical exercise each day. We suggest offering your pup a minimum of 20 minutes of physical exercise each day (more if they are an active breed) and keeping them entertained with mentally stimulating toys or training.
Give them plenty of chewing options:
If your pup is an obsessive blanket chewer, this means that the act of chewing helps to bring them comfort. Offering them plenty of chewing toys can help to steer them away from their blanket and focus on a more acceptable chewing outlet.
Seek veterinary help when needed:
If your dog’s blanket sucking has gotten out of hand and you are unable to address their compulsive behaviors at home, it might be time to enlist the help of your veterinarian. Some dogs need the guidance of a veterinary or behavioral professional, and some even need the help of prescription medications to limit their compulsions. If you are struggling to get ahead of their compulsive blanket-sucking on your own, it is likely time to get professional help.
Final Thoughts
Blanket sucking in dogs is typically a harmless behavior that offers them soothing comfort. Just be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of compulsive behaviors in your canine friend, and to reach out to your vet if you ever need guidance on how to address the issue.
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