There are some things our dogs do that are a complete mystery to many of us, especially when itโs a behavior weโve never seen before. To me, one of the strangest is blanket-sucking (or blanket-chewing, depending upon the dog). In all the dogs Iโve had and known, Iโve never seen this behavior before so from my perspective, itโs totally inexplicable.
And yet, there is an explanation. Rather, several explanations.
What IS This Sucking Behavior?
Weโve all seen human babies sucking on pacifiers, their thumbs, or even on blankets and child experts tell us that this kind of instinctive sucking calms babies and makes them feel more secure. The same is likely true for puppies, who are born with an innate need to suckle and knead. Even after the mother dog has long since stopped producing milk, some pups will attempt to suckle, perhaps as a way to soothe themselves.
In addition, puppies will often look to something similar to their motherโs soft skin and fur for comfort: something like a supple, velvety stuffed toy or blanket. Most of the time, a puppy will grow out of this behavior, but what happens if it doesnโt? What happens if your adult dog continues to knead her old threadbare blanket or suck on her ancient stuffed hippopotamus? Should you be worried that youโve inadvertently created an canine psychoneurotic?
Is Blanket Sucking a Harmless Behavior?
The answer in most cases, thereโs nothing inherently wrong with an adult dog who is still mouthing and kneading her blanket or toy. Weโve all had dogs that choose one particular stuffed toy as their inseparable companion: years ago, my dog Casey claimed a stuffed penguin that he carried around everywhere, even to the construction site of the house I was building where it got run over by a tractor, dropped in a culvert, smeared with concrete, and buried in three feet of dirt . . . yet even then, even when it was totally dilapidated, he refused to give it up.
Gwen Bailey, author of more than a dozen books on dog behavior and member of the U.K.โs Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, says this kind of โobject-suckingโ is usually quite harmless, the canine equivalent of a toddler who inexplicably latches onto a favorite โblankieโ and carries it everywhere. She explains that while this behavior in adult dogs isnโt terribly common, itโs not deviant by any stretch of the imagination; itโs also not breed-specific, so youโre just as likely to see it in a Great Dane as in a Dachshund.
If, however, your dogโs blanket- or toy-sucking behavior is persistent and unremitting, and youโre unable to distract him from it, the behavior may have become compulsive. If youโre concerned about this possibility, talk with your veterinarian about finding a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with specialized training in treating compulsive behavior.
There is one other situation where a caretaker needs to be concerned: so-called โflank-sucking,โ which is especially prevalent in Doberman Pinschers and Weimaraners. Flank-suckingโwhen a dog repetitively sucks or holds in his mouth a piece of its own flank skinโis a type of canine compulsive disorder that can cause physical injury to the dogโs skin, and calls for veterinary intervention.
And Then Thereโs Chewing
Some dogs donโt suck on their blankets, they chew them. Constantly. Until the blanket is, as the Coroner sings in the Wizard of Oz, not only โmerely dead, but really most sincerely dead.โ Again, this isnโt necessarily harmful, unless your dog is actually eating the blanket or toy. In that case, you need to find a way to keep him away from those objects, and provide an alternative like a stuffed Kong, an all-natural edible dog chew, or dental bones. Remember, though, that just because a dog treat may be edible, that doesnโt necessarily mean itโs safe, making supervision a must. For instance, if your dog breaks off a large chunk of a chew and swallows it, thereโs a risk of him either choking or developing an obstruction.
As long as your dog is simply chewing and not devouring, thereโs no need to worry, but itโs important to teach her what is and isnโt appropriate to chew on. If sheโs a blanket-chewer, restrict her to her own blanket, not the one on your or your childโs bed. The same is true with toys versus things like shoes or clothes. If the chewing turns destructiveโyou come home to a couch thatโs in tatters, or your down pillow looks like a deflated balloonโthen you have an entirely different problem on your hands. Adult dogs can engage in destructive chewing for a variety of reasons, including separation anxiety, boredom, anxiety, or as a coping mechanism. Again, you need to speak to a behaviorist to get to the root of the problem and find a solution.
What About Licking?
Some dogs are inveterate lickers. They donโt suck their blankets, they donโt chew their blankets, they simply lick them. Constantly.
Itโs important to remember that dogs explore the world with their noses and mouths. Often, they lick objects to simply understand and gather information about them. At the same time, licking blankets, toys, and their beds can be just as comforting and soothing to your dog as sucking. It also releases endorphinsโthose โfeel-goodโ hormonesโthat help them relax and feel comfortable.
But like excessive chewing, dogs can also engage in nonstop licking out of pure boredom, which can easily lead to obsession. Any behavior that continues for a length of time should be discussed with your veterinarian, as there could be an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed.
In the end, whether your dog is sucking her blanket, kneading it, chewing on it, or licking it, chances are thereโs nothing wrongโsheโs just trying to make herself feel good!