Dogs are born with a natural instinct to chew and out of all the things in the world, blankets are the favorite thing for dogs to nibble on. There are several reasons for exhibiting this behavior and here, you need to look out for reasons that are making your dog nibble on blankets.
In the following section, we have focussed on 10 reasons for dogs nibbling on blankets. Take a look!
10 Reasons for Dogs Nibbling on Blankets
Let’s get to know some of the reasons why you find your dog nibbling on blankets often:
1. Boredom
Boredom may sometimes lead a dog to get engaged in certain things and blanket nibbling being one of them. You might find your dog nibbling on blankets or other non-chewable items because of his boredom and it’s just a way to look for new stimuli.
2. Teething
Just like toddlers, dogs, and pups also feel like chewing things when they are teething. Blankets tend to have a soothing effect on their teeth and gums and help them deal with this change.
3. Playful Mood
If you have ever seen a litter of puppies play, you might have noticed that they play by nibbling and biting on one another. This tells us that nipping, nibbling, and biting comes to dogs naturally.
So, whenever you find a group of puppies nibbling on each, know that they are playing with each other. However, some puppies outgrow this behavior once they attain adulthood while some continue this throughout their life.
4. Loves the Taste of Blankets
If your blanket is on your couch, there are good chances of food and drink spillage on it. And, because of their amazing sense of smell, they might smell them and in a way to taste them, end up dog chewing your blankets.
5. Attention-seeking
If you find your dog nibbling on your blanket, it might indicate that he needs your attention and that you have been away from him for too long. Now, if you pay attention to him while he is nibbling, he might relate this behavior to interacting with you.
6. Early Weaning
A very common reason for dogs chewing blankets is premature weaning from their mothers. After birth, the puppies should remain with their mother for at least 6-8 weeks but sometimes, situational crises don't let that happen. Premature weaning generally leads to behavioral problems.
Although it is not detrimental to your dog’s health, they can be annoying as they grow up.
7. Self-soothing
Sometimes when your dog loses its calm, nibbling on blankets might help it to calm down and soothe itself. This is basically seen in breeds with very high- energy like German Shepherds, whose owners make use of this property to calm them down.
8. Hunger
Sometimes not getting a healthy diet might lead your dog to chew non-chewable items. The so-called healthy diet that you are providing might not be able to fulfill all his nutritional requirements. Therefore, be very careful while curating a diet chart for your dog so that your dog’s daily caloric requirements are met.
9. Stress
Just like us, dogs also feel stressed at times. This may come from moving to a new place, loud noises, or being alone at home. Every dog has its own reason for feeling stressed. Just as a toddler uses toys as his comfort object, dogs nibble on blankets to relieve their stress.
10. Pain
Teething puppies sometimes suffer from pain and will chew on anything and everything lying in front of them to numb their pain. You can offer frozen chew toys or wet face cloths to them for chewing.
They also nibble on blankets whenever they suffer from some kind of allergies or injury. Blanket nibbling is always a place of comfort for them.
Is Blanket Nibbling Harmful to Dogs?
According to studies, blanket nibbling has not been considered harmful for dogs. If you get bothered and annoyed by this behavior of your dog, confine their nibbling habit to their own blanket which you can get here.
Dogs are very popularly known for their ability to adapt to changing environments and therefore, changing his blanket won’t cause him much trouble.
However, if your dog is nibbling on blankets as a response to some kind of pain or anxiety, try to look for the cause rather than addressing the behavior.
How to Train Your Dog to Stop Nibbling on Blankets?
Well, nibbling behavior is something that won’t go away overnight. You have to slowly train your dog to come out of that habit. Coming out of a habit is the same tough for dogs as it is for humans. For the initial days, get him his own blanket to nibble on and keep him away from the other blankets of the house.
Also, you can resort to chew toys specially made for them. The training will be more effective if you take out some time from your schedule and tell him what comes under chewable things and what doesn’t.
For this, teach your dogs negative words like “STOP” or “NO” and issue them whenever required. Also, praise your dog when he chews on his own things.
Takeaway
There are a lot of reasons behind a dog nibbling on blankets. However, they mostly nibble on blankets when they are stressed. So, whenever you find your dog nibbling on blankets, try to look for signs and take measures accordingly. If you still have some questions lingering in your head, don’t hesitate to ask them in our comments below. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Also, save this page for future reference, and thank us later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for dogs to nibble on blankets?
It is a very common scene for every dog parent to find their dog nibbling on blankets. There are several underlying reasons for dogs to nibble on blankets and you just have to figure that out and provide a solution for it. You can also train your dog to resort to chewable toys made for them.
Are there any health risks associated with blanket nibbling?
Dogs nibbling on blankets is not necessarily related to any kind of health risks directly but it may point toward various issues related to their mood and diet. Blanket nibbling may also indicate poor health and poor diet.
Should I let my dog nibble on blankets?
No, you should not let your dog nibble on blankets. Whenever you find your dog in such a situation, immediately intervene and tell your dog about things that he can chew and things that he cannot. Provide them with chewable toys as well.
Reference links:
- https://petkeen.com/why-do-dogs-nibble-on-blankets/
- https://www.trendingbreeds.com/why-dogs-nibble-blankets/
