Why is my dog chewing blankets with back teeth? Is it normal, how to stop?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get Ollie teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that he tries to nibble at you or something he should nibble on, you say no and give him the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue. Good luck and have a great day!

This is a difficult behavior to stop. The more she does it, the more she's practicing the behavior, and harder it is to break the cycle. First, increase her physical, mental, and emotional/social activity. For example, take her on a couple 30-45 minute walks a day (physical), do 2-3 10 minute training sessions with her (mental. It doesn't really matter what you're training, it's the brain workup that's important), and spend 5-10 minutes a day sitting and brushing her (social/emotional). Next, I would recommend removing all the blankets that are problems for her. Consider using a basket muzzle to prevent chewing if you can't remove the blankets. She can be in a crate when not directly supervised to prevent destruction. Give her other toys to play with with the blankets totally out of the picture. You may be able to bring them back later, but you may not. Some dogs that chew/destroy are anxious. If she seems like a nervous or skittish dog, I recommend talking to your veterinarian about some treatments or doing a consultation with me to talk about OTC options. Good luck! Behavioral issues can be very frustrating.

Many times this is a sign of contentment or self soothing. It can also be an attempt at mutual grooming. In general, as long as she is not being destructive, the behavior is nothing to worry about. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zoey. It is a normal behavior for a dog to chew especially a large breed one. It is just generally an undesirable one. Dogs can be destructive in the home with their chewing. It can be harmful to the dog as well if she ingests an object she chews on. This can become a major abdominal surgery to remove the foreign object. Do your best to provide indestructible toys to satisfying her urge to chew. Keep things picked up around the home to prevent her chewing things she shouldn't. I hope this information helps you!

Object sucking (or nibbling) is common in dogs, typically seen in dogs that were [weaned](https://www.petcoach.co/article/weaning-puppies) too early. It is a self-soothing behavior, much like thumb sucking in small children. There is no harm to your dog to engage in this behavior unless she begins to ingest the blankets. Restricting access may actually increase her stress, but you can try to restrict access to the particular room if she has a favorite blanket. If that isn't possible, [calming aids](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids), such as[ pheromone products](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids), may be effective in easing any stress or anxiety causing her to nibble. Try to determine and reduce or eliminate the offending stimulus if there is one.

I would recommend to take Meara into the vet to make sure her teeth are growing in normally and that everything appears normal. If everything checks out normally, then I would suspect behavior. Sometimes dogs will just start playing with different toys for no apparent reason. Definitely keep her crated until this phase has passed. Many dogs ingest items that get stuck in the intestines and need surgery. Switch her toys about once a week as this will help to keep her interest. Most dogs will outgrow this behavior sound 2 years of age but some never do. I hope this helps!

No, not teething again. They have all of their adult teeth by 6-7 months of age and that is the end of the teething process. This chewing behavior is normal for these breeds - they are very intelligent and chew mostly out of boredom. They are herding dogs - high energy and they need a job. They are not house dogs. I recommend you work with a professional trainer and start taking him to some classes (basic training, obedience, herding, agility, etc) to expend his energy.