Why does my dog suckle or nibble on blankets and bedding? Is it normal?

Yes, ive seen this in several dogs. I’ve found that the ones that were separated from their mother at a young age to do this more. Most dogs do grow out of this behavior after they are adults. Giving soft toys for them to cuddle and suck on will prevent some of this behavior on your blankets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sprocket.

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.

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.

This is typically associated with the nursing behavior seen in puppies. Adults dogs who do this behavior do it for comfort, as it mimics how puppies nurse from their mother. You can take away her access to blankets to stop her from doing this. If it isn't possible to take away her access, I would distract her immediately when she tries to do this behavior. Try to engage her play or give her a toy filled with a treat to move her attention away from the blanket. Encourage any behavior that is positive and doesn't involve sucking on blankets with praise, attention, and treats.

While not common, sucking behavior in dogs is not unheard of. Some dogs suck on their flanks or legs, while others, like Oreo, suck on blankets or toys. For some dogs, this provides a means of comfort, but for others can indicate an underlying anxiety disorder. It is a bit unusual for this behavior to develop later in life, but try to determine if Oreo is experiencing any other changes that could indicate anxiety, such as pacing, panting, seeming agitated, or experiencing signs of stress when you leave the house. If he does seem to be showing signs of anxiety, consider taking Oreo to the vet to discuss behavioral training options, as well as medications. If he does not seem to be overly anxious, you can try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Adaptil is one example) to see if this behavior subsides. Otherwise, it is likely not a cause for any major concerns. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Some dogs do like to nibble, lick, or suck on fabric as a self-soothing behavior - similar to a human toddler sucking her thumb. It's not likely that you will be able to make her stop doing this, so if it bothers you, I would recommend having her sleep in a dog bed or a crate in your bedroom with her own blanket. That way, she can lick and nibble as much as she wants to without disturbing you :)

Sometimes this can be a sign that the kitten was weaned to early or that it is feeling stress. Kneading and sucking on fabric is a way to soothe themselves. The kneading shouldn't pose a health hazard, but the sucking can certainly lead to ingestion of too much foreign material which can lead to an intestinal obstruction. If you find that Ollie prefers one blanket or type of material, try to keep that away from him. You may want to also give him some extra one-on-one time or extra exercise in the form of play to keep him occupied. Here is a good article with a few more tips: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/wool-sucking/