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Why Does My Dog Chew Blankets [6 Reasons & Solutions]

Dogs are weird and adorable. They will be doing anything, and we’d find it cute. 

But chewing things! It can get annoying sometimes.

Not to mention if it’s your favorite blanket. It might also cause diseases in your dog.

Dogs tend to chew fabrics and such for many reasons.

Blankets are their prominent victims of destruction in this case.

Why does your dog chew blankets?

Usually, a few things lead them to chew blankets. The first would be if they’re hungry and can’t communicate. Another would be if they are anxious and need stress relief. Also, they’d chew on blankets if they were teething and needed something to bite on.

If you’d like to know it in detail, we suggest you read along with the article for more. Please, keep reading!

Is It Harmful to Chew on Blankets?

No, your dog will not be harmed by blanket nibbling. If your dog’s blanket nibbling is bothering you, try redirecting the activity to a specific blanket that belongs to your dog. Your dog will quickly learn to chew on “his blanket” rather than yours.

The only exception is if the response is anxiety or pain. If this is the case with your dog, you must first address the underlying reason for the behavior.

Dog Chewing Blankets: 6 Reasons With Solutions

Even though chewing blankets is gross, dogs are into them for multiple reasons. Some of the primary reasons are discussed below. Let’s look them up:

Reason 1: For Entertainment Purposes

Dogs are playful and stress-free animals. Naturally, they would find anything entertaining. 

Usually, during the puppy phase of discovering new textures, puppies will play with blankets and bite them to try new things.

Solution: Keep The Blankets Clean

Make sure to keep the blanket clean and fresh. Unfortunately, if your puppy wants to bite a blanket as if it has chicken feet, then you let them do it.

Usually, it’s harmless and goes away with age and time. But if they start being violent and ruining blankets, then actions should be taken.

Reason 2: Hunger

Due to hunger, your dog must bite into things like its blanket. Need does get in our heads and make us hungry.

But unlike humans, dogs can’t communicate verbally. So, they’d bark and bite as a gesture of their hunger. Honestly, same!

Solution: Timely Feed Them

Give your dog their food every day timely. Please don’t break the routines and timetable on this part because food is crucial for them. Any food with health benefits for dogs would do.

Dogs tend to get frustrated quickly and especially without food. They might end up attacking you before giving signals like biting into blankets. 

Reason 3: Boredom and Anger 

Boredom and anger are two emotional factors that could lead your dog to chew a blanket.

We all need to unload these emotions somewhere, and it looks like dogs use the perfect solution. 

Solution: Give Them Stress Relieving Toys

Give your furry friend some squishy toys to relieve their stress. Give them time and attention so they can play and forget about chewing blankets.

You could give your dog plushies, frisbees, or boomerangs. Your dog can play with them as long as they are safe and clean. 

Reason 4: Fear

Fear is another reason for dogs to act the way they behave with blankets. It’s a way of releasing stress and fighting fears. 

Usually, dogs with a rough past would do this as a coping mechanism. Also, abandoned puppies will feel similar to this.

Solution: Be Compassionate

Make sure you are nice and warm to your dog, especially if they have a strict growing up. Always treat after achievements and chores.

Maybe, you could treat them with some cotton candy? But all in all, give your dog more attention.

Reason 5: New Teeth 

Now, we know new puppies have a habit of biting due to the tingling feeling of teething. To soothe it, sometimes they might chew blankets.

Blankets have a texture that allows the puppies to practice biting without actually doing it. So, it’s instinctual and calculating.

Solution: Give Them Chew Toys

Get your pup some chew toys he can munch on to avoid biting blankets. This action can save your blanket and puppy’s health.

Additionally, ensure they are made of good material and safe for your dog’s health.

Here are some of my favorite brands you can follow:

Product 1
Product 2

So, these will be the reasons for solutions to smoking and its side effects. 

Reason 6: Prematurely Weaned

Dogs separated from their mothers early would show signs of early weaning. This is primarily to eliminate the feeling of loneliness and lack of motherly love.

Pups suckle their mothers automatically. So, they find something else to suckle on when she isn’t around. The next best thing is often a nice blanket. That’s why they nibble on it.

Solution: Give Them Comfort

Puppies should spend at least eight weeks alongside their moms after birth. But this may not often happen for a variety of reasons. 

This isn’t always the owner’s fault; sometimes, it’s beyond anyone’s control. So, if they get separated, make sure to provide them with the utmost comfort.

Give them cozy toys, fuzzy beds, and body warmth to give them a sense of belonging. As it’s a crucial age, keep them close to yourself. It will make them less lonely and stop this behavior once they grow up.

These tips and tricks help you with your dog’s behavior. Usually, it’s harmless nibbling and nothing more. So, don’t worry too much.

Afterthoughts

Even if you choose not to include your dog’s blankets in the shot, they will still have you to cuddle with at nap time. 

If you want to stop them from chewing, make sure you use more comfy methods. It will bring them a sense of comfort. And a comfortable puppy is a happy puppy.

FAQs

Is it safe for dogs to eat plastic?

No, it isn’t. Dogs tend to bite into objects that aren’t edible sometimes. Though they usually chew and spit them out. But it was reported that some dogs choked on plastic toys causing health hazards. 

Is it possible for dogs to digest fabric?

No, it’s not possible. Fabric is inedible and unhealthy.

Is it safe for dogs to chew toys?

That depends on the toy we are talking about. Dogs tend to get bitey during teething, so giving them a chew toy is ideal. This is why chew toys are exclusively designed for this purpose.