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Why Does My Dog Nibble On Blankets [Explained]

Dogs playfully bite each other.

They might also try to put their mouth on you too.

But constantly nibbling on your blanket could mean something else.

Why does my dog nibble on blankets?

Dogs playfully and instinctively nibble on things. Biting or chewing on blankets is a spontaneous activity for canines. But sometimes, they might do it to attract attention due to boredom, hunger, or even to reduce stress. All of which can be taken care of if noticed carefully.

Got your answer? But I’m sure you want to know more.

Follow the rest of the article to learn about this topic in detail!

Is Dog Nibbling On Blankets Abnormal? 

Nibbling is a very typical behavior for dogs. It’s their instinct. That’s why they try to nibble on you too. 

Dogs with hunters, guards, or slightly bigger sizes show nibbling more than other dogs. But every dog breed is prone to a chewing problem.

You don’t necessarily have to worry about this as abnormal behavior.

Nonetheless, this could be a problem if the chewing is excessive. 

Before we get down to how to stop this from happening, we need to know why it happens. 

Why Do Dogs Nibble On Blankets

As we said earlier, canine animals tend to chew things. For dogs, it’s pretty normal to chew on blankets. 

But sometimes, there could be external factors at work too. Let’s see what could be the causes of this.

1. Your Dog Needs Attention 

Dogs are generally attention seekers. They often want to seek the attention of their owner. Or maybe he or she wants to spend time together with you.

Staying alone all day makes dogs bored. And it makes them do various unwanted behaviors.

They think of you as one of their pack and follow you everywhere, even in the bathroom.

If nibbling on your blanket catches your attention, your dog will be keen to do it more.

If you can’t manage much time for your dog, this could be the cause. Usually, taking your dog out for a walk or playing with him will help reduce it.

2. Problem With Nutrition 

Dogs need a fixed amount of calories in their diet. They can be malnourished if their food doesn’t have the required amount of calories.

You can notice if your dog is getting the proper nutrients through their feces, fur, and behavior. Your dog will be less active and less interested in playing. 

Chewing on non-food objects could be a sign that your dog is hungry.

If you notice your dog being inactive and nibbling on your blanket, you should check on its diet. 

You should check what your dog is eating and how many calories it needs. This could solve the nibbling problem effectively.

But be careful giving your dog fried foods, which is very harmful.

3. Experiencing stress

Dogs can experience stress, much like people. 

Going to new surroundings, a new home, or loud noises can stress your dog out. But it is a factor behind your dog’s unwanted behavior. Different breeds of dogs experience stress at different levels.

Nibbling on your blanket can be the way your dog releases its stress.

Do notice if your pet friend is stressed or not. You will see that your dog spends a lot of time sleeping, constantly pacing, and yawning.

Reducing stress on your dog is the best way to deal with this.

You should help release the stress of your dog. Offer him other chewing pillows rather than your blanket.

Here are some of our favorite chewing toys out there:

Product-1
Product-2 

I hope this helps when you’re picking up a gift for your dog!

Helping your dog relax or giving it an alternative chewing toy will reduce your dog’s nibbling behavior.

4. To Reduce Teething Pain

This is mainly found in puppies. When they are teething, they will feel slight paint in their teeth.

To soothe that, they will nibble on anything they get. And as your blanket is soft, it is a perfect chewing material.

This isn’t a long-time occurrence. When your dog grows teeth, it will automatically stop nibbling on everything.

Also, if your dog is hurt while playing, it could chew on things to get relief. 

Keeping an eye on your dog’s behavior will help you identify the cause. If you don’t want your dog to nibble on your blanket while teething, buy it a chew toy. 

That will help it to be calm and also save your blanket.

5. Weaning Too Early

This isn’t the owner’s fault most times though it is widespread.

It is advised that puppies stay with their mother for a significant time. But due to various reasons, this doesn’t always happen.

As puppies instinctively suckle their mother, they nibble on your blanket. This is a spontaneous act.

This is a behavioral problem. Teaching your dog what to do and what not to do is accessible; this won’t be a long-term problem.

And as for nibbling, you can give them soft clothes or find them something to suckle on.

Let’s explore some of the solutions that you can use.

What Should You Do About It?

From our previous discussion, it is pretty clear that nibbling on your blanket isn’t harmful to your dog. But repetitive behavior isn’t good for your dog.

Do train your canine with some behavioral Coaching. You can give your dog a specific blanket for chewing.

You can train him to understand commands by rewarding him when nibbling on the right blanket.

Do keep an eye on the behavioral changes of your pet friend. Because they might reveal other reasons, your dog might nibble. 

They could be malnourished, upset, or bored.

Give your dog appropriate attention and time. Take them for a walk daily.

You can take them to swim or use a different route to walk. Giving your pet the proper attention will work wonders.

Now you know why exactly your dog nibbles on your blanket. Do use this information to handle the situation better in the future.

FAQs

Is it normal for your dog to lick its paws?

Dogs can lick their paws while cleaning or grooming them. Yes, it is customary to a certain extent. But if it is obsessive, then that might be an indicator of a problem. Licking one particular spot continuously is concerning as well.

Is head tilting often okay for dogs?

Yes, it is. Dogs tilt their head when they make direct eye contact with their owner. Dogs tilt their head to get a better field of view while tilting their head to see their owner’s faces.

Is rubbing ears good for dogs?

Yes, it is enjoyable for dogs. Dogs’ ears consist of several nerve endings. Because of that, their ears are susceptible. Rubbing their ears releases endorphins in dogs which gives them a natural high. And dogs enjoy that a lot.