Do you ever wake up in the morning to find that your dog has been busy licking and chewing on your bed sheets? It’s a common behavior for dogs, but why do they do it? There are a few different reasons that your dog might be eating your bed sheets. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common reasons and offer tips on how to stop your dog from eating bed sheets!
Why Does My Dog Eat Bed Sheets?
There can be a few different reasons why your dog is eating your bed sheets. Here are the most common causes of this behavior:
Your Dog Is Anxious or Stressed
If your dog is anxious or stressed, they may start chewing on things around the house, including your bed sheets. This is a way for them to release some of that anxiety and stress. Chewing helps to calm and soothe your dog, and it gives them something to focus on other than their anxiety.
Your Dog Is Trying to Get Your Attention
Maybe you want to sleep in on a weekend morning, but your pup won’t stop this incessant licking and chewing on your bed sheets. What gives? In this case, your dog may be trying to get your attention. Dogs are social creatures and they crave attention from their humans. If you’re ignoring them, they may try to get your attention by doing something that they know will bother you, like chewing on your bed sheets!
Even though they know it will likely make you mad, they see angry attention as better than no attention and know that it will get you out of bed.
They’re Enjoying the Salts and Minerals
Have you ever licked your skin after sweating and noticed how salty it tastes? Dogs enjoy the taste of salt and minerals, which is why they may start licking and chewing on your bed sheets. When you sweat, your body releases these salts and minerals, which can be appealing to your dog.
So if you haven’t washed your sheets in a while or it’s summertime, it’s possible that your dog is just enjoying the taste of your sweat!
There Was a Spill on the Sheets
If there was a spill on the sheets, your dog may be able to smell it and try to lick it up. This is especially common if the spill was something that your dog enjoys, like food or a treat. If your dog is only licking one specific area of the bed over and over again, this might be the reason.
Your Pup is Bored
When there aren’t many toys around or much stimulation at all, your dog may be doing this out of pure boredom. They may have already groomed themselves to alleviate this boredom and are now moving on to licking your bed sheets.
They Smell Your Scent
Dogs have a very powerful sense of smell, and they can often smell things that we can’t. When you sleep in your bed, your scent rubs off on the sheets. This is one reason why dogs like to sleep in our beds – they can smell our scent!
If your dog is eating your bed sheets, they may be trying to get closer to your scent. This is especially true if you have recently moved beds or changed the sheets. Your dog may be trying to find your scent and feel closer to you.
Your Dog Is Sick
In some rare cases, a dog may start eating bed sheets because they are sick. If your dog has never eaten bed sheets before and suddenly starts doing it, it’s important to take them to the vet to rule out any medical conditions.
Pica is a condition where dogs eat non-food items, and it can be a sign of an underlying health condition. If your dog is eating bed sheets, vomiting, or showing other signs of illness, please take them to the vet right away.
How to Get My Dog to Stop Eating Bed Sheets?
This behavior can be frustrating since it’s not only destructive, but it can also be costly to replace damaged bedding. If your dog is eating bed sheets due to boredom or anxiety, here are some solutions that may help:
Wash Your Bedding Regularly
If your dog is licking and chewing on bed sheets because they enjoy the taste of salt and minerals, washing your bedding regularly can help. This will remove any sweat or spills that may be appealing to your dog.
Replacing your bedding may also be necessary if it’s been damaged by your dog. This, and deep cleaning your mattress with a pet-safe cleaner, can help to remove any lingering smells that may be appealing to your dog.
Provide Plenty of Stimulation
If boredom is the reason for this behavior, make sure your dog has plenty of toys to play with. Chew toys may be especially helpful to keep your dog’s mouth busy.
Exercise can also help to get excess energy out of your dog, especially if they are on the younger side. This can mean letting your pup spend more time in the backyard, playing fetch, taking more walks, or even visiting the dog park.
A tired dog is a happy dog!
Try a Calming Aid
If your dog is anxious or stressed, there are many calming aids on the market that can help. These include CBD products, ThunderShirts, and puzzle toys. Talk to your vet to see if they have any recommendations. Try these one at a time so you can see which, if any, are helpful for your pup.
Talk To Your Dog and Cuddle More
If your dog is eating bed sheets because they miss you, try to spend more time with them. This may include cuddling, playing fetch, or going for walks together. It can even simply mean giving them more attention while walking around the home. This will help your dog feel more connected to you and less anxious.
Keep Your Dog Out of the Bedroom
If all else fails, the best solution may be to simply keep your dog out of the bedroom. This will prevent them from having access to bed sheets and will stop them from damaging your property. You can use a baby gate or crate or simply close the door to achieve this.
Get Your Dog Its Own Bed
Finally, another solution is to get your dog its own bed. This way, they will have their own space to sleep in and won’t need to sleep in your bed. This can help reduce separation anxiety and may stop them from eating bed sheets altogether.