If your dog has been nibbling on blankets, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog nibble on blankets? Likely reasons why your dog nibbles blankets are that it likes the feeling or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog nibbles on blankets and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog nibble blankets?
Below are likely reasons why your dog nibbles on blankets and what would make each of them more likely.
Teething
The reason why your dog has been doing it could be that it is teething. This would be more likely if it is young and it has started doing it suddenly. It would also be more likely if your dog has been nibbling on other things as well. In this case, it would help to give it things that it can nibble such as toys or bones.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that your dog has learned that nibbling blankets results in it getting rewards. If you tend to give your dog things such as extra attention or treats, when it nibbles blankets, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Boredom
The cause could also be that it is bored and looking for a way to stimulate itself. This would be more likely if your dog tends to nibble blankets more before getting exercise. In this case, it would help to ensure that it is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed.
It likes the taste
It is likely that your blankets have a strong taste on them. The reason why your dog has been doing it could also be that it likes the taste. This would be more likely if your dog also nibbles other things you use such as your clothes.
Separation anxiety
Your blankets also likely have a strong scent on them which could be calming your dog down while you are away. If your dog has been doing it when you are away, it could be due to separation anxiety. This would be more likely if it starts showing signs of being anxious when you are leaving such as by pacing or crying.
Diet issues
If your dog has also been eating the blankets, the cause could be that there is a nutritional deficiency in its diet resulting in pica. This would be more likely if your dog has been doing it since a change in its diet. In this case, it would help to discuss its diet in a checkup with a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always nibbled blankets
If your dog has not always nibbled blankets, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to something causing it to become anxious, a nutritional deficiency or because it simply gained more access to your blankets.
The timing of when your dog nibbles blankets
If there is a certain time your dog seems to be doing it, it would help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it only seems to do it when you are away, it would be more likely to be due to some separation anxiety.
What to do about my dog nibbling blankets?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Redirect its focus
The first option would be to try to redirect its focus whenever it seems likely to start nibbling your blankets. Things to redirect its focus onto could include toys, bones or to perform a trick.
Avoid encouraging it
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. Instead, it would help to take the blankets then to avoid giving it extra attention when it does nibble blankets and to reward it when it is being well behaved.
Give it other things to nibble
It would also help to try giving it other things to nibble such as toys or bones.
Keep the blankets out of reach
If you cannot get your dog to stop nibbling blankets, another option would be to keep them out of its reach when you are not using them.
Why does my dog nibble blankets at night?
Likely reasons why your dog nibbles blankets at night are that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded or that it likes the feeling. If your dog does not sleep with you, it could also be a sign that it has separation anxiety.
Why does my dog nibble blankets before bed?
The reason why your dog nibbles blankets before bed is likely to be that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded or that it simply likes the taste. It might also be a sign that it has separation anxiety, if it does not sleep with you.
Why does my dog nibble blankets when excited?
The reason why your dog nibbles blankets when excited is likely to be that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded and that it simply likes to bite things when it is excited. In this case, it would help to stop giving it attention when it does it so that it learns that nibbling blankets is not rewarded.