Anyone who has the privilege of living with a dog knows that canine behavior often turns out to be intriguing. After all, who has never wondered why the dog spins in circles before doing his business on the street? Or even at bedtime: who has never noticed that these animals have the habit of "digging" the bed before lying down? Dog behavior is very curious, it does not giveSo when we see an adult dog "sucking" on the blanket, it can raise some questions. Is it something normal or is it indicative of a health problem? Does he do it because he is anxious or stressed? Understand what's behind this canine behavior!

Is "blanket sucking" considered normal dog behavior?

According to veterinarian and behaviorist Renata Bloomfield, when a puppy begins to exhibit this type of behavior, it is important to do an analysis of his general health with the help of a veterinarian. "First, endocrine, gastrointestinal or neurological changes must be excluded. If everything is right with the animal, then we start to think about whether it is a disorder of the body.canine behavior or if there is some other factor that may be leading the puppy to suck the blanket, "he reveals.

In the case of a physically healthy dog, what can trigger this type of attitude is anxiety. According to Renata, animals that do not have any type of environmental enrichment inside the house tend to be more vulnerable to such behaviors. "The animal has nothing to do, so he ends up taking a cloth to suckle. This, in a way, brings benefit to him, because there is a release of energy.endorphin, which is something very pleasurable for dogs," she explains. In this way, dogs come to associate the act of sucking on the blanket with a positive feeling, making it repeated more often.

How to deal with an adult dog that sucks on the blanket?

For those who have a puppy that has the habit of grabbing the blanket and sucking on it, the first step is to understand the motivation behind this canine behavior. It may be indicative of illness or other health problems, but in the case of a healthy dog, anxiety is usually the main cause. If this is the case, it is important that the guardian and the family direct the dog's stimuliIt should be borne in mind that when the animal bites and gnaws at things, they release a lot of energy, so the ideal is to have an accessory for this purpose. There are different models of nibblers - just find the one that pleases your four-legged friend the most. "If the family sees that the dog is sucking, just take the blanket off calmly and withoutThen just give him something appropriate to bite, redirecting his attention and encouraging him to exchange the blanket for a toy."

Is dog training an option to improve this type of behavior?

Many guardians seek the help of trainers at these times, but there are other professionals who can also help improve the dog's behavior: behaviorists. According to Renata, who works in this area, the behaviorist is the one who provides the consultancy, who guides on what to do, who can identify what may be making the animal anxious inside the house. "Itwill direct and enrich the environment, helping the family to deal with the situation, "he says. In parallel to this, it is also possible to resort to the help of a veterinarian, who will work on the clinical part of the dog, looking for evidence and signs that may indicate a health problem that is motivating the behavior.

Behavior can be prevented with environmental enrichment for dogs

If you don't want your puppy to develop this type of behavior, you have nothing to worry about. A good way to do this, according to the professional, is to invest in enriching the environment in which your pet lives. Whether with interactive toys, differentiated feeders, nibblers to relieve stress or giving more attention to the pet on a daily basis: there are several ways to promote this behavior.Thus, he will hardly feel the need to suckle on the blanket or something like that. In addition, Renata also highlights another important measure, which is to check up on the animal regularly. It is recommended that dogs up to 6 years old visit the veterinarian at least once a year, and from 6 years old these visits should happen at least every 6 months, in the next year.With medical monitoring, it is much easier to understand when there is something wrong with the animal's health.