Blankets??????????????
Oh for the love of Christ, will these dogs stop with their weird behaviors already?
Most probably not. At the very least, you had every idea what you were getting yourself into when you decided to buy a dog. So if you dog is going to show weird behaviors you never thought was actually possible, best believe you’re going to have to deal with it or fix the issue if there is one.
Having said that, let’s quickly forge ahead.
Assuming your dog has been licking covers a great deal, you may be asking why and what can be done. In this post I will run you through various potential causes and what you can do about this new development you’ve found yourself in.
The first thing that comes to mind is BOREDOM. Even as human beings we find ourselves doing things we don’t usually do whenever we are bored. For instance, if you’re not the kind to read novels or books, you might find yourself reading one in the face of boredom, just to help you kill some time, not that you are necessarily interest in the book you’re reading.
So if you’ve not been giving your dog enough attention lately, or putting various activities in his path, he might end up becoming lonely and bored and will seek out other ways to keep himself happy and busy- licking fuzzy blankets.
Another Potential motivation behind why your canine has been licking covers are that it is restless, it prefers the taste because of sweat or dead skin cells on the cover, it smells your aroma on the cover or that it is a habitual way of behaving. The part of it licking it because of your aroma can also be as a result of your lessened attention for it.
It could also be that your dog has developed some odd behaviors. Whatever be the reason, you might want to consider looking into it.
Why Do Dogs Like and Get Attached to Fuzzy Blankets?
Apart from the boredom and lack of attention from owners, dogs can also indulge in licking fuzzy blankets for a number of reasons which I’ll like to lay some emphasis on as well.
Anxiety
Uneasiness or anxiety could be a potential reason. This would be more probable assuming it has begun doing it after something happened that could make it restless or on the other hand assuming it does it more at a time where it is probably going to be restless.
Assuming it will in general do it more when you are not home; almost certainly, it is because of the fear of abandonment. This would be more probable assuming your canine will in general become restless when you are venturing out from home and assuming it licks the covers that you use yourself since they probably have a solid aroma from you on them.
So if you’re worried that your dog is licking blankets, ask yourself; am I really showing my dog enough love and attention?
Even if you must go out, do you take care of him before leaving?
As much we fail to realize this, physical touch and words of affirmation also has its unique effects on our dogs.
Taste
When we sleep, we might sweat in the process. These body wastes will penetrate into the blankets we use or sheets and change the aroma and taste of these blankets.
Apart from licking the fuzzy blankets because it has a trace of your scent left on it, it can also be as a result of the fact that they like the taste of the blanket. The blankets would obviously be salty.
However, if this is the case, then you should most probably look into your dog’s diet. It is a sign that there is something wrong with his diet and it might require changing, or he isn’t getting enough nutrients.
How To Get a Dog To Stop Licking Fuzzy Blankets?
I’m not sue you’d want your dog to continue this act, so it’s safe to say you should discourage the act. Here are some things you can do to discourage this behavior.
Do not encourage the behavior
Some owners sight this happening and just let it go on, for some reasons best known to them. But this is very wrong, especially if you want them to stop the act.
Rather than overlooking the behavior, you can use a popular method I like to use to discourage behaviors. Award them treats and rewards for every time they don’t lick the fuzzy blanket. However, be careful because some dogs can outsmart you into giving them treats. These dogs are cunny too and sometimes would do anything just so they can get you into giving them treats for being a “supposed” good boy.
Seek professional help
I realized that not many people enjoy visiting a vet, but believe it or not, routine checks are really very important for the health and well being of your dog. So it’s really important that if you notice some odd traits and behaviors in your dog, you’ll want to have that checked out by professionals in the field.
Get some dog trainers
While it may not seem as a viable reason to get a dog trainer, the cause of your dog’s actions and behaviors can also be as a result of not being properly trained. So you might want to get in touch with some dog trainers in the area.
Final words
It would likewise assist with thinking about how regularly your dog displays this. In the event that it has been licking the covers continually, it would be bound to be urgent way of behaving and something you’ll need to find support on from a vet or canine behaviorist.
On the off chance that it does it on rare occasions, it would assist with thinking about what could have led to the eruption of this behavior. Do a critical breakdown and your owner-dog relationship, just to be sure you didn’t miss any steps.