If you’ve ever caught your dog nibbling on a blanket like it’s their favorite snack, you’re not alone—and there’s more to it than just quirky behavior. From teething troubles to deep emotional bonds, dogs chew blankets for all kinds of surprising (and sometimes adorable) reasons.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common causes behind this habit, and what it might be telling you about your pup’s needs or behavioral traits. Whether you’re raising a puppy or managing an anxious adult, you might just see your dog’s behavior in a whole new light. Get comfortable, grab a blanket (unless your dog is currently making use of it) and let’s dive in!
QUICK SUMMARY
- Teething is a common reason puppies chew blankets, especially during their second teething phase between 3–6 months old.
- Dogs weaned too early may display nursing behavior by sucking or chewing on soft items like blankets.
- Blanket nibbling can be a sign of anxiety, boredom, or a desire for attention, especially in adult dogs.
- Some dogs are simply comforted by their owner’s scent, and a well-loved blanket may carry that familiar smell.
- If chewing becomes destructive or unsafe, use training, deterrent sprays, or safe chew toys to redirect the behavior.
Teething in Puppies
Before we get started on adult dogs, let’s first explore why a puppy would be sucking or chewing on a blanket, as this behavior is fairly common for pups.
If you have a puppy between 6 to 24 weeks of age, it’s very possible they are going through a teething phase.
While some people think there is only one teething phase, puppies actually go through two teething phases! The first is when their baby teeth first grow in, and the second teething phase is when the baby teeth fall out and their new, shiny adult teeth take their place.
This first teething phase takes place between the 3rd and 6th week of growth. Because this happens so early in a puppies life, most people only experience the second phase as most breeders won’t give their pups away until around 8 to 10 weeks of age. The second teething process can take between 2 to 3 months total, and by 6 months of age they should have all of their adult teeth.
Many pups have no issues during the teething process, but some do experience sore teeth and gums, and they may nibble on blankets and other items to help relieve the pain. This is a relatively harmless behavior, but if it continues for too long past the 6th month mark you may need to see a vet to determine if they have unerupted teeth.
They Were Weaned Too Early
Oftentimes, dogs will chew or gnaw on blankets when they were weaned too early. Weaning is the process of moving beyond relying on their mothers for nutrition and care, and beginning to eat solid foods and act more on their own.
Blanket nibbling is a fairly common reaction to being weaned too early and is relatively harmless for your dog. In a way, they are showing nursing behavior with the blanket and maybe trying to make up for lost time. Just make sure they aren’t in danger of choking on the blanket or ingesting something unsafe!
Anxiety Reduction
Is your dog a nervous nelly? They might be using a blanket to help them to self-soothe and get out some of that nervous energy. If your dog frequently displays some other nervous behaviors, like pacing, panting, trembling or other destructive behaviors like digging, there’s a good chance they are chewing away as a way to help relax. It can be kind of like a fidget spinner for dogs!
Sniff Sniff: It Smells Like You!
Your dog might like nibbling on your blanket because it smells like you! No, this doesn’t mean they have dastardly plans to harm you, it means they love your smell and have made this their favorite blanket and toy.
A great majority of dogs absolutely adore their owners (ok, maybe all!) and really see them as the best thing since sliced bread. Dogs release the hormone oxytocin when interacting with their owners, just like humans do when they are around their loved ones. So it could be that your dog just really loves you and wants to involve “you” in their playtime!
Just Plain Bored!
Sometimes, dogs just get bored! Nibbling on a blanket and dragging it around the house might just be something your dog does when there isn’t anything else to do, and they still have energy in the tank. It might have become their favorite toy and chewing, sucking or gnawing on your blanket might have become an activity to pass the time!
If you suspect boredom might be the cause and you want to try and mitigate the behavior, you could try playing with your dog, or taking them for a quick walk to burn off some excess energy and tire them out some.
Seeking Attention
If a dog has figured out that whenever they play with the blanket, they then get attention from you, this behavior could just be a way to get noticed! Many puppies (and to a lesser extent, dogs) will do things simply to get their owner’s attention.
If your dog often drags the blanket or other toys near your feet, or regularly performs other attention seeking behavior like excessive barking, whining, nudging you with their paws or following you all around the house, there’s a good chance your dog just wants some attention and head pats from you! They may also need water or to go outside, so make sure to check.
Painful Teeth in Older Dogs
If your dog is older, it could be that they are experiencing some dental pain or discomfort, and they are nibbling on a blanket to help soothe the ache. If this is a new behavior for them, it’s a good idea to ask your vet about it.
Instinctual Behavior
Finally, it may just be something that’s buried within their genes! Nibbling and chewing on a blanket harkens back to a dog’s wolf ancestry. It mimics what a wolf would do with prey before consuming it, like tearing at it and ripping it. Some of these behaviors are just baked into dogs, and they simply do it because that’s what their ancestors have always done!
Is Chewing on Blankets Safe?
Now for the answer to a very important question – is this behavior safe? Overall, chewing on blankets is a safe behavior for your dog. But, if your pet is swallowing bits of blanket, hurting itself (do you see any blood on the blanket?), or if their favorite blanket has tassels or other decorations that your dog could swallow and or choke on, you need to take action to lessen or completely stop this behavior. If taking the blanket away hasn’t worked or they seem to always find a new one, there are other methods you can try.
First things first, you should always try and supervise your dog when they are biting their favorite blanket. I’m not saying watch them like a hawk, but try to make sure they are in the same room as you, just so you can keep an eye on things.
If your dog is swallowing bits of blanket or hurting itself, it might be wise to take some counter measures to help lessen this behavior.
How To Stop Your Dog From Chewing on Blankets
If you feel this behavior is unsafe or just want to preserve your linens, there are steps you can take to help reduce or stop this behavior completely.
One effective method is spraying the blanket with something unpleasant like bitter apple spray, which you can find at most pet stores. This spray is completely safe for dogs but tastes very bitter, just as the name implies!
You can also try some similar homemade solutions like a mixture of apple cider vinegar and white vinegar or lemon juice. Another alternative in the same vein is using spicy stuff like cayenne pepper or chili powder, which you can apply directly or mix with water and use from a spray bottle.
Effective Training
If you haven’t taught your dog the “Leave It” command, now is the time! Effective training can improve all facets of your dog’s behavior and provide you with helpful commands to help direct your dog.
Try giving your dog a sharp noise or word *right* when they grab the blanket and then taking it away from them. When they give up the blanket, make sure to give them some praise or a treat, and then provide them with an alternative toy.
It is very important to issue the command as soon as possible after they grab the blanket so they can make the association. It will take some time, but with some persistence it will work!
Click here to check out one of our favorite training programs that can help with every aspect of your dog’s behavior!
Alternative Chew Toys
As stated above, make sure to give your pup some alternative chew toys so they have something to chew on. Provide them with a durable toy that won’t present a possible danger to them. At the beginning, you could even pretend to “like” the alternative toy if you think that will make your dog more interested in it. Dogs are much smarter than many of us give them credit for, they pay attention to a lot of what you do!
It's All Chewed Up!
In this article, we covered the myriad of reasons why your dog could be chewing on your blanket. It could be teething, nursing instincts, a love for your scent, or just plain boredom—but whatever the reason, it’s usually more sweet than sinister.
As long as it’s safe, this quirky habit can actually be a window into your dog’s emotions and history. Still, if you’d like your pup to chew a little less on your favorite throw, a few clever tricks and some training can go a long way.
At the end of the day, your dog’s blanket obsession might just be their way of saying, “I ruff you.”
