Why Dogs Lick Blankets
Licking is an instinctual urge and expected behaviour in dogs. Dogs frequently lick things, including us! Most reasons behind licking are nothing to be worried about, but sometimes it could mean something more serious. There are several reasons that dogs lick blankets ranging from sheer boredom to more serious concerns like anxiety.
Dogs tend to lick everything! As puppies, dogs start off exploring the world with their mouth. They continue that into adulthood! Exploring the world with their mouth by chewing and licking is very normal behaviour.
Dirty Blanket
The most apparent and innocent reason your dog may lick his blankets is that they’re dirty. Usually, when we use blankets, we’re curled up on the couch watching TV. Oftentimes, we even have our favourite snack with us.
Dogs have over 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, and their sense of smell is about 40 times greater than ours. Even if the blanket looks and smells clean to you, it could have microscopic food particles ingrained into the fabric. If you’re snuggling on the couch with your dog eating a snack and drop a crumb, your dog will certainly lick at the blanket in hopes of finding that lost crumb.
If your dog is constantly licking his blanket, the first solution to try would be to wash and dry it thoroughly.
Boredom
Just like people, dogs can get bored if they aren’t mentally stimulated. Some dogs have a tendency to lick when they’re bored. To prevent your dog from getting bored, be sure to play with him throughout the day and make sure he’s getting plenty of exercise.
Allergies
Similar to people, dogs can also be allergic to various materials. If you notice your dog is licking himself in addition to the blanket, it’s possible that your dog may actually be allergic to the blanket.
Some fabrics are more likely to cause allergy problems in your dogs versus other fabrics. Synthetic fabrics that may have flame retardants on them are known to cause allergy problems.
If you suspect your dog may have an allergy to your current blanket, replace it with a material that is less likely to cause allergies. Blankets made from natural fibres such as cotton or hemp are good options.
Anxiety
Licking in dogs is known to be a self-soothing behaviour. Just like people, dogs can also suffer from anxiety for many different reasons. Each dog is an individual, and anxiety presents differently in each dog. Licking actually releases endorphins in dogs and makes them feel good, which eases their anxiety.
If your dog has anxiety, he would experience other symptoms such as:
- Aggression
- Fearfulness
- Panting
- Pacing
- Shaking
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Destructive behaviour
Anxiety in dogs is often triggered by certain events, such as a new family member moving in. In most cases, the anxiety associated with these events goes away once the dog becomes familiar with the new situation. If you haven’t had any household changes or if your dog experiences these symptoms for a period of time, you should contact your veterinarian.
Canine Compulsive Disorder
You’ve likely heard of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in humans. Dogs can suffer from the same condition, but in dogs, it’s called Canine Compulsive Disorder. Canine Compulsive Disorder is when a dog performs normal behaviours but in an excessive and repetitive way. These behaviours are so excessive that it is difficult for the dog to stop and can even affect the dog’s normal ability to function.
Licking is a common behaviour in dogs that starts off as normal but can become compulsive. Once the licking becomes excessive to the point of interfering with the dog’s normal ability to function, it can be a sign of Canine Compulsive Disorder.
If your dog’s licking is due to Canine Compulsive Disorder, it would be hard for your dog to listen to you when you tell him to stop. Considering how often your dog is licking a blanket would also help you determine if it is a compulsive behaviour or not.
Any dog can suffer from Canine Compulsive Disorder. Doberman Pinschers, Bull Terriers, and German Shepherds are three breeds that are most susceptible to it. Doberman Pinschers are prone to constant flank sucking, which is when they continually take the skin on their flank in their mouth and suck. Bull Terriers and German Shepherds are prone to constant tail chasing and spinning.
If you suspect your dog has this disease, it is important to get him to your veterinarian for a diagnosis as soon as possible. This disease can be tricky to diagnose. It can be difficult to tell if the dog is just being extra energetic or if he is being compulsive. It is helpful if you can video your dog’s episodes and show them to your veterinarian.
How To Stop Unwanted Licking
While licking blankets won’t make your dog sick, it can be annoying for you. Your dog can ingest hairs and other particles and foreign bodies. While this isn’t likely to seriously harm your dog, it could cause your dog to cough or hack. You should try to discourage your dog from licking blankets excessively.
Teach a “Leave It”
“Leave it” is a useful cue that can come in handy in a variety of different scenarios. To teach your dog how to leave it:
- Place a treat on the floor.
- Tell your dog to “leave it.”
- If your dog tries to get to the treat, be sure to cover it with your hand or foot so that he can’t get it.
- When your dog looks away from the treat and looks up at you, use a verbal marker such as “yes” to mark this moment.
- Reward your dog with a treat.
Once you’ve practised this several times and your dog understands this, you can use this cue to get your dog to stop licking the blankets.
Increase Mental Stimulation
It’s important for your dog’s mental and physical well-being that he is mentally stimulated throughout the day. If you suspect your dog is licking blankets because he may be bored, try increasing his mental stimulation. Give him some new toys and play with him more throughout the day. You can even increase the amount of exercise he gets by playing a game like fetch in the backyard.
Redirect To an Appropriate Toy
Licking is a self-soothing behaviour which can release endorphins and make dogs feel calmer and more relaxed. Because of this science, there are actually products on the market called LickiMats, that exist to give your dog an outlet for safe licking.
To use a LickiMat, you simply take some sort of wet food and smear it all over the mat. Then, you give it to your dog to enjoy. Not only does it slow them down when eating, but it also encourages them to lick, which releases those endorphins to make them feel calmer. You can even freeze the LickiMat so that they last longer.
Giving your dog this toy allows him to fulfil his desire to licking onto an appropriate object.
Reduce Access to Blankets
The easiest way to discourage your dog from constantly licking blankets is by simply storing the blankets in a place where your dog can’t reach them.
Unpleasant Sprays
If you’ve tried everything else, oftentimes spraying something on the blankets that your dog finds unpleasant will cause them to leave the blankets alone. Using a solution that is 50/50 water and vinegar is a non-toxic and non-harmful solution. Dogs generally don’t like the smell of vinegar, so this solution could potentially do the trick.
Conclusion
In most cases, licking the blankets occasionally is completely normal and not harmful. If your dog is constantly licking the blankets, you can try some of the techniques mentioned to get him to stop licking. If that still doesn’t help and if you are concerned that your dog is excessively licking blankets, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
