strange behavior? - Page 2

Uh, guys--- Not quite sure of this, but I have a feeling your dogs are chewing themselves out of frustration. The conflict is because your touching them (scratching). They feel it's dominance and don't like it. Instead of biting you, they bite themselves. I have one dog, for whatever reason, allows me to pet him all over. When someone other than myself pets him, he will protest and chewy bite their wrist, not hurtful---well, not terribly hurtful. These are people he knows well--not strangers. If I look sternly at him and say no, he starts chewing himself if they are still petting him. I usually just distract dog and person. 4pack--I would guess your pup is uncomfortable with the touch and doesn't want to bite you--frustration then leads to compulsive self chewing. I could be wrong--I've only had one dog do this---he has extreme drives. (You know that test when people are supposed to sit the puppy down and pet the dog from head to toe, hand running down back? I didn't do it either. Ha)

. a friend of mine has a dog that just started licking the carpet. it was very weird. she did some research and was advised that it could be a nutritional deficiency. started giving him a multi-vitamin and the problem was solved.

Could be a sexual thing, too. My aunt had an Aussie terrier that would grab a throw rug in his mouth, then try to hump it. I also had a male cat that would do a similar thing with blankets. The cat was neutered, interestingly enough, but the dog was not.

My cat was neutered too, at a very younge age. My mom once had a cat that sucked on people. He would do it when picked up on your cheek or neck. I wouldn't doubt it could be my dogs way of trying not to bite me. Thats basicly his love in life, to bite anything. I attribute it to either... it feels good and he is trying to reciprocate (like a monkey grooming another) or it feels not so good, like you said and he is trying his hardest not to hurt me, while trying to say no in his own way. He is not an overly needy dog, he likes to be with me, but about 6 feet away, he is not a snuggler. Last night after I played a game with him I layed in the grass and 3 times he came over and sat right next to me which is rare for him. He actually wanted petting for once. Come to think of it, he didn't do the nibble thing either.

Very interesting. I have had 2 females, one passed at 4 years from an accident my other girl is now 9+. Both were/are Lord Granddaughters. Both if they had/have a large stuffed animal will do that sucking thing and use their feet like a cat kneading. By any chance does your dogs have similar lines? I always found it strange that only these girls did this out of alot of different lines I have had. It is kinda cute. When Kate passed and I got Yette some months later and she did this I was floored. Like getting a piece of Katey back...

my papillon sucks on his bed or "blankie" or a stuffed toy, and drools..then sometimes will try to hump it...I've had a few clients whose dogs did similiar things so I have heard of it before. Normally if I"m concerned it will turn into an obsession we just redirect them to do some obedience exercises every time we see him do that and it changes the behavior. Other people don't mind it as long as it's not obsessive. I wouldn't worry about it unless it bothers you.

I agree with the taking away from the Mother to early.

Now that a few others have jogged my memory, I do recall the blanket sucker also would hump his blanket when he was young. That behavior was discouraged and only lasted a few months. When he continued to suck on his blanket I really didn't mind as it seemed a whole lot better than the alternative. He was neutured at around 3 years but didn't affect his blanket sucking at all. As far as being taken away from the dam too soon, it is possible. I bought him at 8 weeks, but found out afterwards the "breeder" was actually a broker who had purchased the litter of pups from who knows where. Never got his papers, either. The first time I called to ask what happened to the papers, the lady who was so sweet when she sold me the puppy hung up on me. I called again a few weeks later and the number was disconnected.

I have a dobie and she is 10 now, she has done it her whole life, with a blanket, a toy, a towel whatever she can get a hold of. Her mother also used to suck on her own hip!! It was very comical to watch.