Why Does My Dog Nurse on Stuffed Animals? Heres What Experts Say

So, I’ve got this dog, a real cutie, but lately, I’ve been catching him doing something kinda weird. He’s been nursing on his stuffed animals. Yeah, you heard that right. Like, full-on treating them like they’re his mom or something. At first, I thought it was just a one-time thing, you know, dogs do weird stuff. But it kept happening, and I started to get a little curious and, well, a bit worried.

I did what any concerned dog owner would do – I hit up the internet. I typed in “why does my dog nurse on stuffed animals” into the search bar and started scrolling through the results. There were tons of articles and forum posts about it, and it seemed like I wasn’t the only one with a dog who had this habit. Some people were saying it’s a comfort thing, like a pacifier for dogs. Others were saying it could be a sign of anxiety or stress.

I started observing my dog a bit more closely. Was he stressed? He didn’t seem particularly anxious, but he did seem to do it mostly when he was settling down for a nap or at bedtime. It was like his little routine to help him relax. That made me think about when puppies are with their moms, and how they nurse to feel safe and secure. Maybe that’s what he was doing, trying to recreate that feeling?

I tried giving him a new chew toy to see if that would distract him, but no luck. He still went back to his stuffed animals. I even tried hiding them for a bit, but he just seemed confused and a little sad. That made me feel bad, like I was taking away something that was important to him. I mean, it’s not hurting anyone, right?

Here’s what I learned about why dogs might do this:

• Comfort and Security: It seems like the most common reason is that it just feels good. It’s like a self-soothing behavior, kind of like how babies suck their thumbs.
• Anxiety and Stress: Some dogs might do it if they’re feeling anxious or stressed. It’s a way for them to calm down.
• Early Weaning: I read that sometimes puppies who are taken away from their moms too early might develop this habit. It’s like they’re trying to make up for that lost nursing time.

At the end of the day, I decided not to worry about it too much. He’s a happy, healthy dog overall, and if nursing on his stuffed animals makes him feel good, then who am I to stop him? It’s just one of those quirky things that makes him unique. Plus, it’s kind of adorable, in a weird way. I just make sure he doesn’t actually ingest any stuffing. That’s a vet bill I don’t need!

I’ll keep an eye on him, of course, and if anything changes or I notice signs of actual stress, I’ll definitely talk to the vet. But for now, I’m just gonna let my dog be a dog, even if that means he’s got a bit of a plushie obsession.