Dog mouthing pillows and kneading with front paws

[tinymeteor]

When our dog is very tired he will sometimes grab a big mouthful of the nearest cushion or blanket, and paddle away at it with his front paws. It looks a lot like a nursing puppy, and seems to be a comfort thing.

Anyone else's dog do this, and do you know why? Does it indicate a problem (e.g. removed from mum too soon? His breeder was vv reputable but quite old school, so I wonder a bit). Or is he just a particularly soppy character?

[Ilovecaindingle]

Ah. Our cats do this - suck a teddy and peddle on it. The vet said they were taken away from their mother too soon. It is just a comfort thing.

[Deadnettle]

My dog does a similar thing, she sucks her paw while lying on her back as a comfort thing. My dog left her mum at 10 weeks so its not due to her having left her mum too soon.

[BikeMum8]

We've had two that did this, but with a favourite toy. Our next two haven't. No ideas why, or why not!

[applesareredandgreen]

My dog also does exactly this. He pulls the pad from his bed and sucks on it. He seems to do it to calm himself after he has been particularly excitable. It probably is a comfort thing but as others have said not because he left his mom too young (9 weeks)

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

My pup does it when she is given bed rights - she is aloud in with us first thing every morning and always sucks the duvet. I think it's quite sweet as the rest of the time she is a teething terrier/ furry crocodile. She did not leave her mum too early.

[tinymeteor]

Thanks for all these, it sounds like it's not an early separation thing then. Maybe our dogs are just massive wusses sensitive souls!

[Chunder]

My 5 year old spoo has lots of pillows for the same behaviour. He regularly goes to sleep with a big bit of pillow in his mouth. We call them his dummies. He was 10 weeks when we took him home.

[BakeOffBiscuits]

My 14 year old Jack Russell has always done this and she didn't leave her mum until she was 11 weeks.

She's always had a little soft toy which she uses and usually goes to sleep with it in her mouth. I think it's just like a child with a comforter. It's very sweet .

[eurochick]

Our cats did this until they were old ladies.

[MrsBungle]

My 8 year old Weimaraner does this - he left his mum at 12 weeks. He does it then falls asleep.

[minmooch]

My 7 year old lab does this and always has. We bought him home at ten weeks.

He falls asleep in the living room with his blanket. Doesn't have it in his bed though. He's a big softy.