doberman sucking on blankets?

It's actually very common for Doberman Pinchers to develop this sucking habit. It's considered to be an obsessive-compulsive behavior that's called "flank sucking" (when the dog compulsively flicks itself), or "blanket sucking".

Don't reward your dog by giving him more attention when you catch him chewing. Tell him "NO" or make a loud sound (such as clapping, or shaking a few pennies in an empty metal can) and get him to stop. Once he has stopped for a while and is no longer chewing THEN you can play with him or pet her or just tell him that he's good. Just make sure he knows the chewing behavior is not what he's being rewarded for.

Many times dogs with this habit can't be interrupted out of it. It really does the dog no harm, as long as the object of his desire is clean.

For compulsive behaviors that can't be interrupted, that interfere with normal functioning or result in physical injury, medications like Prozac and other serotonin re-uptake blocker can help. They stabilize the dog's mood so he can respond more readily to behavior modification techniques. Medications are especially effective with dogs when they have a regular schedule, lots of mental stimulation, exercise and social contact.

You can read more about the blanket sucking behavior here:

http://www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/objectsu...

So why do they do it?

Although there has been no research into this phenomenon and no one really knows the answer, it would appear to be more common in those dogs that have sensitive natures and who have retained a juvenile attitude even when they mature.

Such dogs are more likely to be loving and sweet-natured, to be more dependant on the company and protection of their owners, more unhappy about being parted from them and more likely to suffer from disturbances if rehomed or separated from their owners.

Object sucking or holding seems to provide the comfort needed by such dogs at a time when they are tired, perhaps in a similar way to puppies who feed first before sleeping.

Whether or not this action is a substitute for the comfort once provided by the mother is not clear.

Either they were taken away from their mother to early or never got the right nutrients. Id ask a Vet what to do or if there is really anything you can do. My kitten had this habit ever sence we bought her 5months ago.

Happy Holidays!

They weren't weaned properly and probably its a nervous thing try leaving more toys out like stimulating toys to keep them busy

my sisters boyfriends dog does that also until he goes to sleep he is a pit mixed about 5years old they seem to get high off suck on the blankets or shirts