Ugh! Why does your dog keep chewing on blankets and ruining them by tearing them up and putting holes in them? What’s happening? Why is your dog chewing on blankets? What does it mean if your dog chews blankets before bed or in their kennel? Is it safe for dogs to chew on blankets? Will your dog grow out of chewing on blankets?

Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this aggravating problem including what you’re probably most interested in: how to stop your dog chewing on blankets once and for all. Soon, this will all be behind you. Keep reading below for our article “Dog Chewing Blanket? Here’s How to Stop It!”

How to Stop Dog Chewing Blanket

To stop dog chewing blanket:

1. Keep your blankets safely stored away in a closet or something similar when not in use.
2. Ensure your dog is never without a proper outlet for their chewing such as a toy they can relax with while staying occupied.
3. Spray a deterrent, like a 1:1 mix of water and distilled white vinegar on your blankets.
4. Diluted vinegar is safe for nearly all fabrics including wool, silk, and cashmere.
5. The smell of vinegar will not be detectable after about an hour, but your dog will continue to be deterred.
6. Give a calm but firm “no” or “stop” right away when you catch your dog is chewing on your blankets.
7. Do not scream or get angry, because if they’re misbehaving like this due to anxiety (which is very probable), this will only make their stress worse.
8. Put them in a brief time-out in their crate or a closed-off room for about ten minutes.
9. If you catch your dog beginning to chew on a blanket, redirect their attention to a toy.
10. Give them praise, a treat, and praise when they choose their toy instead of chewing on the blanket.
11. Be sure that everybody who lives in your house is also following these procedures.
12. Stay consistent and patient.

This will get your dog to stop chewing blankets, but it’s important to remember that the issue which was causing all of this to begin with (anxiety) will still remain. And you definitely need to address that, because not doing so means that your dog will continue to suffer, act up, and misbehave in other ways.

And to do that, we must first discuss what makes dogs tick and has for thousands and thousands of years now. You’ve likely heard before that all dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader.

But when your dog chews blankets, they are definitively showing you that they have no trust for you in this leadership role.

If they did, they wouldn’t get so anxious that they chew blankets and then ignore any commands to stop. They wouldn’t engage in any other types of stress-related disrespect or misbehavior. And they would obey your commands as soon as they’re given, and they would do so happily.

Make it clear to your dog that you are not just their pack leader, but a capable, deserving one who must be respected, and you’ll make all of these great changes your reality.

You’ll win for obvious reasons. But your dog will be the real winner here because you’ll have freed them from all of the confusion and worry that their anxiety issues are currently placing on them every single second of every single day.

Sounds wonderful, wouldn’t you agree?

“Yes, definitely, but how do I do this then?”

You should watch an excellent free video series which is on this exact subject — how to be your dog’s pack leader — by a renowned trainer named Dan. In the series, he explains all you’ll need to know in ways that are very simple to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets immediately to the point so that you can start seeing these crucial changes in your dog before things get any worse.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And no, you’re not going to have to yell or be mean to your dog. Dan uses only 100% humane and loving teaching methods at all times. Not just because they’re the right thing to do, but also because they’re the fastest way to achieve permanent changes in your dog’s behavior.

Why Is My Dog Chewing on Blankets?

Your dog is chewing on blankets to relieve anxiety. Chewing releases endorphins that soothe your dog, and the blankets also have the added benefit of smelling like you. In some cases, it can just be that they’re bored or hungry.

Since it’s a pleasurable activity for them, your dog chewing blankets is not an unusual thing. The problem occurs when your dog is chewing on your blankets and then not listening when you tell them to stop. In addition to the holes they’re creating, this is bad because it’s a clear sign of disobedience and a likely sign that they’re also feeling dominant over you.

They don’t feel the need to obey your commands because they don’t respect your leadership and probably even feel like they’re the one that is in charge. You can’t allow this belief of theirs to continue or their destructive chewing will only become more frequent, and probably will begin showing itself in even worse ways.

You’ll find that your dog is chewing socks, chewing on towels, chewing bed sheets, chewing their bed, chewing pillows, and chewing rugs. Pretty much anything in your home could become a potential target, and they’ll do it all while ignoring you when you try to get them to quit.

The good news is, though, that there is a relatively simple process to get your dog to stop chewing blankets and other things while also addressing the root cause of their behavior (anxiety, dominance, etc). To learn how to do so, go back to the first section now.

Dog Chews Blanket Before Bed

If your dog chews blankets before bed, then something about this time of night makes them stressed. They’re experiencing anxiety, which they then seek to relieve by chewing on a blanket. This process releases soothing endorphins for your dog, which would help to ease their worries about whatever’s bothering them about bedtime.

Consider if there have been any recent changes to you or your dog’s bedtime routine. Did they previously sleep near you and now you have them in a separate room? Have you moved recently? Has it become noisier or brighter in your area during the night? Have there been any significant changes at all?

Anything new with your dog’s nighttime routine (even something that would seem positive) could confuse and stress them. It would then be very common for your dog to seek to relieve their anxiety through chewing, and your blanket is a great option in their mind because it’s soft and likely smells like you.

To learn how to stop your dog chewing on blankets before bed using a simple step-by-step process, and also how to address their root problem, go back to the first section now.

Dog Chews on Blankets in Kennel

If your dog chews on blankets in the kennel, then they are feeling anxious about being in there and are seeking to ease their worries. Chewing releases endorphins and your dog’s kennel blanket likely holds your smell to an extent from when you handle it for cleaning. Remember that dogs have extremely good senses of smell.

Boredom is also a possibility, so make sure that your dog has a few simple, quiet toys to keep them occupied while they’re in their kennel. Be sure that your dog is not spending the majority of time in their kennel (a.k.a. crate), and never more than 8 hours at night. Older dogs and puppies should be let out more frequently for play, attention, potty breaks, and just to stretch.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Chew on Blankets?

It is safe for dogs to chew on blankets generally, but it’s still best to not allow it. In addition to the risk of your dog chewing holes in blankets, there are possible health dangers. Your dog could tear off the fabric which could become wadded and swallowed.

And though it’s not likely, this wad could then compress blood vessels in their intestines, leading to bacterial leakage, a breakdown of tissue, and in some cases even death. Instead, ensure your dog always has chew toys made specifically for dogs available. Give your dog praise, pets, and small treats when they choose this rather than a blanket to chew on.

Will My Dog Grow Out of Chewing on Blankets?

Your dog will not grow out of chewing on blankets. Though it’s possible if they’re a puppy under six months old that they’re still teething which obviously they will outgrow, allowing the behavior will give your dog the idea that it’s okay. It could then become a learned behavior that will continue into adulthood.

Since chewing releases pleasing endorphins for dogs, this action is still going to be enjoyable for them even as an adult. If you notice your puppy (or older dog) chewing blankets, you should address things immediately so that they don’t get a false belief that it’s acceptable. Go back to the first section now where we’ll teach you how.

I’m sure you’re ready to quit finding holes in your blankets, so I’ll let you begin now. Best of luck with everything, and thank you for checking out our article “Dog Chewing Blanket? Here’s How to Stop It!”