What makes my dog nibble clothes & furniture? How to stop it?

Question

My dog has started nibbling (with his front teeth) the piping on my pillows, mattress, sofa. He has his favorite chew toys which he still uses, but he will nibble on cloth (the piping edges are what he likes best, but sometimes it's just cloth material of pillowcases, etc. And then he sometimes nibbles on people's clothing (while they are wearing it), leading to a few accidental nibbles on their skin. Any idea WHY he is doing this, and how to dissuade him from nibbling on clothes? Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Male | neutered | 1 year and 3 months old | 12 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, sorry to hear about Bamboo. It sounds like this is a form of destructive behavior which may be associated with a lack of activity or environmental enrichment. Even though he has chew toys, he may need more enhancement such as more frequent walks, play time, or other form of chewing entertainment. Some nipping may be associated with anxiety, especially if this occurs after you have left your house and he is alone. If his behavior does not resolve after increasing his daily activity and providing more enrichment, then he may need to be evaluated by a behaviorist to determine what the next best step is and to rule out separation anxiety. Your veterinarian may be able to direct you to a behaviorist in your area if you need further assessment. Hope this helps and best of luck.

What makes my dog nibble clothes & furniture? How to stop it?

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