Do Tell: Do Your Dogs Nurse?

August 18, 2008

So the other day I asked if your furry friends have any favorite toys. Seems like Samson's not the only one, as many of you shared about your pets' best snuggle buddies.

I noticed in the comments that a couple of your pets like Eegor and Ruby enjoy sucking on toys, too. Ruby's mom says:

The weird part is that she actually nurses on its head! She carries this gorilla everywhere she goes and when she isn't falling asleep nursing on it, she sleeps on it like a pillow. And although it is the one toy she doesn't automatically tear apart, it still gets really gross so I'm always having to buy new ones on eBay.

I know North also does this – do your pets?

Toys Do Tell Boston Terriers

16 Comments

2 years

OMG I thought MY Boston was the only dog who did this LOL He has a stuffed toy like a 5 point star that he absolutely will not go to sleep without..........I wonder what really makes them do this?

3 years

my 8 yr old chihuahua, petey, does this too. hes usually tough as nails but he has his fav sucking toy. i think its bc he was taken away from his mom too young.

beanniej 3 years

our Boston Terrier, Buddy, does the same thing. He's got leopard printed stuffed bone that we call his "betty rubble bone", and he nurses on it daily. He's on his second betty in two years; he destroyed the 1st one after I put it in the washer-it had gotten stinky! We even posted Buddy the Boston and his Betty Rubble Bone video on utube.

kellyvv 4 years

My Boston nurses too! I thought it was just her! We rescued her when she was a year or two old. She still nurses her toys daily, even four years later. I buy her new toys based on how well I think she will be able to fit them in her mouth. She seems to prefer something with a conical shape. LOL.

raeleerobot 4 years

One time after I had been gone for several days, my chihuahua fell asleep sucking on my finger. But on normal days she has a grumpy bear Care Bear that she carries around and who's tail she's sucked on until it turned into a stub. ew.

clumsymelissa 4 years

My male great Dane (the one on the left) doesn't suckle, but as he's falling asleep, he loves to knead, like puppies do when they suckle or like most cats do. Experts will tell you that pets do this because of a nursing problem, like being taken away from their mothers at an early stage. Cisco does this because he came from a litter of 14, and there just wasn't enough to go around! So don't always think the worst when you see this. Think of a baby sucking her thumb to fall asleep. As long as it doesn't bother you, leave that cute baby to be! Sorry to be a little preachy, I own a pet sitting business and feel the need to educate sometimes.

Bksuga 4 years

Wow i have to say no, I never seen my pooch do this? I wonder if i has something to do with when they were taken away from their mom. malano was taken a little early...hmmm

BigBird 4 years

My Black Russian, Jack, loves to snorgle me! He shoves his nose in my belly and does this whole big noisy long snorty inhale thing-he seems to enjoy it, but I have a permanent damp patch in my belly region!!!!!

Jude C 4 years

Mikey actually nurses on my belly when he's in my lap, and he'll drool and get my shirts all wet :p

JeDuPe 4 years

My chi/terrier started doing it to a teddy bear when she was a puppy. We thought it was so cute, so we let her keep doing it. She still does it about everyday, and she's 3 1/2 years old now! It's still so cute!

elatedbliss 4 years

My 6 month old Shiba does it with my fingers or on my clothing. Very cute.

sonya ina 4 years

I think it's really cute when they do it! Eegor looks so content and it just makes me smile and laugh.

Plastic bee 4 years

My Sam dose that, in his sleep you can tell of he is happy because he will suckle. It's a new thing he's started doing and he'd just turned two!

krad 4 years

I recently wrote a blog post about my ridgeback puppy Lulu, who loves to nurse on her favorite toy, Dirty Bird. It's pretty darn cute. http://girlandadogblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/dirty-bird.html

lawchick 4 years

kitties do this too. I find it a little creepy. I have a soft fluffy robe and my kitten likes to "nurse" on it. I don't let her do it while I'm in it!

Lovely_1 4 years

That is too cute! My pup does it in her sleep (like the suckling motion). it is so adorable!

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16 Comments