Hi I am new here and would like some advice. I have a Newfie cross Collie, Tayla, (strange i know) who the vet thinks is about 10 months old and more Newfie than collie as she is huge built and really hairy!. We rescued her in terrible shape at about 20 weeks old but she is now pretty much up to speed. My problem is that she seems to still think she needs to suckle and her favorite thing to do it on is my bed quilt! She bunddles it all up and then sucks it till it is dripping! (Anyone with a Newf will know about the drool!) Im not sure if this is a natural thing to do and dont know how to respond to the behaviour. Should I give her a quilt of her own or try to stop the behaviour? I know she is still really a pup but I have never seen a dog do this before. Any advice would be great.

Many thanks

Sandra

The best way to stop most unwanted behaviours is to ignore them (as it's often the reaction from the owner that rewards the behaviour) but in this case she's already getting the reward. I'd distract her by clapping my hands or making some other 'sharp' noise to get her attention, then calling her to me, ask for a 'sit' and reward that with a favourite game..... You might want to look into the reason for her sucking and seek to make her feel more secure in some other way - like installing a Dog Appeasing Pheramone defusser (DAP defusser available from your vet) or look into Bach Remedies such as Mimulus or Cerato for Abandonment (fear of) and need for reassurance.

HTH

my dane did this while he was growing up (and still is) but he has stopped now.

Thankyou to you all, maybe she will grow out of it! I dont think she is worried about anything and she is hardly on her on, I only leave her to pick the kids up from school and to do the shopping! She even come to the school with me sometimes! I will try to distract her from it and play like suggested and see how that goes.

my cat does this suckles on things, think its a comfort thing- like babies with a dummy. At least your dog will understand the word 'no' my cat doesn't it just looks at me as if i'm stupid :D

Hi Sandra,
My bulldog is 4 now and has always suckled. We buy him cuddly toys and they only last about a fortnight then they are gross. could you not give her an alternative and see if it works, put a lock on your bedroom door as well.
I used to have a newf and they are lovely.
Sam x

Hi Sandra and Tayla. When she has her own sooky things you could cover the bed, cushions and other targets with tin foil. I used John fisher's tin foil trick to keep Morse off my daughters futon and it worked really fast. She sounds sooooo sweet and dribbly:)

Thankyou so much for all the advice, I will try the ideas to see how we get on! Ive tried her with cuddly toys but she only does it to my quilt! Will keep the door shut and get her a little something of her own to suck! She is not distructive and is sooooo sweet as she falls fast asleep when she does it! Think it must just be comfort. The drool is getting worse as she is getting older but its part of the package!

Thankyou once again Sandra and Tayla x