What is this?

[RocketDog]

This is hardly earth-shattering, and I know he isn't the only dog to do this, but I don't really know what it is, other than kind of cute. I suspect this is related to what male dogs do when they're tied with a bitch? He has done this from the time he was a wee pup. When he needs to self-soothe, or sometimes if he gets really excited--it's like he knows he needs to calm down--, (or go to sleep) he goes and gets one of these pillows and holds it; but what I find funny is what his paws do when he's holding it heh heh.

I didn't want to get up and risk disturbing it, and my iPhone doesn't zoom, but here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33n...0&feature=plcp

[RocketDog]

30 views and no comments?

[msvette2u]

I think it's just self soothing. We had a Pug that did that. She sucked on the pillow.

[Midnight12]

Have no idea but it's really cute lol

[RocketDog]

His paws just crack me up. It's like he's "caressing" it, heh heh....

[Nigel]

Cause we don't know what it is?? JK!! I can't quite make it but the paw movement is cute.

[carmspack]

yeah, it is a self soothing thing - some dogs are flank suckers .

[RocketDog]

Hurm, what is a flank sucker? Aren't all puppies flank suckers?

He does remind me of Linus when he does this.

[carmspack]

I would have him quit sucking on the pillow . It can build to an obsession . Flank suckers - okay , Dobes are supposed to be notorious for this. To relieve a little stress the dog , when resting, turn his head to the skin part after the ribs and before the back leg , and just hold on and drool . Some go a little further and will nibble the hair , not break skin , just do the grooming nibble , and the dog looks like a sculptured carpet. Other obsessive behaviour is licking , turning in circles .

[RocketDog]

Originally Posted by carmspack

I would have him quit sucking on the pillow . It can build to an obsession . Flank suckers - okay , Dobes are supposed to be notorious for this. To relieve a little stress the dog , when resting, turn his head to the skin part after the ribs and before the back leg , and just hold on and drool . Some go a little further and will nibble the hair , not break skin , just do the grooming nibble , and the dog looks like a sculptured carpet. Other obsessive behaviour is licking , turning in circles .

Aww, ok. He does not exhibit any other types of behavior. He's pretty well-adjusted. In fact, he has learned to differentiate between "his" pillows and ours. But then again, I do not want to have to pack the "dog's pillow" on vacation.