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Sucking Behavior

Rupert

Mark, I am impressed with your responses to people's problems. I have a 3 year old Sheltie who displays sucking behavior towards me and my mother. We are his primary care-givers. Sucking is only one of his behavior issues, but he frequently sits on us or next to us and sucks on our clothing as if he were nursing. We have never been able to figure out why. I think that he was taken from his mom too early in life. He is very content when he is sucking on us. He doesn't make holes in our clothes, just sucks and nibbles with his front teeth. Any idea why he does this?

• Experienced Advisor Mark Nunez says:

  October 23rd, 2008 at 08:04 PM

  Thanks for the kind words :-)  The first question that came to mind as I was reading was how old was Rupert when he was taken from the litter.  Do you know how old he was?  That can be the cause.  It can also be a form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).  The behavior is like a "binkie" for him.  What other type of issues does he have?

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  Bring Balance to Your Unruly Dog

  I am a general practitioner with a special interest in canine behavior. I can teach you how to restore mental balance in your canine friend and strengthen the bond between the two of you.

  

• User says:

  October 24th, 2008 at 08:09 AM

  Mark, We got Rupert from a pet store when he was 8 weeks old. I am picking up another Sheltie puppy today actually from a breeder and he is 12 weeks. The breeder said that she wont release them untill at least 12 weeks. Rupert was also a runt, he is still very small for his age. He has many compulsions such as attacking the ears/hind legs of our 14 year old Springer Spaniel when he comes in/out of the house. He refuses to let my mother, or anyone else, pick up his food bowl after he has finished eating. He guards it! We distract him and then someone grabs it without him knowing. He is a nibbler too...he puts his nose down as if he were resting on the couch but in reality he is nibbling on the fabric. He makes tiny holes in things. I've heard that shelties can have OCD and I have wondered about getting him some medication to help him overcome his anxieties.  

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• Experienced Advisor Mark Nunez says:

  October 24th, 2008 at 10:19 AM

  Fabric sucking is a manifestation of OCD.  The attacking of your Springer is not OCD, but it is not normal.  This is likely anti-social behavior and likely territorial or protective aggression.  The issue with the food bowl is food aggression.  There are several different medications that can help, but with meds alone you only have a 25% success rate at best.  I would try to find a veterinary behaviorist in your area, or at least someone who has a PhD in animal behavior.  These behaviors can be modified, but it is going to take a lot of time and patience.  You will have to undo years of behavior and teach Rupert how to react differently.  It is not impossible, don't let anyone tell you that it is.  Best of luck.

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  Bring Balance to Your Unruly Dog

  I am a general practitioner with a special interest in canine behavior. I can teach you how to restore mental balance in your canine friend and strengthen the bond between the two of you.