Suckling behavior

Morgan · Puppy Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Cecilton MD

My 6 year old Weimaraner likes to take her stuffed animal toy and, best I can describe, "suckle" it! She usually does this in the evening after she's done playing. She kind of gets in a daze and focuses only on her toy, and will continue to suckle her stuffed animal for hours, ending when it's bedtime. I can break her from doing it by trying to start playing with her or by offering to let her outside, so I don't think she's totally out of it. Just wondering what would cause this behavior (issues when she was a puppy, got her when she was 9 months old) and whether or not this is a bad behavior?

oregonweim · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

my long hair is a notorious suckler, while my older female does it on occasion when she has 'tude' going.

KaspersMom · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:29 am Post subject:

My dog randomly suckles in his sleep...it's kinda cute...he's also a runner in his sleep....that drives me nuts.

platypus · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:14 am Post subject:

My 8 month old weim does that when he is in his crate and bored.

scmeg72 · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:26 am Post subject:

Bonnie and butler both do it...usually when they are mad about something

Here's Mr. Butt

Emma-J · Puppy Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

When we got Emma, the mom was on site and she was doing this...my husband and I just kinda laughed it off, but then she started doing this! I'm just glad it's this and not ripping em to shreds like our lab likes to do! It's definitely cute for sure and has ppl going...what the heck??
Glad to know it's not just my crazy girlie!

clarkiek · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:

Linkin used to suck on his stuffed animals all the time. It was soooo cute! He doesn't do it very much anymore though. Crying or Very sad

Here are a couple of videos from when he was younger. Sorry for the poor quality.

Link

peppernaei · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject:

Marvin is a suckler. He doesn't do it all the time but I am amazed how wet he can make things. The first time he did it he was small and I didn't see it so I thought he peed - now his pee would drench the toy and everything else.

BAYLOR · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Baylor is 2 and 1/2 and she still does it eveynight at bedtime and every time she takes a nap.

Morgan · Puppy Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Cecilton MD

So basically this is a trait of the Weimaraner? I've had other dogs, different breeds, before and have never noticed this. Does anyone understand why a dog would continue to do this type of behavior even later in life?

bgoode11 · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:41 am Post subject:

I'm not sure why they do it but bailey is just over one year old and she suckles her favorite duck's butt for hours. If she is ever getting on our nerves we just say "where's mr. duck." She finds him and will suckle him until she goes to sleep. Its a great babysitter for her. She also goes into a trance like state.

Funny animals

nicwithcandy · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

Newman is 9 and does it every single night before going to bed. He sucks on his blanket and then comes to bed!

CoopersMummy · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Cooper is exactly the same. He has his 'mumbo ball' which is a fleece covered round ball pillow which he loves and suckles them to death. He started at about 7 months old and is now 2 and does it when ever he is the house - he searches for it as soon as he comes in the door and falls alseep with it like it is a pacifier. At bed time, he picks it up and takes it with him to his crate.
he also kneads it with his big paws - like he was kneading a big ball of pizza dough. do your Weims knead as well?

nicwithcandy · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject:

Yup! Newman kneeds as he sucks!

bgoode11 · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

Yes, bailey's idea of a good night is suckling and kneeding her duck while parked right in the middle of mom and dad