Suckling behavior

dmi2 · Puppy Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

Wiems are a very affectionate breed. They need their security. Although they are very protective of their family and will protect you with their life. They love affection and will chew or suckle objects to relieve being board as they get older. You must remember they love to get out and play. If you are not providing your companionship by getting outside with them and letting them run and play they will get board quickly and develop habits that may look cute, but are signs needs. A Wiem needs to get out every day with someone from the family and play no matter what age the Wiem is. In my experience a Wiem needs more than a once a day walk or run. Throw them a toy and burn off energy. They want your companionship but need you to go out play. If the weather is bad find a soft toy you can throw in the house for them to retrieve. If you can get out, while your out playing, use the opportunity to train. Your Wiem wants to please you! show them how they can with play time! Your Wiem is a constant training mission, if you let up they will train you!

dmi2 · Puppy Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

Wiems are a very affectionate breed. They need their security. Although they are very protective of their family and will protect you with their life. They love affection and will chew or suckle objects to relieve being board as they get older. You must remember they love to get out and play. If you are not providing your companionship by getting outside with them and letting them run and play they will get board quickly and develop habits that may look cute, but are signs needs. A Wiem needs to get out every day with someone from the family and play no matter what age the Wiem is. In my experience a Wiem needs more than a once a day walk or run. Throw them a toy and burn off energy. They want your companionship but need you to go out play. If the weather is bad find a soft toy you can throw in the house for them to retrieve. If you can get out, while your out playing, use the opportunity to train. Your Wiem wants to please you! show them how they can with play time! Your Wiem is a constant training mission, if you let up they will train you!

jaegertheweim · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

Jaeger suckled a lot when he was a puppy and does it occasionally now. He usually does it when he's feeling sleepy- he'll grab one of his stuffed toys, jump on the couch and lay in my lap, suckle for a little bit then go to sleep.

He gets plenty of exercise each day so I dont think he does it because he's bored?

bgoode11 · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject:

Bailey gets plenty of attention and activity, if not physical then definitely a brain challenging activity. I believe boredom has nothing to do with the fact that she suckles.

Most dogs destroy when they get bored.

BAYLOR · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

jaegertheweim and bgoode11 I definitely agree with you guys. Baylor gets daily exercise and she still likes to suckle (or nurse as I call it) this one toy she has every night at bed time or every afternoon during her many naps. When she is bored on the other hand she gets toys and rips and snorts and shakes them throwing them in the air and catches them or if she feels like being calm she gets her bone and chews it.

KaiserIsNutso · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

Oh my gosh... Kaiser does this! We call it "zombie chewing" because he seems to go into a trance. When my boyfriend found out about this forum he wanted me to ask and see if it was normal... I guess so Smile

Glad to know he is just being a weimaraner.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

My Staffie (that I adopted, and had for 3 years until my ex boyfriend stole him and disappeared Evil or Very Mad

) used to do that all the time.

I honestly think it's comfort behavior. Same as when a cat "bakes bread" and purrs.

Some people will say it's because they were taken from Mom too young, but I don't believe that.

I think that if a dog or cat suckles regularly, as odd as it may look, it's just a sign that they're comfy in their surroundings.

So that's a good thing!

Here's Trent and his blanket. He would "poof up" a piece between his paws and suck on it. He did it every day. I attibuted the frequency of it to the fact that he was a shelter puppy, and he was just comfy to be out of a cage.

KaspersMom · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

My dog gets plenty of exercise both physically and mentally as well. He doesn't suckle on a blanket or toy...he just does it in his sleep as if he is dreaming.

krisnkaipo · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject:

Too funny, Wilson does this and we thought it was the "taken away from the mom young" as well.....he went through 6 weeks of doggy school with a stuffed toy in his mouth. When I asked the instructors they said if it made him happy and calmed him down then why would I want to take away his stress reliever. He generally has either a tennis ball or a stuffed animal anywhere he goes. He will fall asleep with a "baby" in his mouth.

Oh ya, he probably gets more exercise and mental stimulation than most, I run him almost everyday (we train for 1/2 marathons) and he gets babysat by my parents while I am at work. My dad takes him running as well and has fun devising creative "projects" for Wilson to work on during the day. We have a trail behind the house we go for off-leash walks and play ball every-day as well.

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject:

My 2 Weims don't do this (yet) but my Pug has always done this. She actually sucks her thumb (dew claw) to go to sleep or her ducky. It's just a soothing thing for them....

nicwithcandy · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: