Understanding why does my dog nibble blankets with his front teeth: Is it anxiety or just for comfort?

Okay, let's talk about this blanket nibbling thing. I noticed my dog, Buster, doing this weird little routine a while back.

First Spotting It

It wasn't like full-on chewing, you know? More like he was using just his tiny front teeth, the incisors, to gently nibble on the edge of his favorite fleece blanket. It looked kinda weird, almost like he was grooming it or trying to clean something off it, but very slowly, very deliberately.

Watching Him Closely

So, I started paying more attention. When did he do it? Mostly when he was settling down for a nap or just chilling out on the sofa next to me. He'd get comfy, let out a big sigh, and then start this little nibbling action. His eyes would get all sleepy. He never did it when he was excited or playing. It was definitely a 'calm down' activity.

I checked the blankets too. No real damage, maybe a little damp spot where he'd been nibbling, but he wasn't tearing them or anything. Different blankets got the treatment, but he seemed to prefer the softer, fuzzier ones.

Trying to Figure It Out

My first thought was, maybe his teeth bothered him? So I took a good look inside his mouth. Gums looked pink and healthy, teeth seemed fine, no obvious chips or soreness that I could see. He wasn't showing any other signs of mouth pain, like dropping food or avoiding chew toys.

Then I remembered way back when he was a tiny pup. He used to do this sort of suckling, nuzzling thing on his littermates and sometimes on soft toys. This nibbling... it looked a lot like a grown-up version of that. Maybe it's just comforting for him?

What I Think Now

After watching him do this for ages, I've kinda just accepted it as one of Buster's quirks. Here's what I reckon is going on, just based on seeing him:

• Self-soothing: It really seems like something he does to relax and feel secure. Like a kid sucking their thumb. He only does it when he's calm or wants to get calmer.
• Leftover puppy behavior: Could totally be linked to that early nursing or nuzzling instinct. Some dogs just keep those behaviors in some form.
• It feels good?: Maybe the texture on his teeth and gums just feels nice in a weird way. Like a gentle massage?

Honestly, I stopped worrying about it much. He’s not hurting himself, he’s not destroying anything. It seems to make him happy and relaxed. Sometimes if he starts doing it on a brand new throw, I might gently redirect him to his own older blanket, but most of the time, I just let him be. It’s just part of who he is. Just another goofy dog thing, you know?