Is your dog obsessed with flying feathers and keeps running behind them? That’s not surprising at all!
Dogs love to chase feathers. Whenever they are able to catch the feathers, they feel victorious or satisfied. Some dogs even enjoy eating feathers. However, such tendencies are restricted to some dogs only.
Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Croissants? (What You Should Know)
There may be several reasons why your dog loves feathers. This article will discuss some of those reasons and educate you about the health impact that chasing or eating features has on dogs.
View this post on Instagram
This is important because your dog may react differently to different types of feathers. For instance, small downing feathers left by passing birds, more giant feathers discovered while out walking, or even synthetic feathers floating around in your house can affect your dog differently.
Contents
5 Possible Reasons Why Dogs Love Feathers
The meaning of feather is different in different scenarios. For example, in spiritualism, feather meaning is entirely different from what dogs perceive. It denotes wisdom, freedom, and truth.
But here are the five common reasons why your dog loves feathers:
1. Dogs Can Find Feathers Mysterious
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and many of them find feathers to be captivating. Their attraction to feathers may stem from the fact that they are unfamiliar with such things.
And just like we, as kids, were curious about new things and wanted to explore them, dogs love to do the same.
Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Potato Salad? The Ultimate Guide
Whenever a feather falls from a bird’s body and floats around in the air, we are amazed by it and sometimes even awed by it.
But dogs look up and are simply mesmerized by the floating feather(s). They may even perceive a threat and begin to woof energetically. They can’t even keep calm once the feather is on the ground. They will move around it until they get a clear picture of the safety of that feather.
2. Dogs Can Perceive Feathers to be Items for Fun And Play
Chewing is a natural habit of dogs. They are curious creatures who enjoy playing with anything they come across, whether it’s your shoes or any soft item.
Pets may chew on valuable goods when bored or lonely. Thus, you should keep such items away from dogs.
As a result, your dog will most likely begin to play with a feather if it comes across them. They may even chew on it, which, let us assure you, is completely safe.
3. Insufficient Nutrition
Sufficient nutrition is essential for each creature. So, if your dog is consuming feathers for the first time, it may be due to a nutrient deficiency or an inadequate amount of food.
They may resort to actions like licking the wall, eating seaweed when you’re out on the beach, and chewing clothes when they don’t receive the required nutrition. They also run towards feathers and eat them.
Read Also: Are Chow Chows Hypoallergenic? What to Know About Allergies?
Dogs adopted by animal hoarders frequently exhibit nutritional deficiencies. That’s because hoarders acquire many more dogs than they can truly care for and that results in tremendous neglect.
4. Dogs Can Perceive Feathers to Be Dangerous
Your dog may consider feathers to be dangerous, which means they can see feathers as threats. Dogs naturally bark or try to attack the things that make them scared. They run and try to grab or stay away from such things. It could be a possible reason for your dog’s obsession with feathers.
It’s possible that when your dog was a young puppy, a fowl attacked them. Or perhaps you scold your dog for chewing on the cat’s toy, which scares them. Another scenario is a family member chasing the dog using a dry-flying treble hook.
5. Maybe It’s In Their Genes
Did you know that certain dogs have a condition known as “globophobia,” where they have an unreasonable dread of balloons? Something similar can happen when it comes to dogs and feathers.
Some dogs are more prone to phobia formation, for instance, when they have not been properly socialized as puppies. The phobic reactions could show up later in a dog’s life. They are also fascinated with the smell of feathers and inclined towards feathers.
Because they frequently smell like birds, most dogs may link feathers with food. So, you shouldn’t be surprised if your dog chases and nibbles on a bird’s feather.
Read Also: Do Dogs Have Birthmarks? A Comprehensive Guide.
Do Some Dogs Hate Feathers?
While some dogs adore feathers, others despise them. Dogs that dislike feathers and are utterly terrified of them get freaked out. This specific condition in dogs is known as “Pteronophobia.”
The anxiety and fear of becoming tickled by feathers are called pteronophobia. The Greek origins of pteronophobia are “Ftero,” which means feathers, and “Phobos,” which indicates fear or strong repulsion.
FAQs
Should I Let My Dog Play With Feathers?
If you find that your dog is fascinated with feathers, you shouldn’t have to worry because it’s not toxic or dangerous. Simply make sure your dog isn’t chewing on feathers to make up for nutrient deficiencies. In that case, you should take corrective measures without delay.
What To Do If My Dog Eats A Feather?
Feathers can help cleanse the digestive tract of your dog. Dogs can also benefit from cleaning their teeth using bird’s feathers as they help to eliminate plaque and stop tooth decay.
But a thing to note is that dogs can’t digest feathers. Under most circumstances, your dog will either vomit the feathers out or release them as excreta. So, look at their stools after they swallow the feather.
How To Avoid My Dog Chasing Feathers?
Choking hazards is one of the many reasons why you may not want your dog to chase feathers. The best way to stop dogs from chasing and eating feathers is to train them properly. Just teach them that chasing and eating feathers is not something they should be doing and that should suffice.
Conclusion: Reasons Why Dogs Love Feathers
Whether your dog is fascinated with feathers because they want to play with them or are afraid of them, you should let them enjoy or express themselves.
However, it would help if you kept an eye out to avoid serious injuries or accidents. No one can predict how your dog will respond to feathers. But you can make pretty good assumptions based on what you just learned in this article and respond accordingly when your dog comes into contact with feathers.
