Why Do Dogs Love Pacifiers?

You've surely seen your dog happily pick something up off the floor and start chewing on it, not knowing what it is until you realize it's a pacifier. This baby accessory, whether due to its texture or smell, is something dogs absolutely love.

And honestly, even the fiercest-looking dog looks genuinely funny with a pacifier in its mouth, perfect for a photo to share with all your friends. But pacifiers actually aren't a good toy for dogs, and they can be more dangerous than you'd think.

Why Do Dogs Love Pacifiers?

It's not known for certain whether it's the smell or the texture — soft and chewy, perfect for playing with for a good while. But the truth is every dog gets excited when they find one lying on the street, or get the chance to grab the baby's from around the house.

What they love most is chewing on it over and over, which is why the theory that it's an appealing toy for them due to the nipple's soft, rubbery texture carries the most weight. It's not because they feel like babies, obviously, though it's true they look very cute with one.

The Danger of Pacifiers for Dogs

Pacifiers aren't actually designed to be bitten over and over by a dog's strong jaws, so there's a real chance the pacifier ends up breaking apart in the dog's mouth, and it could swallow a piece of it.

Likewise, it could swallow it whole even without it breaking, causing a serious intestinal obstruction or tracheal collapse, which could put its life at risk. That's why we should keep dogs from playing with pacifiers, since they're not safe for them.

Likewise, if the pacifier belongs to the baby at home, it's not healthy for the dog's saliva to end up on it, since dogs carry very different bacteria from human saliva, and our baby could develop an infection.

Talking to a Dog Like a Baby

Many people also talk to their dogs like babies — when they get home, instead of just greeting them, they shout things like "Where's my handsome puppy? / Who's the cutest puppy in the world? / How's my little one doing?" in a high-pitched, silly voice, very similar to the one we use with babies.

This behavior is partly beneficial and partly counterproductive, since we should never treat a dog like a baby, but it's true that dogs prefer us to talk to them like babies, according to a study conducted by National Geographic. This is due to the tone we use, more familiar and affectionate, not because they feel like babies.

Are There Pacifiers Specifically for Dogs?

Yes, there are plenty of pacifier-shaped toys designed for dogs. But not so the dog can use them like a baby would — they're simply toys. We should make sure it's a quality toy, made of latex so it doesn't break, and large enough to prevent the dog from accidentally swallowing it and choking.

Avoid at all costs any pacifier-shaped dog food, or any toy made of low-quality plastic, since these are extremely dangerous for them.