20
Feb
Here are the 6 most common reasons why dogs scratch at their beds before laying down for the night. A dog scratching his bed signifies the fact that he is checking the bed for two reasons.
Why Does My Dog Scratch Her Bed.
Why do dogs scratch their bed. The reason why almost every dog digs at their bed is that its a natural instinct in order to make a comfortable warm place to lie down. In this article well go more into detail on why dogs scratch before they lay down and let you know how you can keep them from destroying their dog beds in the process. The Evolutionary Origin of Digging.
There is one other explanation for your dogs bed-digging habit that may actually lead to a better nights rest. When a dog scratches at a cushion they may simply be trying to prepare a. The habit of dogs scratching at their beds is caused by a combination of natural and evolved behaviors all of which are telling your dog that scraping and pawing their sleep space is the right thing to do.
Here are the 6 most common reasons why dogs scratch at their beds before laying down for the night. Dogs love their scent and they also LOVE spreading their scent around and around for all to smell. Your dog may be scratching their bed in order to get their scent all over it.
They also want to mark their things such as their beds with their scent to signify that whatever smells like them is in fact theirs. Go get your own fluffy bed. If you find your dog scratching or digging up their bed for territorial reasons dont wash his blankets or pillows.
Clean bedding wont smell like him and might make him scratch even more. Move The Location of the Bed. Your dog may be scratching from stress if his bed is in a place thats too busy.
One of the main reasons why dogs scratch their bed is because it is instinct. All dogs ancestors once lived in the wild. Wild dogs sleep on the ground and would scratch the soil and turn in circles as a means of making their beds more comfortable and helping to conceal their position from other predators.
If your dog sleeps outside and has no bed he might dig and scratch in his sleeping area in an attempt to get warmer or cooler depending on the weather. Even if you do provide a bed outside some dogs might prefer to dig their own holes in which to sleep according to the ASPCA. Another conceivable interpretation of this behavior is that his instinct is telling him to dig a den to hide in.
In tall grass going around before lying down would flatten the tall grass. This way the dog would form a comfortable surface for resting and would make a nice spot to conceal from other animals. There are many reasons why you dog likes to scratch hisher bed and it might surprise you.
Sometimes the scratching might be destructive that making you start to worry but theres no need to concern actually because dogs do enjoy scratching and digging their bed. Dogs scratch their beds before lying down due to nesting or territorial behavior. They may also do this when theyre feeling anxious curious hot or cold.
Other reasons include critters learned behavior maternal instinct or wanting to hide. A dog scratching his bed signifies the fact that he is checking the bed for two reasons. There are special glands that are attached to the paws of all dogs.
Dogs have scent glands on their paw pads. Scratching at their beds is how they let others know this bed is theirs. Of course you would have to have a dogs sense of smell in order to notice it.
This is why you may notice Fido scratches more when there is a new person or pet in the house. Hes trying to outline boundaries. Dogs enjoy scratching their beds because it helps scratch their territorial itch.
Scratching the Bed Is a Natural Instinct Dogs of all ages enjoy scratching at their bed from time to time whether theyre scratching just a little or a lot. Why Does My Dog Scratch Her Bed. Several factors are responsible for bed-scratching habits.
Your dogs behaviour may be due to one or more of the following. Bed-scratching is a natural instinct. Your dogs wild ancestors scratched at piles of leaves dirt and pine needles to create a comfortable mound of bedding.
The first reason why dogs scratch their bed is that it is a natural instinct. We tend to forget that dogs ancestors roamed in the wild scratching piles of dirt leaves sticks rocks or pine needles to create a comfortable set up which is their bed. This nest that they build would have to be comfortable for uniform positions and act.
Scratching bed symptoms in dogs are natural and are found because of the following reasons. In the wild the ancestral dogs used to scratch the ground to make the area soft and comfortable for them to sleep. Dogs also used to scratch and circle their area to align sticks leaves or other stuff for them to sleep well.
Now that the pests and predators have been cleared away the next form of action is to scratch the bed and get it nice and full of their own scent. This marks the bed as their territory and they wont be happy until they do. The scent is transferred from their paws to the material and it is their way of letting any other dog.
Why do dogs scratch their beds. Dogs have their own bedtime rituals the same as humans. This is the main reason why it takes them so long to lie down to sleep.
First of all they must make their bed properly and they do so by following some steps. We all have our special bedtime rituals and so do our pets. If youve spied your dog scratching pawing or even biting at his bed before lying down it may seem like an odd way to settle in for a nap.
But just as we slather on face cream sip a mug of hot tea or prop open a book before bed dogs have their reasons for this pre-sleep behavior.