Want to subscribe to our blog?

Why Is My Dog Scratching His Bed or Digging Before Resting?

Written by Adaptil, published on April 18, 2023

Share on:

We may never be 100% certain on all the factors of why dogs do certain things. But from looking at the behaviour of our own dogs and putting this together with where they have evolved from, we can make educated connections on what they are doing and why.

Cooling Down

In the wild, digging behaviours can help dogs find an ideal temperature for sleeping. A dog will walk in circles and scratch away the top layer of grass and soil, exposing the cooler ground beneath to lie in. This can still be seen in our pet dogs at home before they are about to take a nap.

Have you ever seen your dog scratch away at the bed before they lie down?

Even though this may not be as essential anymore, it is still an instinct that is present. This may be more common when your dog is hot, as an attempt to find a cool spot to snooze in.

Adaptil Blog Header Updates (3)

Getting Comfy

It could also be a method of making a comfortable bed for themselves, by scratching they make a hole into the ground which they can go into which can is said to also help conceal them better from potential predators (not that our pet dogs need to worry about this).

Marking Territory

When they scratch, they naturally release pheromones from their paws which marks the bed as theirs. By doing this action they could be telling other dogs that this is their home.

Anxious Behaviour

If your dog is worried about something or anxious, they may behave differently.

ADAPTIL BACK TO NATURE

Take a look atADAPTIL's Back to Natureshort documentary video:An ode to dog origins, friendship and challenges of modern life. Dogs deserve our support to cope with our modern environment.

If your pup seems uncomfortable, it could be an underlying medical cause that is making your dog restless; so be sure to watch out for your dog's rest patterns, body language and behaviour. Please contact your vet for a check-up or contact a qualified clinical animal behaviourist (CAB) if you are worried. Take a look at Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors(APBC) orFellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians(FABC) listfor more information or help.

Following our expert tips will help to ensure your bond with your dog goes from strength to strength.

Make sure to join our community for weekly advice from our dog behaviour experts as well as product offers and competitions. 

Related Posts

19 Ways to Comfort Your Dog in Stressful Situations

19 Ways to Comfort Your Dog in Stressful Situations

Helping your dog cope with stressful situations is key to forming a strong relationship...
Read More
Dog Anxiety – 4 Things Every Owner Should Know

Dog Anxiety – 4 Things Every Owner Should Know

New puppy owner or long-term pet parent? There are 4 things all owners should...
Read More
Happy Dog Expert: Help A Dog With Grief

Happy Dog Expert: Help A Dog With Grief

Dogs can grieve, though not always in the ways we expect. Here we explain...
Read More
Traveling With A Puppy In A Car

Traveling With A Puppy In A Car

At some point in their life, you're puppy will have to jump in your...
Read More

Subscribe to our blog to benefit from our tips and tricks

Legal notice The information collected is intended for Ceva Santé Animale and the group in order to manage your requests. This information can be shared with service providers in order to organize their management. In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations, you have the right to access, rectify and limit the processing of your data. You can also, in certain cases, object to the processing, withdraw your consent and request the deletion and portability of your data. For any request in relation to your personal data, please visit this page.