Why Does My Dog Dig in His Bed? The Mystery of Dog Bed Digging

If you are concerned about why your dog digs in their bed, you likely have nothing to worry about. But it’s best to manage this behavior to avoid regular replacement of your dog bed, or worse, your furniture, and avoid potential medical concerns.

This article explores the reasons behind this common behavior and provides tips to contain it. Not to mention when you should take the issue to a professional. So find a spot, mark it, and let’s “dig” into this.

Reasons Why Dogs Dig in Their Bed

There are numerous common reasons why your dog is constantly digging in their bed. Like other behaviors, it is usually instinctual. Let’s jump back in time. Before we had domesticated dogs, they lived in the wild, and digging was a natural way for them to make their bed, so to speak.

Digging is how they make a comfy and warm place to lie down and sleep. In other words, it is also a comfort-seeking behavior, but now that we no longer have wild dogs, this activity is still built into their DNA.

But that’s not all. Dogs also dig to mark their territory. Like numerous four-legged critters, your dog has pheromone-releasing scent glands in the bottom of their feet, and digging is a way to show others that they have marked the bed.

Territorial behavior and instinct aside, if your dog’s digging and scratching becomes compulsive or excessive, this can be a sign of anxiety or stress. In other cases, digging can be due to boredom brought on by a lack of exercise or playtime, so giving your pooch the necessary activity before turning to professionals is important. More on this later.

How to Manage Dog Bed Digging

Instinctual behavior or not, left unmanaged digging can become a destructive behavior that ends with dog owners having to replace the dog bed repeatedly or, in worse situations, the furniture and couch cushions. Here are a few ways that you can prevent this:

• Provide a designated digging area: This will train them to isolate their digging to one place, especially if you caution and retrain them when they start to scratch an area and then reward them when they use the ‘scratch’ area. If you have a garden, you could take them to the soil and allow them to dig a real hole to exercise this instinct.
• Groom your dog: The consequences of the behavior worsen when your dog’s nails are as sharp as eagle claws, so it’s good to keep on top of this to minimize the risk of the damage they cause before sleep.
• Choose an appropriate bed for your dog: Often, the issue is the bed. There are countless dog beds on the marketplace, and you might need a more durable one that can withstand your dog’s digging behavior. Cheap beds crafted from stuffing and low bar fabric are not built to last. Memory foam beds are particularly strong, preventing this and giving your dog a deep sleep.
• Increase exercise and playtime: The issue could be that your furry friend needs more mental stimulation and exercise. In this case, take them to the dog park. And, of course, lavish them with extra playtime, distracting them from the excessive digging.
• Address underlying anxiety or stress: Your dog may be scratching a lot due to stress or anxiety. To address this, exercise is vital, and massaging can help, too (our furry pals are similar to us in many ways). Calming coats are great, too, as they provide a weighted blanket that applies constant, gentle pressure to calm your pooch’s nerves. In other situations, it’s worth consulting a veterinarian for the best advice.
• Reward good behavior and redirect bad behavior: Nothing is better than a good hand in training to discourage destructive scratching behavior. Also, make sure to lavish your pup with enthusiastic positive reinforcement when they are good to back up the behavior with good vibes.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your dog is constantly digging in their bed or is destroying your furniture, bed, and cushions, it could be a good idea to seek professional help. This is especially required if you have already tried distracting them with playtime, exercise, and the outside world as a whole, and they are still digging their bed wantonly and destructively.

It’s also important to do so if your dog uses your house as a toilet or misbehaves to this degree, as this can be a sign of anxiety and stress. Both of these behaviors, if left unchecked, can lead to your dog getting away with a lot more in the future and, more importantly, from experiencing this discomfort for a longer period.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s likely that your dog’s digging habit is nothing to worry about. But if this is ruled out, and so are exercise and distraction, consider consulting a professional for the next steps. Obviously, every pooch is different and has their own needs, and they should be addressed specially and individually.

If you need more advice, consult our backlog on this subject and find what you’re looking for!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can all dogs be trained to stop digging in their bed?

It is impossible to stop any dog from digging in its bed entirely. Dogs dig; that’s an indispensable part of their instinct.

But you can control and minimize it if it is causing a problem by training them to scratch in a designated area (preferably a strong bed that can withstand their efforts) and take other measures like trimming their nails so that the scratch is not so ruthless.

Is it safe to let my dog continue digging in his bed?

It is safe and harmless unless your dog is causing wanton destruction to your house with their natural instinct or is experiencing stress or anxiety. Then, the digging could be a call for attention or a symptom of their discomfort, which needs to be addressed.

Can digging in his bed be a sign of a medical problem?

It can, though it rarely is. Usually, it is their process of comforting, bed-making, and marking territory. In other cases, it’s a sign of a lack of exercise or attention and, in the worst-case scenario, a sign of stress or anxiety.

What types of toys or activities can help distract my dog from bed digging?

There are countless dog toys you can get, and some are designed for training dog breeds to dig less.