Dogs might scratch as a habit, a ritual, or to mark their territory but should you be concerned about the incessant scratching your pet is engaging in?This article has answers to all the questions related to your dog and bed scratching. Make it to the end to know more about this scratching.Why do dogs scratch their beds? This is a question that bothers many pet owners. Dogs scratch their beds for a number of reasons, as explained by experts. Dogs do so for attention, comfort, scent, and smell-related issues, temperature control, and others. Some dogs engage in scratching as a sign or a ritual before settling down for the night in their bed and blanket. Other dogs dig holes for protection from predators at night. Have you ever noticed that the scent glands present at the bottom of the paws of dogs are used by these pet animals to mark their territory?Dogs are considered as man’s best friends. Dogs seem to be very friendly animals and love to play with everybody. Everyone loves dogs, but have you noticed that there are many strange things which dogs love to do, such as digging, running, circling around someone, licking, jumping, and much more? There’s also one very strange thing done by dogs, which is, scratching or digging their beds or blankets before settling down or lying down before taking a nap in this designated space.If your dog or your friend’s dog does so, then read this article to find out the reason behind this sign. To know more about dogs, read about why dogs cough and why dogs drag their butts.Is it normal for a dog to scratch their bed?Yes, it is perfectly normal when your dog scratches their bed before sleeping. The main reason behind this is their natural instinct. Dogs scratch their beds because their ancestors also used to do this. This practice of dogs is traced back to ancient times where the scent glands present at the bottom of paws were used to mark their space in the wild. It is a part of a dog’s numerous rituals, which also included stamping down on grass to create a warm and level nest for their rest.Dogs used to be wild animals, like wolves and lived in forests. As wild animals, dogs used to sleep on the ground. They dig or scratch the surface before sleeping and circle around it as a gesture of making their beds. They dig the ground to create a hole and make it more comfortable and this also helps them to conceal their position from other predators. This is how dogs mark their territory. Although dogs are now domesticated and included as domestic animals, they are unable to change this natural instinct of scratching a dog’s bed. So, don’t worry about your dog’s scratching.What to do when your dog is scratching its bed?You could not absolutely stop your dog from scratching his bed. Make sure that it won’t mess with your expensive or maybe not so expensive items. If your dog is frequently ruining his bed, then you could buy a heavy-duty dog bed for him. Or you can place heavy and large blankets on his bed to make that more comfortable. Blankets give them a softer and a cozy environment to sleep in. Sometimes, dogs scratch the floor to release excess energy, so you can take him out for a walk or play with him to stop him from scratching the ground. If you want to prevent him from further scratching or digging, then you can try to talk to his trainer who can help you with his behavior.How to make your dog stop scratching its bed?You can sometimes prevent your dog from scratching his bed. This depends on the reason for scratching. If your dog scratches for comfort or temperature issues, then you can help it, and it will stop scratching. However, there may be other reasons, too.If they scratch too much for absolutely no reason, then you should consult a vet about this behavior. Maybe they are suffering from some skin problem and scratching to stop the itching or maybe something else. You can also talk to your dog’s trainer about this, maybe they know something about this strange behavior and the trainer can also help you to change your dog’s habits and prevent it from scratching. You should train your dog for this, instead of punishing them. Dogs may spoil your favorite carpet, but they love you so much, you just need to find the reason for their strange behavior. They may be suffering from something and try to convey their message by ruining your things. Maybe they are searching for their favorite toy, you could buy them a new one to stop them from scratching.What does it mean when your dog scratches its bed?When your dogs scratch their beds, they may be trying to say something to you or maybe not, maybe they are just following their instincts. Experts have found out why dogs scratch their beds.When dogs scratch their beds, there may be a reason that they are feeling hot and by digging down they are searching for a colder temperature, as their ancestors used to do by following their instincts. Another reason is that dogs love their own scent, and by scratching their beds they are trying to spread their scent all over it. They also dig when they are trying to hide something. Many dogs love their personal belongings and do not want to share them with anyone, so they bury them by digging in the ground, marking them as their territory.Does digging or scratching make dogs happy?Now that you know the reasons why dogs scratch at their beds or the floor, you can clearly understand how much they love digging and how much happier they are when they scratch or dig their beds. Scratching and digging are not just their wild instincts; it is also a reason for their happiness.Dogs and puppies dig to convey some message, but sometimes they dig just for entertainment. This is their happy activity. Also, they scratch their beds to relieve stress and anxiety. When you are stressed and have anxiety, what do you do? You talk to your friends, watch movies, play games, take some rest; but a dog can not do this kind of stuff, so it relieves its stress by doing what it can do, and that is scratching. This is the easiest and most exciting fun activity for a dog. You take your dog to a park, if it starts running, circling, or scratching, that means it is saying that it is happy. Scratching is a dog’s happy language.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do dogs scratch their bed, then why not read about why dogs dig, or ragamuffin cat facts?
Dogs might scratch as a habit, a ritual, or to mark their territory but should you be concerned about the incessant scratching your pet is engaging in?
