Why does my dog drag his bed?
Dogs may dig at their beds for some of the same reasons: to mark it as their own space and to make it more comfortable. … If your dog is actually moving their bed from room to room, it might be a little of everything. They may be looking for more privacy (or less, to be with you), or a warmer or cooler spot in the house.
Your dog is trying to get away from unfamiliar faces:
Your dog might be moving its bed around because you have guests in the house or people hes just not familiar with. Hence, your dog might want some privacy and a timeout away from the new scents that these guests bring.
This would most likely be the case if you have visitors or have gotten a new pet or even a new baby in the home, and your dog is simply unsure of what to make of this.
In this case, you might want to let your dog deal with this new situation in the way it wants to, as this usually passes almost as soon as it came.
However, if your dog still seems withdrawn after an extended period, then you might want to contact a dog behaviorist to enlighten you on how to handle the situation better.
#2 I Don’t Like My Bed
Just like people, dogs have preferences when it comes to their sleeping arrangements.
Usually, small breeds prefer enclosed beds, while large dogs like to stretch.
However, it depends a lot on your dog’s temperament.
If your dog doesn’t like their bed, they might flip it over or move it around to mold it to their preferences.
They don’t care if it’s Eco-friendly, waterproofed, or orthopedic since it doesn’t live up to their expectations.
Wild dogs often have to deal with nasty surprises, such as spiders, snakes, and other pests.
That’s why they stomp the ground or dig into the grass to ensure that their sleeping place is secure.
While the possibility of such intruders into your house is slim, some dogs still need to make sure that they’re safe.
So, your dog might throw their bed around to make sure no dangers are lurking. Or get rid of a bug that has crawled inside.
Think about where you have placed your dog’s bed. If the spot is too exposed or in a high-traffic area, your pooch might be too anxious to sleep.
There might also be something that bothers them, such as loud noise from the street.
In these cases, your dog will move their bed to a secure location where they will be safe from “dangers.”
Some dogs also move their blankets around to create a snug nest that makes them feel protected.
Another reason why your dog moves blankets around is possessiveness and resource guarding.
That’s possible if you have another dog or a cat that frequently sleeps in the bed or children that bother the dog while sleeping.
In these cases, your pooch might feel the need to protect what’s theirs and move the bed or blankets whenever the other dog/cat is around.
You might also notice how your pooch scratches or digs into the bedding.
While it might seem like your dog is trying to ruin the bed, your pet is marking it to warn intruders to stay away.
Dogs have glands on the paws and leave a distinctive scent when they scratch at something.
Are you wondering why your dog keeps pulling their blanket out of the kennel?
Then your dog is probably cold or hot and trying to find a new bedding spot.
During summer, it might be too stuffy inside your dog’s house, or the bed might be in a sunny location.
So, your dog might carry their blankets around the house, searching for a cool spot to rest.
In winter, your dog’s bed might get too cold.
While some dogs can tolerate freezing temperatures, all dogs prefer to sleep somewhere warm and cozy.
So, they might flip their bed over or move the bed near a heat source.
Cat drags her bed into the laundry room to be with her puppies!
If you have a dog at home, you’ve likely noticed they’ve got some strange bedtime rituals—like turning in a circle a dozen times before settling down or snuggling up with their favorite blanket. You may have even noticed your favorite pup scratching and digging at their beds (you may even have a pile of dog bed stuffing on your floor as proof!).
But have you ever asked yourself, why do dogs scratch their bed like this? or wondered how seemingly every dog does this? What’s behind your pup’s carpet scratching and digging behavior? How can pet owners remedy it?
The reason why almost every dog digs at their bed is that it’s a natural instinct in order to make a comfortable, warm place to lie down.
In this article, we’ll 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.