Why Dogs Scratch The Floor Before Lying Down

In the wild before being domesticated canines used to sleep in the open where they often shared the environment with other small critters.

Why dogs scratch the floor before lying down. There may be simple explanations as to why some dogs may engage in this behavior. As is the case with most dog behavior analysis there are varied opinions on the subject from a multitude of sources and experts. They want to be in a comfortable and secure location so they will scratch before they decide to lay down for the night. Why dogs scratch their bed before lying down.

In tall grass going around before lying down would flatten the tall grass. If so this peculiar act may have you scratching your own head wondering why. One of the main reasons for a dog scratching the floor at night has to do with nesting. Sometimes her turning radius is as tight as her 3 by 2 foot dog bed in winter and others as broad as a spot against the fence outside in the.

So if you have ever asked yourself why dogs scratch the floor before lying down you may be interested in some of the reasons behind this. Domesticated dogs which scratch the floor prior to lying down might do the act due to an instinct that scratching could lead to a safer and softer resting place. 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. Other times it may be an interesting smell that compels your dog to dig at a particular location before he rolls in it much as he would do outside in the dirt.

These actions are of course futile when done today especially on a flat surface such as a modern dog bed and are therefore characterized as vestigial. Sometimes it may be as simple as him scratching to dig up that single crumb of food that fell in between the carpet threads. If you ve 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. This way the dog would form a comfortable surface for resting and would make a nice spot to conceal from other animals.

In the case of the whelping bitch make her a nesting box full of clean rags newspaper and other soft disposable materials early on in her pregnancy and encourage her to nest there. Confine him to a floor he can t hurt with his bedding of course. The habit of scratching the floor before lying down may therefore derive from the need to scare away any unwanted critters. While domesticated dogs now have comfortable and safe places to sleep in their modern homes the urge to scratch at the floor before lying down is literally coded into canine dna making it nearly impossible to resist.

Wild dogs used digging behaviors like scratching the floor to create a nest or den in which to rest comfortably and securely. Back in the day dogs would do this in the wild to create themselves a small den to curl up into.