What Causes Dogs to Scratch the Bed?
A lot of us may prepare for bed by turning on some calming music, turning on a fan, and plumping and placing the pillows just so. Dogs have elaborate and significant nocturnal rituals that aid in making them feel secure and prepared for sleep.
Being ready to fall asleep while your dog jumps on the bed and circles and scratches at the bedding for several minutes can be disruptive and even annoying.
However, although in some circumstances it can indicate something more serious, this is a typical aspect of dog behavior. Always keep an eye out for and become familiar with your dog's typical behavior so you can spot any changes in behavior and maybe the need to take your dog to the doctor right away.
What Causes Dogs to Scratch the Bed?
Although they can do it throughout the day before a nap, dogs most frequently scratch their beds and circle around numerous times at night before going to sleep.
According to experts in animal behavior, the domestic dogs that we live with still exhibit this tendency in dogs, which dates back to the canines' wild ancestors. Scratching on the bed is probably connected to several defense and comfort mechanisms that improve your dog's sense of security and wellness.
Defensive Techniques
The wild ancestors of your dog led quite different lives and had to contend with daily survival challenges like avoiding larger predators, guarding the pack, and finding food.
Without taking the necessary safeguards, falling asleep could be harmful, therefore circling and scratching a spot before going to sleep may have had several defensive purposes.
Before settling down, a dog may circle to thoroughly inspect its surroundings and spot any potential threats. Dogs in a pack would circle to find a good spot among the others. The act of scratching will leave a dog's smell mark, signaling to any nearby animals that the area is occupied.
Domestic dogs may continue to use these protective and defensive tactics on an innate level, causing them to act in this way even when their homes are safe from predators and other dangers.
Comfort
In the wild, dogs would snooze on grass, leaves, and other organic materials. Dogs would scrape and tread down the space with their feet and paws to make a comfortable bed, flattening prickly foliage and eliminating pebbles and stones.
Nesting is what this was, and it probably wasn't just for comfort. Nesting activity also scared off insects, tiny rodents, and snakes from the area, protecting dogs from bites and stings when they lay down.
Your dog, like wild dogs before him, scratches and circles to arrange his blankets and bedding and make a comfortable place to sleep as well as to make sure there are no unwelcome intruders, such as insects, in his bed.
Temperature Control
When it's too hot or cold, dogs in the wild would scratch at their resting spots to help regulate their body temperatures. Wild dogs must occasionally build their own shelter from a restricted selection of materials, unlike domestic dogs who dwell in our homes.
Dogs will scrape and circle to mold snowbanks into warm places where they can lie down when it is extremely cold. To keep themselves warm, they will also rotate and roll themselves into a tight ball.
Dogs will scrape the warmer top layer of soil or another substrate away in hot weather to reach the cooler layers underneath. To keep their bodies cool, they lay down on the deeper earth.
For the same reasons, your dog may scratch at the bedding to position it for the best warmth or coolness.
How to Prevent Dogs from Rubbing the Bed
It's totally natural for dogs to scratch the bed. Never attempt to correct your dog or stop this behavior. However, persistent and severe scratching could occasionally be a sign of worry or pain.
When your dog is anxious and feels the need to mark his territory, such as after a relocation or when a new person or animal is brought into the house, his scratching may get worse.
A veterinarian should be contacted if the scratching is excessive, occurs frequently, or coincides with being left alone and other destructive habits. In these cases, separation anxiety may be the cause.
Dogs who continually circle and scratch themselves while taking a long time to lie down and find a comfortable position may be experiencing arthritic pain. If so, your dog's comfort can be improved with the help of a pain management strategy from your veterinarian.
Recognize that your dog is engaging in a time-honored ritual passed down from his ancestors and a significant means of expressing his natural "dogness" the next time he climbs up on your bed and begins to furiously scratch and circle before resting down.
Additionally, if you observe any variations in your dog's bedtime routine, such as excessive scratching, circling, or trouble falling asleep, make sure to make an appointment with your veterinarian so they can check for pain and other underlying conditions.
