When your dog scratches and roots around in its bed before lying down, it is in the vast majority of cases a completely normal and inherited behaviour. Dogs dig in their bed out of an old instinct that their wild ancestors used to prepare a safe and comfortable place to sleep. So there is rarely any cause for concern, but the behaviour can also tell you something about how your dog is doing - both physically and mentally.
In this guide, we go through the specific reasons why your dog digs in its bed, when the behaviour is completely natural, and when it may be a signal that something should be looked into more closely. You will also get a couple of practical tips for making the resting place more inviting.
The instinct behind the digging goes back to the dog's ancestors
The most fundamental explanation is hereditary. The dog's wild relatives dug hollows in the ground before lying down to sleep. In summer, the top, warm layer of soil was scraped away so the animal could lie against the cooler ground beneath, and in winter a hollow provided shelter from the wind and helped retain body heat. At the same time, the digging made it possible to remove stones, twigs and insects from the sleeping spot.
Even though your dog today has a soft bed indoors, that instinct still sits deep. When it scratches around in the blanket or pushes at the dog bed with its paws, it is a repetition of the same behaviour its ancestors used to prepare a nesting place. So it is not a sign that something is wrong - it is the dog getting its bed ready in the only way nature has taught it.
How the dog creates comfort and the right temperature
In addition to the instinct, digging is often about purely practical comfort. Many dogs root around in the bed to get the bedding or blanket to lie exactly as they want it before they relax. This could be pushing a blanket together into a pillow, shaping a little nest, or finding a position where the body lies comfortably.
Temperature also plays a part. A dog that is too warm may dig to get down to a cooler surface, while a dog that is cold may try to gather the blanket together to keep warm. If you notice that your dog digs more at certain times of the day or year, temperature is often part of the explanation. Here it can help to place the bed somewhere without draughts and with a comfortable room temperature.
When digging is a sign of restlessness or stress
Digging can also be a way for the dog to deal with restlessness. A dog that is restless, overstimulated or insecure in its surroundings may dig intensely in the bed as a form of self-soothing. The same can happen if the dog has trouble settling down at bedtime, or if something happens in the home that throws it off balance.
Here it is worth looking at the pattern. If the dog digs calmly and briefly before lying down contentedly, there is rarely any cause for concern. If, on the other hand, the digging seems restless, repeats itself again and again without the dog finding peace, or is accompanied by other signs of stress such as whining, whimpering or an inability to relax, it may be a sign that the dog does not feel safe. Persistent restlessness that does not appear to have an external cause is always worth discussing with your vet.
A stable everyday life with fixed routines, sufficient exercise and calm around the resting place makes a big difference for a dog that tends to have trouble settling down. If you have a dog that generally finds it hard to settle, you can find inspiration in our guide to getting a dog to relax.
Dogs also mark their spot through their paws
An often overlooked reason is marking. Dogs have sweat glands in their paws, and when they scratch and dig in the bed, they leave their own scent on the spot. For the dog, it is a way of making the sleeping place its own and signalling that this is where it belongs. It is a completely natural part of the dog's behaviour and one of the reasons why many dogs insist on their very own bed rather than an unfamiliar one.
You see this form of digging especially when the dog has just got a new bed, or when you are in a new place where the scent is not yet its own. Give the dog time to make the spot its own, and the need to mark usually subsides on its own.
Pregnant bitches dig out of a nesting instinct
In bitches, digging in the bed can be linked to a nesting instinct. As the birth approaches, many pregnant bitches develop a strong need to prepare a safe and sheltered place for their coming puppies, and this often shows as eager digging and rooting in the bed, blankets or other soft materials. The same behaviour can occur with a false pregnancy, where a bitch displays maternal behaviour without being pregnant.
If you notice a marked change in your bitch's behaviour that you cannot explain, it is a good idea to have her assessed by a vet, so you can be sure what lies behind it.
How to make the bed more inviting to lie in
Although digging is most often harmless, you can do a lot to meet your dog's natural needs. Choose a bed in the right size, where the dog can stretch out and also curl up. A soft, mouldable surface gives the dog the chance to push and shape its bed as its instinct dictates. Place the bed somewhere quiet without draughts and through traffic, so the dog can relax completely, and ensure a comfortable temperature around the resting place.
If you give the dog a resting place that both feels safe and allows room for its natural behaviour, the digging usually becomes shorter and more relaxed. A good daily rhythm with the right balance between activity and rest also helps the dog settle down. If you want to read more about how sleep and rest relate to the dog's wellbeing, you can delve into how much a dog sleeps.
Wellbeing starts from within with the right meals
A dog that is in good physical and mental balance generally settles down more easily. Surplus energy, a stable stomach and the right energy throughout the day are closely linked to what the dog gets to eat. At ESSENTIAL FOODS, all our meals are composed of fresh produce and human-grade ingredients and prepared with a focus on the dog's overall wellbeing. You will find the entire range in the LIVING collection, where there are meals for different preferences in terms of nutritional profile, taste and life stage.
If you are unsure which meals best suit your particular dog's needs, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready to help you by phone, chat or email. They know the meals inside out and can advise you on feeding and nutrition, so your dog gets the right foundation for a safe and calm everyday life. And should you find that your dog's digging is accompanied by other signs of distress or discomfort, it is always wise to have a vet take a look, so you can be completely reassured that everything is as it should be.