Why Do Dogs Scratch the Bed? The Science Behind Canine Behavior

If you’ve ever had a dog, you’ve probably asked yourself why they scratch the bed. It turns out there are a number of reasons why dogs scratch the bed, including instinctual behaviors like nesting and marking their territory.

It can also be a sign that they’re looking for comfort, trying to cool down, or attempting to relieve stress. That said, if your dog is scratching the bed too much, it could be a sign of a medical problem that requires a vet’s attention.

This article will take a deep dive into the world of animal behavior and veterinary science. It will cover extensive studies on canine instinct, learned behavior, and environmental variables.

It will also explore the important role that a dog’s sense of smell plays in their lives. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of why your furry friend scratches your bed and learn how to deal with this behavior in a way that’s healthy for both you and your pet.

The Evolutionary Roots of Bed-Scratching

Bed-scratching is more than a funny and sometimes annoying habit; it’s a leftover from ancient survival instincts. As The Spruce Pets notes, dogs’ wild ancestors would dig at the ground to create a safe, comfortable place to sleep that was also the right temperature. This behavior served a number of purposes: it kept pests and predators away and helped the dog claim the area as its own by leaving its scent behind.

Your dog’s bed-scratching is an example of the nesting instinct they inherited from their ancestors. According to Petcube, just as we fluff our pillows to make them more comfortable, dogs dig and circle to create a comfortable place to sleep. Their need to regulate their body temperature also plays a role, as they look for cooler or warmer spots to rest in based on the temperature.

In addition, dogs’ wild ancestors’ behaviors continue to be on display in today’s dogs. As Zigzag points out, dogs with thicker coats may dig at their beds to cool off, while others may dig to mark their territory with the scent glands in their paws. While dogs have been domesticated and now live in our homes, their wild instincts continue to influence their behavior, including bed-scratching.

The Mental Health Mystery: Canine Stress and Anxiety

In some cases, a dog may be going beyond its instinctual behaviors to show signs of a deeper mental health issue, like anxiety or stress. According to WebMD, compulsive scratching, licking, and chewing are all signs of emotional distress in dogs. Constant scratching can lead to hot spots, or acute moist dermatitis, which are painful and inflamed skin lesions.

In an article from Whole Dog Journal, experts explain that in order to deal with stress-related behaviors, dog owners need to work to change their dog’s behavior. Dog owners can help their dogs with stress by working to identify stressors and then using counter-conditioning, desensitization, and increased exercise to help their dogs.

For dog owners looking to help their dogs with stress-related scratching, the first step is to figure out the mental health triggers. From there, stress-reducing techniques, including everything from giving more attention and affection to using stress-relief aids like calming music or pressure wraps, can make a big difference in a dog’s life.

Dog owners who are able to create a supportive space for their dogs can help them feel more at ease and potentially reduce the need to scratch as a way to deal with stress.

How to Create the Ultimate Sleep Environment for Your Dog

The quality of your dog’s bed is a big factor in how they behave, including how much they scratch at their bedding. For example, a bed that provides proper support for your dog’s muscles and joints can help prevent aches and pains and therefore reduce the likelihood of scratching, showing how important comfort is, according to Pet Health Pros.

Certain materials, like memory foam, provide the kind of support that will help your dog get a good night’s sleep and therefore reduce their desire to scratch as they try to find a more comfortable position.

The cleanliness of the bed is also important; companies that make beds with removable, washable covers are not only providing a more hygienic sleeping environment but also reducing the likelihood that dogs will scratch at their beds in an attempt to relieve the itchiness caused by dust mites.

Meanwhile, a study published in PMC shows that a dog’s ability to adapt to its environment, including where it sleeps, impacts its overall well-being.

And, of course, making sure that your dog’s bed is the right size is important— a bed that’s big enough to be comfortable but small enough to be cozy can reduce the likelihood that your dog will scratch at it as they try to get comfortable.

As a result, investing in a high-quality bed that’s the right size and easy to keep clean can make a big difference in your dog’s sleep quality and how much they scratch at their bed.

By addressing these factors, you’ll create a peaceful sleep environment that will help your dog get the rest they need, which will then impact other, more subtle ways that your dog interacts with their environment, including their sense of smell.

Following Their Nose: Olfactory-Mediated Bed Scratching

Dogs have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, which plays a major role in their lives. A study in Scientific Reports found that dogs can detect odors at concentrations as low as parts per trillion, which allows them to use their sense of smell to identify and interpret a variety of scent-based information in their environment.

This may be why dogs are drawn to and scratch at bed sheets that smell like their owners, as they use their sense of smell to help them feel more comfortable in their surroundings and strengthen their social connections.

A study in Scientific Reports found that dogs have expectations about their owners that are based on their sense of smell, which may mean that a dog scratches at a bed to interact with their owner’s scent in a way that makes them feel safe and secure.

Meanwhile, the Journal of Neuroscience has described the extensive connections of the dog olfactory system, which shows that dogs use their sense of smell to help them navigate and understand the world around them.

This may mean that scratching at a bed isn’t just a physical act but is also a way for a dog to use their sense of smell to help them understand and interact with their environment.

If you want to stop your dog from scratching at your bed, it’s important to understand this olfactory-mediated behavior. One way to help manage it may be to use solutions that are based on scent, such as making sure that your dog has access to an item or bedding with your scent in a specific location.

Not only does this approach take your dog’s natural behavior into account, but it may also provide a way to change your dog’s behavior that’s in line with their sensory experience.

How to Enrich Your Dog’s Life: A Cornerstone of Behavioral Wellness

Environmental enrichment has been shown to have a profound impact on the welfare of pet dogs, as it provides both sensory and cognitive stimulation that can help reduce stress-related behaviors like compulsive digging.

A pilot study on PubMed found that both social interactions and exploration were associated with a significant increase in relaxation behaviors and a decrease in stress-related behaviors in dogs. Meanwhile, a study in the IAABC Foundation Journal found that a combination of enrichment activities, including play and scent enrichment, led to improvements in behavior and a reduction in stress-related behaviors.

Enrichment can be provided in a number of ways, from puzzle toys that challenge a dog’s mind to scent trails that cater to their sense of smell. Pet parents can introduce new toys, rotate toys to keep them fresh, and engage in interactive play.

According to Animals magazine, tactile enrichment, such as balls, and olfactory enrichment, such as the scent of lavender, are especially effective at reducing stress-related behaviors, which is important when it comes to compulsive digging.

By combining a variety of enrichment techniques, pet parents can create a more stimulating and fulfilling environment for their dogs. This can help prevent unwanted behaviors and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners, leading to a happier home.

What to Do About Your Dog’s Bedtime Behaviors

From deeply rooted ancestral instincts to more complicated psychological behaviors that are brought on by stress and anxiety, dogs scratch at their beds for a variety of reasons. Nesting instincts, territory marking, seeking comfort, and regulating body temperature are all ancestral behaviors that come into play. However, it’s important to discount psychological behaviors, as they are often an outward sign of an internal emotional issue.

The comfort, cleanliness, and size of a dog’s bed will all impact how much the dog scratches at it. In addition, a dog’s keen sense of smell can also play a part in a number of behaviors, including the dog’s desire to smell their owner on the bed. Studies have shown that environmental enrichment can help with stress-related behaviors, which means that mental and physical stimulation is important to a dog’s overall temperament.

As this look at dog behaviors comes to an end, it becomes clear that a dog’s behavior is often a reflection of its overall well-being. An educated and attentive owner is the best thing a dog can have. By understanding the many reasons dogs scratch at their beds, we can help ensure our dogs are happy, healthy, and well-rested.