Quick Take
- Your dog may be leaving a message on your bed that you'll never detect, even though other dogs absolutely will. Scent marking explained →
- Sometimes bed-digging isn't a comfort behavior at all. It's actually making your dog more distressed. When digging worsens anxiety →
- If you have two dogs, one of them may be the reason the other won't stop wrecking your sheets. Copycat digging behavior →
- The fix for obsessive bed-digging probably isn't what you'd find in your bedroom. Practical fixes for digging →
Digging is a natural behavior for dogs that was inherited from their wild ancestors, driven by instincts like hunting prey, regulating body temperature, relieving boredom, or hiding items. While all dogs possess this fundamental trait, some are genetically predisposed to heavy digging while others rarely do so. Does your dog scratch at your bedding? Digging in blankets or covers stems from these exact same instincts, adapted for comfort and security indoors. Some people find this behavior adorable, while others want it to stop immediately. Either way, you might wonder why exactly dogs scratch and dig in your bed.
Digging is Instinctual
Dogs dig instinctually. This is true for all dogs, but some breeds are more likely to dig, such as scenthounds. They dig for comfort, often to find cooler ground to lay on outdoors. They dig to seek shelter, to find water, and to hunt prey. Digging can also lower a dog’s stress level.
Hunting dogs like beagles are most likely to dig, but all breeds tend to enjoy it.
©Tetiana Garkusha/iStock via Getty Images
They’re Trying to Get Comfortable
If there are lumps in the blankets, your dog may try to smooth them out by digging. They might also try to make the bed lumpier by disrupting the neatly made bedding. However, they may just want to move things where they like them for the best nap possible.
They Feel Hot and Don’t Want Blankets
When it’s hot, your dog may prefer to lay on only your sheets.
©eva_blanco/Shutterstock.com
Dogs instinctively dig for cool earth outdoors. This may transfer to indoor behaviors as well. Your dog may try to remove blankets from the bed to make it cooler.
Your Dog is Playing
Some dogs love to play by digging in bedding, especially if they get a reaction from you. There’s typically no harm in playing back by tossing a pillow their way or covering them with a blanket.
They Feel Anxious and are Trying to Calm Down
Digging is an activity that can calm dogs that are feeling anxious. However, sometimes digging can make your dog increasingly agitated instead of calming them down.
If this happens, you may need to interrupt the behavior and find a calming activity such as a lick mat.
Anxious dogs may dig to relieve their anxiety.
©marialevkina/Shutterstock.com
If your dog’s anxiety is persistent, talk to your veterinarian to find solutions.
They’re Scent Marking (Don’t Worry, You Can’t Smell It)
Some experts believe that dogs may leave scent from glands in their paws when they scratch, although the primary ways dogs mark territory are through urine and feces. This isn’t smelly to humans like urine marking. It lets your dog and other dogs know where your dog lives and what belongs to them.
Sometimes dogs just want things to smell more like them.
©Yuri Kravchenko/Shutterstock.com
Scent marking is natural and not indicative of a behavioral or dominance problem. It simply makes dogs feel more secure when their home and their favorite things smell like them.
They’re Copying Another Dog
If you have one dog who digs in your bed, your other dog might follow their lead. This is called mirroring and can be used by us to teach dogs new things.
However, it can also go wrong if one dog displays unwanted behaviors and the other learns from them.
If one dog ducks under the covers, a second one might not be far behind.
©smrm1977/Shutterstock.com
Something’s Under the Blanket
Your dog may think there’s something under your bedding, or there might actually be a toy or treat left beneath the blanket. If digging in the bed is unusual for your dog, this is the first thing to check.
Solutions to Dogs Digging in the Bed
There are dozens of alternatives to your dog digging in your bed.
If your dog isn’t hurting anything, you can allow them to dig in the bed and even play along with their games.
©Prystai/Shutterstock.com
A sandbox in the backyard filled with children’s play sand is a great solution. Make sure it can be covered to prevent neighborhood cats from using it as a litter box.
You can also give your dog their own blankets to dig in and teach them to leave yours alone.
Please remember that expecting your dog not to dig at all isn’t a solution. When we bring pets into our homes, we must have realistic expectations and encourage natural behaviors.
Keeping your dog’s nails short is good for their health and will also lessen the risk of torn bedding.
If your dog is destroying your bedding, consider purchasing more durable items. However, this may be challenging if you are on a budget or have a large, strong dog. It’s also okay to set boundaries and give them better places to dig.
