Why Do Dogs Dig The Floor

It s also possible the dog is digging at the floor as a means of entertainment.

Why do dogs dig the floor.

This can be a displacement behavior meaning that when your dog cannot perform a behavior he wants to do he instead performs another. Certain dogs however may dig in the carpet when they are excited or anxious. However in the wild dogs would scratch the ground in order to create a temperature controlled and comfortable sleeping spots. An example of this would be when a dog sees a squirrel sitting on a branch he may bark and dig at the base of the tree.

In cooler temperatures dogs may use digging behaviors to build a warm cozy den in which to relax. When a dog scratches at the floor he is claiming that spot as his own. The bottom of a dog s paws has special glands that release a territorial scent onto the floor when the dog scratches. The odor lets other dogs know that they need to keep moving because the scented spot has already been claimed.

Dogs also scratch and dig at the floor before they lie down to make a softer resting place for themselves. 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. Things such as being scared of a storm or strangers being present in the home can cause your dog to want to escape. Dogs dig at the floor for various reasons.

Warm temperatures may inspire a dog to dig at the floor in an attempt to find cooler ground. This need to escape could result in the scratching and digging at the floor to create an exit point.