Is it worrying why does my dog dig at the floor? Discover what this means and some simple steps to stop the digging.

Okay, so let's talk about something kinda weird I noticed my dog doing. For a while now, my buddy Max has been digging at the floor. Not outside in the dirt, mind you, but inside. On the carpet, sometimes even the wooden floor. It really had me scratching my head at first.

I first saw him doing it in the living room. He'd just go at the rug, pawing like he was trying to bury a bone or something. My initial thought was, did he spill something sticky? Did something get stuck there? So, I went over and checked. Felt the carpet, looked closely. Nothing. Clean as a whistle. He just did it, then usually plopped down for a nap right on that spot.

It wasn't just a one-time thing. I started watching him more closely. When exactly was he doing this digging routine? It seemed to happen most often right before he settled down. Like, bedtime? Yep, a few quick digs on his bed or the floor next to it. Nap time on the sofa? Same thing, a little scratching before curling up. Sometimes, though, he'd do it when he seemed a bit antsy, pacing around and then just randomly digging at a spot on the floor.

Trying to Figure It Out

So, I did what most of us probably do, I looked it up online. Typed in stuff like "dog scratching floor before lying down" or "why dog digging inside". Found a bunch of ideas, things like:

• Making a comfy spot: Like their ancestors making a den, smoothing the ground, or checking for critters.
• Temperature control: Trying to find a cooler or warmer spot.
• Boredom: Just needing something to do.
• Anxiety or stress: A way to cope with feeling uneasy.
• Smelling something interesting: Maybe some crumb or old scent deep in the carpet.

Alright, some possibilities. I decided to test a few things out based on what I saw with Max.

What I Tried

First, the comfy spot idea. This one felt right because he usually did it before lying down. I got him a new dog bed, one with raised edges, kind of like a little den. I also put an extra fluffy blanket in his usual sleeping spot in the living room. The result? He definitely started digging more on the blanket and inside his bed, and less directly on the carpet! Success? Sort of. He was redirecting the behavior, which was good.

Next, boredom. Max does get his walks, but maybe he needed more? I started adding an extra fetch session in the yard each day and got him one of those puzzle toys you hide treats in. When he was properly tired out or busy with a toy, the random floor digging seemed to happen less. So, yeah, keeping his brain and body busy helped reduce some of it.

Then, anxiety. I thought about when he did it. Was it when I left? During thunderstorms? Not really. It wasn't strongly linked to obvious stress moments. It felt more like part of his settling-down ritual. So, major anxiety didn't seem to be the main driver for this specific digging, thankfully.

Checking for smells. Just to be sure, I gave the carpets a really good clean in the spots he favoured. Used a pet-safe cleaner. Honestly, it didn't seem to make any difference. He still did his little digging routine in the same areas afterwards.

Temperature. Our house stays pretty consistent, but I paid attention. He didn't seem to be panting excessively or shivering when he did it. So, probably not about being too hot or too cold either, at least not primarily.

So, What's the Deal?

After all this watching and trying things out, I'm pretty convinced that for Max, it's mostly that nesting instinct. He's just trying to make his spot 'just right' before he lies down. It's like fluffing a pillow for us, but, you know, dog style.

Giving him soft things like blankets and beds that he can dig at has been the biggest help. It satisfies his urge without messing up the floor. Making sure he gets enough exercise and mental stimulation also cut down on the times he seemed to do it out of boredom or restlessness.

He still does a little phantom dig sometimes, a quick scratch or two on the rug before settling. I've mostly just come to accept it as one of his quirks. It's not hurting anything, and now that I feel like I understand it, it's kinda endearing. Just Max being Max, making his space comfy.