Why Do Dogs Dig In The Couch (14 Common Interesting Reasons)
Why Do Dogs Dig In The Couch? It’s not a good idea to encourage your dog to develop the bothersome and undesirable habit of digging on your pricey sofa. So, why does your dog enjoy digging and scratching at your furniture, mainly the couch? What, if anything, can be done to change this behavior into something more constructive? Nobody wants to watch their three-thousand-dollar sofa be destroyed because of their pet’s antics. This essay aims to investigate the reasons behind this behavior to come up with a constructive solution that will benefit you and your cherished dog. Spend a few minutes reading up on what leads to this habit and how you can eliminate it.
Why do dogs scratch the couch?
What causes my dog to scratch the couch, then? Dog scratching couch or furniture to make it more comfortable to lie on, out of anxiety, to get something stuck on it, or because they have learned that the behaviour is rewarded.
Why Does My Dog Dig on the Couch? (14 Common Reasons Dog scratching furniture)
Common reasons are given bellow
1. Couch Digging May Be Territory Marking
While you may only notice your dog scratching up your sofa, your dog is innocently telling you how much he loves it and is making it his own. Dogs also do this with their beds or other favorite areas. Dogs have scent glands under their paw pads that create their own particular mark of ownership while rubbing. Don’t worry; there is no noticeable smell that a human would be able to detect, but other dogs will instantly know that the sofa has been claimed.
2. Nature
In the wild, dogs would often scratch the ground to make it more comfortable before lying down. It could be the case that your dog has been scratching at the sofa, before lying down, due to its nature. This would be more likely if it does not do it excessively and if it also scratches in other areas before lying down.
3. Anxiety (Why Do Dogs Dig In The Couch?)
It’s possible that something has been making your dog uneasy, which is why it’s been acting this way. This might possibly be the reason why it’s been doing it. This would be more likely to happen if your dogs that dig have a pattern of doing it more often at times when it is more likely to be worried, such as just before you leave the house.
4. It wants something stuck on the couch
It might also be the case that it does it because there is something stuck on the couch, such as food, that it wants. This would be more likely if it scratches at a certain spot and if it also does things such as lick the couch.
5. Encouraging the behaviour
It is also possible that it has learnt that engaging in such activity results in favourable outcomes for itself. If you have a habit of rewarding it when it scratches at the sofa by giving it things like more attention, toys, or treats, it will most likely scratch at the couch more often in order to get more rewards.
6. Mental issues
It is also possible that this behaviour has been occurring for some time owing to a more significant reason. It’s possible that a mental health problem is the root of the problem, so keep that in mind. If your dog has been exhibiting other peculiar behaviours recently, such as becoming dizzy, vomiting a lot, or having seizures, then this is a more plausible explanation. In this particular scenario, taking it to a veterinarian would be the most prudent thing to do.
7. The Couch Digging May Be Releasing Energy
Much like young children, some dogs can become overexcited and need an energy release valve. Sometimes just the anticipation about a daily walk or hearing their favourite person coming home will send them into a spurt of enthusiastic super-activity. Frantic happy couch diggers often wag their tails and look about while digging. The eager dog is simply not able to contain its excitement and may also run around, jump onto the couch, dig a few times, run around again and repeat in a flurry of anticipation. This hyperactivity digging is especially common in younger dogs, especially those that spend a lot of time indoors. The excited agitation needs expression, and unfortunately, that may be on the couch.
8. Dogs May Couch Dig to Look for Lost Snacks
When it comes to why do dogs dig on the couch? your dog could be digging on the sofa, there are occasions when a very plausible answer can be found. It only attempts to recover a tasty morsel that has rolled under the seat or been wedged between the cushions. Even if you may have forgotten about the crumbs or popcorn that fell on the sofa while you were watching an exciting movie, your dog will be drawn to its smell like a thousand sirens.
9. Boredom or Separation Anxiety May Cause Digging
Dogs don’t just need food and love; they also need exercise and mental stimulation. If they become bored, dogs may start to engage in destructive activities and rip things apart simply to have something to do. If you notice that your dog only damages the sofa while you are out, it is probably stressed because you are leaving or getting bored while you are out. Be sure to provide plenty of reassurance when you go as well as stimulation activities like a classic Kong treat-filled toy to keep them happily entertained and busy while you are out.
10. A Dog May Dig on the Couch to Hide Toys
Some dogs instinctively try to hide things that they value. That is why you may find well-loved dog toys scattered all over the house and even hidden in your bedding as your pup tries to save its things for later. The deep area behind and between the sofa cushions may be a perfect spot for your dog to able to stash its treasures inside the house. If you notice your dog digging on the couch while holding one of its toys in its mouth, it is probably looking for a good spot to hide it.
11. Couch-digging May Be a Habit
It is not just humans that learn from one another. Dogs also learn and mimic one another, especially when new dogs are in the home or puppies. They often pick up habits from the more established animals. While you may not have noticed or been too perturbed by occasional small couch digging motions from your tiny Chihuahua, it may become a problem when a new large-breed puppy starts to mimic it. If you adopt an older dog, be aware that it may also come with some pre-learned habits, which will take some patience to re-train. Take precautions like keeping your couch covered for a few weeks while they settle.
12. You’ve scolded your dog (at the wrong time)
Maybe you’ve called them a “bad dog.” Sure, they won’t understand the meaning. This makes them unlikely to get offended, but Dogs do get your queues. And if they sense you’re frustrated for some reason, they wouldn’t want to be around you. Because in that state you might look very scary in their eyes. Not to mention that when people get angry, they’re sometimes unpredictable.
13. A Dog May Dig on the Couch to Hide Toys
Some dogs instinctively try to hide things that they value. That is why you may find well-loved dog toys scattered all over the house and even hidden in your bedding as your pup tries to save its things for later. The deep area behind and between the sofa cushions may be a perfect spot for your dog to able to stash its treasures inside the house. If you notice your dog digging on the couch while holding one of its toys in its mouth, it is probably looking for a good spot to hide it.
14. Couch-digging May Be a Habit
why do dogs dig on couches? It is not just humans that learn from one another. Dogs also learn and mimic one another, especially when new dogs are in the home or puppies. They often pick up habits from the more established animals. While you may not have noticed or been too perturbed by occasional small couch digging motions from your tiny Chihuahua, it may become a problem when a new large-breed puppy starts to mimic it. If you adopt an older dog, be aware that it may also come with some pre-learned habits, which will take some patience to re-train. Take precautions like keeping your couch covered for a few weeks while they settle.
How to keep dogs from digging: training, redirection, and more (How to stop a dog from scratching furniture)
Now that you understand more about why your dog digs, perhaps it’s time to figure out how to change – or at least calm – that behaviour. Here’s a list of basic and straightforward options to start with.
- Provide your pup with more playtime and exercise to help use up their destructive digging energy.
- Offer more/different toys to keep them entertained (rotate them to keep things interesting).
- Give them an area that’s actually intended for digging like a sandpit or small section of the garden.
- Discourage them from digging with the help of buried rocks, smells they don’t enjoy, or an automatic sprinkler (that’ll teach ’ ’em!)
- Make sure there aren’t any rodents or other wildlife hanging out in your garden and agitating your pup – and get rid of them if there are!
- Does your garden have a nice shady space where they can stay cool? Make sure to create one if not.
FAQs
Conclusion
Why Do Dogs Dig In The Couch? There are several possible reasons why dogs may dig on couches and other soft furnishings. These can range from natural instinct to boredom. Figuring out why your dog is digging on the sofa is the most important aspect that will help you to address this challenging behavior. With understanding, patience, practical steps, and consistently redirecting the digging, you will be able to keep your couch safe from your dog’s digging behavior.
