Why Do Dogs Dig The Floor

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.

Why do dogs dig the floor.

Dogs dig at the floor for various reasons. 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. A dog can dig at the floor because the dog is attempting to dig a hole due to his her instinctive behavior.

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. The odor lets other dogs know that they need to keep moving because the scented spot has already been claimed. This need to escape could result in the scratching and digging at the floor to create an exit point. However in the wild dogs would scratch the ground in order to create a temperature controlled and comfortable sleeping spots.

This can be a displacement behavior meaning that when your dog cannot perform a behavior he wants to do he instead performs another. Emotional issues such as fear and anxiety may be another point of concern that is causing your dog to scratch. Wild dogs would sometimes dig into the ground to enhance comfort by gathering leaves into a pile. It s also possible the dog is digging at the floor as a means of entertainment.

Dogs also scratch and dig at the floor before they lie down to make a softer resting place for themselves. In cooler temperatures dogs may use digging behaviors to build a warm cozy den in which to relax.