Why do dogs mess up their beds, digging, scratching, and rearranging blankets as if preparing for a big move?

This common behavior, seen in dogs of all ages, often leaves pet owners wondering if their furry friends are simply trying to make themselves comfortable or if something more instinctual is at play.

Dogs may be following an ancient habit rooted in the wild, where scratching and nesting helped create a soft, safe spot free from insects or other threats.

Whether it’s comfort-seeking or instinct, understanding why dogs engage in this quirky behavior can offer valuable insights into their unique needs.

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Why does dog mess up bed?

Dogs mess up their beds for a mix of instinctual, comfort-seeking, and playful reasons. In the wild, dogs would scratch and dig to create a safe, comfortable sleeping area, protecting themselves from insects, uneven surfaces, and other small threats.

This behavior, known as “nesting,” is deeply embedded in their instincts, so even domesticated dogs may do it naturally before settling down.

Why do dogs rough up their beds?

Dogs rough up their beds due to a combination of instinct, comfort, and sometimes even excess energy. This behavior, often called “nesting” or “denning,” is deeply rooted in their wild ancestry.

In the wild, dogs would scratch, dig, and arrange their sleeping area to create a comfortable, safe spot and to protect themselves from temperature extremes and unwanted pests. This natural tendency persists in domesticated dogs, even if they’re indoors and cozy.

Beyond instinct, roughing up their bed helps dogs make the area feel personal and comfortable, much like how we adjust our pillows and blankets. By moving and arranging their bedding, dogs create a sleeping space that feels just right to them.

Additionally, some dogs rough up their beds out of playfulness or boredom, using the activity as a way to burn off energy. Providing enrichment toys and a comfortable, supportive bed may help satisfy these needs.

How do I stop my dog from destroying her bed?

To stop your dog from destroying her bed, start by identifying the root cause—whether it’s boredom, anxiety, or simply a desire to chew.

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Providing plenty of physical and mental exercise, like daily walks, playtime, and puzzle toys, can help reduce destructive behaviors linked to excess energy or boredom. For dogs who chew out of anxiety, calming aids such as a cozy crate, calming sprays, or even a heavier-duty chew-proof bed might help them feel more secure.

Training techniques like redirecting her attention when she starts to chew her bed can also be effective. Offer durable chew toys as alternatives and reward her with treats when she chooses these instead of her bed.

For persistent chewers, consider beds made with more durable materials that are designed to withstand rough play and chewing. Consistent positive reinforcement and finding ways to meet her comfort needs can help protect her bed from further damage.

Why do dogs rearrange their beds?

Dogs rearrange their beds mainly due to natural instincts, comfort needs, and a desire for security. Inherited from their wild ancestors, “nesting” behavior—scratching, digging, and circling—is a way to create a comfortable, safe sleeping spot.

Wild dogs did this to smooth out the ground, control their body temperature, and remove any pests. Although domestic dogs don’t face these issues indoors, the behavior remains part of their instinct.

Rearranging also allows dogs to make the bed feel like their own, adjusting it to their preferences. Just as humans might fluff pillows or straighten blankets, dogs create a cozy space that feels right to them.

Additionally, some dogs rearrange their bedding out of playfulness or simply as a way to release energy. Observing your dog’s behavior and providing a well-padded, comfortable bed can help satisfy this nesting instinct, making them feel even more secure in their sleeping area.

Why do dogs mess up their beds?

Dogs mess up their beds for several reasons, primarily due to natural instincts, comfort, and energy release.

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This behavior, known as “nesting” or “denning,” is inherited from their wild ancestors, who would dig, scratch, and arrange their sleeping spots to create a cozy, safe area free from pests or harsh ground textures. Even though domesticated dogs sleep indoors, this instinctual habit remains.

Dogs also mess up their beds to achieve a sense of comfort and familiarity, much like we adjust blankets or fluff pillows. Rearranging bedding helps them make the space feel more personal and secure.

For some dogs, this activity is also a way to release pent-up energy or alleviate boredom, as they enjoy the physical engagement. Providing enrichment toys, adequate exercise, and a comfortable, supportive bed can help satisfy these needs, making them feel more settled and reducing excessive bed-tossing behavior.

9 Reason why do dogs mess up their bed

Here are nine reasons why dogs may mess up their beds, each explained with their unique motivations and benefits for your furry friend.

1. Nesting Instincts

Dogs have natural nesting instincts inherited from their wild ancestors. In the wild, canines would dig and arrange their sleeping areas to create a soft, safe, and pest-free spot. This behavior helped them insulate themselves from harsh ground surfaces, regulate temperature, and avoid insects.

Even though domesticated dogs no longer need to nest for survival, this instinctual habit remains strong. For them, scratching or moving bedding may feel like preparing a safe “den,” giving them a sense of security before they settle down.

Understanding this instinct can help owners provide comfortable, supportive bedding to encourage better sleep and comfort.

2. Comfort Adjustment

Like humans adjusting pillows, dogs rearrange their beds to achieve maximum comfort. They may scratch, dig, or push their bedding around to find a position that feels right for them.

This behavior allows them to mold their sleeping area to fit their body, making it softer and cozier. Sometimes, they may need extra padding in certain spots or more support under their body. By letting them arrange their bed, you’re allowing them to adjust it to their unique needs, which can be especially helpful for older dogs or those with joint issues. Providing a bed with good cushioning may reduce the need for excessive rearranging.

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3. Temperature Regulation

Dogs naturally try to regulate their body temperature by adjusting their sleeping surface. If they feel too warm, they may scratch or dig to create a cooler spot or move bedding to allow air circulation. Conversely, if they’re feeling cold, rearranging the bed can help them pile up blankets or bedding materials to stay warm.

This instinctual need to control their temperature often mirrors behavior seen in the wild, where they would adjust their environment to adapt to temperature changes. Providing blankets or heating pads can give your dog more options to control their comfort and temperature.

4. Marking Territory

Dogs are territorial animals and may rearrange their beds to mark their sleeping area with their scent. By scratching or digging, they leave behind scent markers from glands in their paws.

This helps them feel a sense of ownership and security over their sleeping space. Marking territory through bed rearranging can be especially common in multi-pet households, where dogs may feel a need to establish their presence.

Understanding this behavior can help pet owners recognize why their dog may be more inclined to adjust their bed, especially if new pets or household changes are involved.

5. Releasing Energy

Rearranging their bed can be a way for dogs to burn off extra energy, especially if they haven’t had enough exercise or mental stimulation. Some dogs find joy in physical activity like digging and scratching, which mimics natural behaviors.

This activity not only gives them a way to release pent-up energy but also keeps them mentally engaged. Dogs left alone for long periods or those lacking regular walks and playtime may be more likely to mess up their beds. Providing more exercise and interactive toys can help satisfy their need for movement and reduce excessive bed rearranging.

6. Dealing with Anxiety

Dogs with anxiety may engage in bed rearranging as a self-soothing behavior. Scratching, digging, or moving bedding can act as a comforting ritual that helps them reduce stress or nervous energy. The repetitive motion of bed rearranging can have a calming effect, similar to how humans may fidget when stressed.

Dogs experiencing separation anxiety or adjusting to a new environment might be more prone to this behavior. Offering calming aids, such as weighted blankets or calming sprays, along with consistent reassurance, can help alleviate anxiety and reduce bed-destroying tendencies.

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7. Playfulness and Exploration

For some dogs, rearranging their bed is simply a playful activity. Dogs, especially younger ones, may see their bedding as a source of entertainment, digging and moving things around as a way to explore their environment.

This playful rearranging is often part of their curious nature, allowing them to engage their senses and discover new textures. Dogs with an exploratory mindset may benefit from additional toys or interactive games to keep them stimulated. By offering safe and engaging alternatives, you can help redirect their playful energy away from their bed and onto other activities.

8. Preparing for Sleep

Dogs, like humans, often have bedtime routines that help them feel ready for sleep. Part of their routine might involve scratching, circling, or moving their bedding to create a perfect sleeping spot. This ritualistic behavior signals their body and mind that it’s time to relax, winding them down for a restful sleep.

Rearranging the bed is their way of “settling in,” making them feel comfortable and prepared. Allowing dogs to go through this routine, within reason, can improve their sleep quality. Providing a quiet, cozy environment can also support this bedtime preparation behavior.

9. Exploring Scents

Dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell and often use it to explore and understand their surroundings. When they mess up their bed, they’re sometimes searching for familiar or interesting scents in the bedding. This sniffing and rearranging allow them to connect with their space, identifying scents that comfort them or that they feel belong in their sleeping area.

Dogs may adjust their bedding to expose or cover certain smells that appeal to them, making the area feel more like their own. Washing their bedding less frequently can retain comforting scents, which may reduce excessive rearranging.

7 things to do when dogs mess up their bed?

Here are seven helpful things you can do when your dog frequently messes up their bed. Each approach addresses common causes and provides practical solutions.

1. Provide Durable Bedding

Choose a bed made of sturdy, chew-resistant materials to withstand digging and scratching. Durable beds are less likely to tear or wear out from repeated roughing up, keeping their sleeping space intact.

Look for beds with reinforced stitching or tough fabric covers to handle your dog’s nesting habits. Having a bed that can handle their movements will save you money on replacements and keep your dog comfortable in the long run.

2. Add Extra Blankets

Adding extra blankets to your dog’s bed gives them more materials to dig into or rearrange, satisfying their nesting instinct. It allows them to create a cozy spot on their own, arranging the blankets for comfort.

Plus, blankets are easy to replace or wash when they get dirty or worn out. Using machine-washable blankets keeps their bed fresh and helps you maintain a clean environment that doesn’t require constant bed replacements.

3. Use Calming Aids

For dogs who mess up their beds due to anxiety, calming aids like sprays, calming treats, or weighted blankets can help. These tools can make them feel more secure and reduce anxious scratching or rearranging behaviors.

Try using a lavender or chamomile-infused spray, or consider a pet-safe, weighted blanket for comfort. Such calming aids help create a more peaceful sleeping environment, encouraging them to settle without excessive bed adjustments.

4. Increase Daily Exercise

If your dog has a lot of pent-up energy, increasing their daily exercise can reduce bed-messing behavior. A good mix of walks, playtime, and mental stimulation helps them burn off excess energy and stay more relaxed when it’s time to sleep.

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Dogs who are tired from activity are less likely to engage in unnecessary bed rearranging. Regular exercise not only curbs destructive habits but also supports their overall health and well-being.

5. Offer Chew Toys Nearby

Place chew toys near their bed to provide an outlet for chewing and scratching needs. If your dog is drawn to mess up their bed as a form of play, having chew toys nearby can redirect their energy.

Look for durable chew toys that satisfy their need to gnaw, like rubber or rope toys. Encouraging them to use toys instead of their bed can help preserve their bedding and still give them a fun activity to enjoy.

6. Establish a Bedtime Routine

A consistent bedtime routine can help your dog feel ready for rest, reducing the need to rough up their bed. This can include a few calming activities, like gentle petting or a few minutes of quiet time in a dim room before they settle down. Such routines signal to your dog that it’s time to relax and prepare for sleep.

With time, this structure may reduce their nesting behavior and help them feel more comfortable without constantly adjusting their bed.

7. Reward Calm Behavior

Positive reinforcement works well for curbing bed-destroying behavior. Reward your dog with treats, praise, or affection when they settle in their bed without messing it up.

This encourages them to lie down calmly and reinforces the idea that their bed is a place for relaxation. Be consistent with rewarding calm behavior, and avoid scolding when they scratch or dig, as positive associations will help them feel more secure and improve their behavior over time.

Related faq’s

Why do dogs fluff up their bed?

Dogs fluff up their beds as part of an instinctive behavior called “nesting.” This action, inherited from their wild ancestors, helps them create a cozy, secure sleeping area.

In the wild, dogs would dig, scratch, and adjust their bedding to ensure comfort, regulate temperature, and ward off pests. Although domesticated dogs don’t need to prepare their beds for survival, the instinct remains.

Fluffing also allows dogs to personalize their space, making it feel familiar and safe. This ritual is comforting, helping dogs relax and settle in, much like humans fluff pillows or arrange blankets before sleeping.

Why does our dog scratch at his bedding and then move it around when he sleeps in his crate?

When a dog scratches at his bedding and moves it around before sleeping in his crate, he’s engaging in a natural nesting behavior.

This instinct, passed down from wild ancestors, involves scratching, digging, and rearranging bedding to create a comfortable, safe sleeping spot. In the wild, dogs would do this to flatten grass, remove pests, and make their resting place more secure and temperature-regulated.

Even though your dog’s crate is safe and comfortable, he may feel the need to “prepare” his spot as a part of this ingrained behavior.

Additionally, moving bedding around helps him adjust the crate environment to his comfort, whether that means making it softer, cooler, or warmer, depending on his needs.

For some dogs, scratching and adjusting bedding can also be soothing, signaling to their mind and body that it’s time to relax. Providing a cozy crate with enough space to rearrange bedding helps support these natural behaviors.

Why does my dog scratch/dig at his bed before he lays down?

Your dog scratches or digs at his bed before laying down due to an instinctive behavior known as “nesting.” This behavior comes from wild ancestors who would dig or scratch to create a comfortable, safe resting place. In the wild, this would help them flatten the ground, regulate temperature, and remove any pests.

Although domesticated dogs don’t face these same challenges, the instinct remains. Scratching or digging before lying down allows your dog to adjust his bed for comfort, making the space feel secure and familiar, signaling that it’s time to relax.

Why does my dog mess up all my pillows and sheets as soon as I make the bed?

Your dog may mess up your pillows and sheets after you make the bed due to instinctive behaviors like nesting and seeking comfort.

Dogs have a natural urge to rearrange their sleeping area, which stems from their wild ancestors who would dig and scratch to create a cozy, safe spot. The freshly made bed might attract them because it smells like you, which makes them feel more secure.

Messing with your pillows and sheets also provides a way for your dog to adjust the space to their liking, ensuring it’s comfortable and familiar before they rest.

Why does my dog dig at the bed?

Your dog digs at the bed due to an instinctive behavior known as “nesting.” This behavior is inherited from wild ancestors, where dogs would dig or scratch at the ground to create a comfortable and secure resting place. In the wild, this action helped to flatten the area, remove pests, and regulate temperature.

Although domesticated dogs no longer need to dig for survival, the instinct remains strong. Digging at the bed helps your dog feel more comfortable and safe by adjusting their space, ensuring it feels familiar and cozy before they settle down to sleep.

Why Do Dogs Pull Their Beds Around?

Dogs pull their beds around as part of their natural nesting behavior.

This instinct stems from their wild ancestors, who would dig, scratch, or move materials to create a comfortable, safe resting space. In the wild, this action helped flatten the ground, regulate temperature, and remove pests.

Even though domesticated dogs don’t face these challenges, the behavior persists.

Moving their bed around allows them to adjust it for comfort, making it feel secure and familiar. This behavior also helps them feel more relaxed, as it provides a sense of control over their resting environment.

Yes, what you’re describing is indeed “making her bed” before laying down. This is a common behavior where dogs dig, scratch, or move their bedding around to create a comfortable and secure space.

It’s an instinctive action inherited from their wild ancestors, who would dig at the ground to create a cozy resting spot, regulate temperature, and protect themselves from pests.

While your dog no longer needs to prepare for survival, the instinct to “make her bed” before settling down remains. This ritual helps her feel more comfortable, safe, and relaxed in her sleeping area.

Why does my dog like to dig around the blankets like?

Your dog digs around the blankets due to an instinctive behavior called “nesting.” This action is rooted in their wild ancestry, where dogs would dig or scratch at the ground to create a comfortable, secure resting place.

Digging helps them flatten the area, regulate temperature, and ensure safety. Even though domesticated dogs no longer face these survival needs, the behavior remains.

By digging into the blankets, your dog is adjusting their resting spot, making it more familiar and cozy. This behavior also provides comfort and security, signaling that it’s time to settle down and relax.

Why does my dog scratch around on his pillow bed?

Your dog scratches around on his pillow bed as part of a natural instinct known as “nesting.”

This behavior comes from wild ancestors, where dogs would scratch or dig to create a comfortable, safe resting area. In the wild, scratching helped to flatten the ground, regulate temperature, and ward off pests.

Although your dog no longer needs to do this for survival, the instinct remains. Scratching around on the pillow bed helps your dog adjust the space, making it feel more secure, familiar, and comfortable. It’s also a soothing ritual that signals it’s time to settle down and rest.

Digging into her bed? 

Digging into her bed is a natural, instinctive behavior that dogs use to create a comfortable and secure resting spot. This behavior, inherited from their wild ancestors, involves digging or scratching at the ground to adjust the bedding, regulate temperature, and ensure safety.

Wild dogs would dig to create a nest or remove pests. Even though domesticated dogs no longer need to do this for survival, the instinct remains.

By digging into her bed, your dog is making the area feel more familiar and cozy, helping her feel secure and comfortable before settling down to sleep.

Why does my puppy do this with her bed?

Your puppy is likely engaging in instinctive “nesting” behavior when she digs or scratches at her bed.

This behavior is inherited from wild ancestors, where dogs would dig or scratch at the ground to create a safe, comfortable resting area. It helps them regulate temperature, flatten the surface, and protect themselves from pests. Even though your puppy no longer needs to do this for survival, the instinct remains.

Digging into her bed helps her feel more secure and comfortable, adjusting the space to her liking before settling down. It’s a comforting ritual that signals it’s time to relax.