Why Do Dogs Dig The Floor

The bottom of a dog s paws has special glands that release a territorial scent onto the floor when the dog scratches.

Why do dogs dig the floor.

This need to escape could result in the scratching and digging at the floor to create an exit point. Certain dogs however may dig in the carpet when they are excited or anxious. Emotional issues such as fear and anxiety may be another point of concern that is causing your dog to scratch. Warm temperatures may inspire a dog to dig at the floor in an attempt to find cooler ground.

It s also possible the dog is digging at the floor as a means of entertainment. A dog can dig at the floor because the dog is attempting to dig a hole due to his her instinctive behavior. Things such as being scared of a storm or strangers being present in the home can cause your dog to want to escape. In cooler temperatures dogs may use digging behaviors to build a warm cozy den in which to relax.

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. 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. Dogs dig at the floor for various reasons.

When a dog scratches at the floor he is claiming that spot as his own. This can be a displacement behavior meaning that when your dog cannot perform a behavior he wants to do he instead performs another.