If your dog has ever started digging into your couch like it was the last greatest thing on Earth, you might start questioning what exactly goes inside that furry little head. Is this a fun game? Is this their way of destroying your couch? Or is there a more underlying motive to this behavior?
Well, the truth is, your dog isn’t in fact being snooty. This seemingly odd habit has an explanation to it and if you were to understand it, it might be of help to you to resolve the issue in a way that suits both you and your canine companion.
The Evolution Correlation: A Tribute to Their Primal Family Tree
Canines descend from caves and wild animals, therefore some of these current things they do can be attributed to their previous relatives that roamed the earth thousands of years ago. To assist in thermoregulation, wild canines would burrow into the earth to create a resting area to lay down. Well, this sense of instinct still exists in our contemporary puppies.
So, when a dog digs on the couch, they are, in their own way, attempting to carefully shape their “cabin” so that it becomes as warm and protective as necessary. The soft cushions of your couch tend to act in the same way as the soft ground their ancestors had to mold around them to create snug resting places.
Releasing the Tidal Energy
At times, g digging is less about comfort and more about discharging energy. Ritually, dogs of living ancestry, dig when they are excited or feeling bored or anxious. The internal urge to dig satisfies them and transforms emotions into physical energy.
For instance:
Nervous dogs: Digging, like scratching their bodies can be an attempt to ease tension, much like others will fiddle, tap feet, or chew gum whenyc nervous.
Excited Dogs: After an active engagement with you, asking for playdigging may assist your dog to self soothe and rest.
So furiously engaged in digging a couch shows that your dog might be engaging in comfort seeking behavior as well as energy expunging.
Marking Their Neighborhood
Did you know, digging dogs have glands embedded in the pads on their paws? When they dig, they apply their scent which they possess onto a locality and this is classified as territory ‘marking’ prints by dogs scent.
This type of behavior comes from the predecessors from which they descend as who have territorial boundaries and hierarchy social construction in societies. Whenever the dog digs on the couch, some canines are attempting to declare “This bend is mine.”
This type of behavior is common in multi pet homes where dogs engage in playing a role that would fit them when asserting their sovereignty over a given region.
Fun Activity for Dogs
For some dogs, the act of digging is simply a fun pastime. The texture of the couch fabric, the way the cushions shift around, or even the sounds made as they dig can all prove very interesting for your pet.
Think of it as part of their exploration and play. To you, it may look like a willful destruction but to your dog, it is quite the opposite as they seem to be enjoying themselves.
When is Digging a Problem?
It is alright to dig a hole every seldom occasion, however there are times when an obsession with digging can be problematic. These reasons mentioned below could help explain:
Lack of Stimulation: Drained dogs or ones lacking in mental stimulation often result to activities such as digging to entertain themselves.
Stress: Your dog may have high anxiety levels which is making it feel the need to dig.
Health Issues: This isn't too common, but excessive digging could be a sign that your dog has some underlying health condition.
If your dog is exhibiting signs of digging obsessively and excessively, it would be best if you seek the advice of your dog behaviorist or veterinarian.
Addressing the Problem of Your Dog Digging up the Couch
This can be a big problem, but there are a few tips to redirect the couch digging:
Provide Something Comfortable to the Dog
Provide adequate dog pillows or blankets that will give them their own specific area to lie on so that they will not have to lie on the couch.
Promote More Physical Exercises
Going on walks regularly or engaging your pups in some active toys can help them shed all the extra energy and reduce the couch digging behavior.
Give Them Attention Seeking Toys
Training sessions, puzzle toys, and interactive games such as hide-and-seek can help with keeping an active mind which will lessen the chances of them being destructive.
Dress Your Dogs with Encouraging Attitudes
Let’s help them out by providing them with treats and good words for using their rightful area rather than the couch. This will reinforce the behavior that is desired.
Restrict Them from Accessing the Couch
If the previous methods have proven to be less successful, you may use gated and covered puppies over the couch until the problem subsides.
Digging for a dog is a natural instinct, and to mitigate the negative sides, identifying the underlying reasons for the behavior will be the primary goal. Remember: instead of limiting a certain behavior, try understanding it to the fullest.
For example:
You could increase the activity and playtime of your dog if he is digging activities out of boredom.
In case if they want to be dominant now and then, one could provide them with designated areas for their need to claim.
Real Life Example: Bella’s Adventures With Her Couch
Bella, who is a hyperactive labrador, chewed the couch cushions every day in the evening. Initially, her owners thought that she was just being a troublemaker but quickly understood that This was simply her way of calming herself off after a long active day of vivid activities. Bella had gone through, A lot of vivid activities would give her.
Her owners gave her an extra, something comfortable to spend time on which was a dog bed and they also introduced her to a puzzle toy which was meant to enhance her cognitive and interactive abilities significantly. Now she would not tear the couch apart, she would now pull her bed apart instead, so her family now likes her more because they understand that they were taking away her comfortable cushions.
Conclusion: Learning to Love Your Dog For Who They Are
As I previously predicted, It could sound unnecessary or even irritating at times when your dog, is trying to dig into your couch for the very first time, However, Dogs have instincts that needs to be expressed, they have emotions and those emotions need channels for expression. Once you understand the causes for such an activity, then you are in a much better position to deal with such an activity while also assuring that your relationship with your furry friend is always able to blossom.
Keep in mind that your dog is not attempting to destroy your furniture but rather acting like a dog. There’s plenty of patience and love involved in guiding your puppy to be comfortable in the right places and to keep your couch safe and sound.