One night, Julie and Mark returned home and found pieces of their sofa on the living room floor and a tear in one of the couch cushions. Their dog, Millie, had decided to do a little home improvement using her spectacular digging skills. She was curled up on the ruined cushion, happy as a Husky in a pile of snow.
Why do some dogs insist on digging on your sofas and other furniture?
The damage can be extensive, and the replacements are expensive!
Let’s explore where this annoying behavior comes from. Then, assuming you don’t want to buy new furniture every month or so, we’ll also give you some ways to stop all that digging!
What’s the Deal With All That Digging Behavior?
It’s Your Dog’s Natural Instinct
Dogs dig like their wild ancestors did. It’s one of many behaviors that domestication never bred out. Wild dogs dig dens for the safety of a home or to create a comfortable spot to rest, warm up, or cool off. Some dogs dig in pursuit of burrowing prey. Long ago, digging became an effective survival tool. Even though today’s domesticated dogs no longer need it, it’s still wired into their brains.
Dogs cannot help themselves. Digging is a natural behavior that does not translate well in the human home. So if you don’t intervene, you may find your backyard pitted with moonscape-like craters and escape routes under fences. Indoors, your sofa, your favorite easy chair, or any soft surface is a potential victim of your dog’s digging instincts.
What About Breeds?
If you spend a little time on YouTube, you can find hilarious videos of Dachshunds aggressively trying to dig into tablets with rapidly moving prey-like objects on the screens.
Some dogs delight in digging ditches more than others. Digging is largely a matter of an individual dog’s personality traits, but breed also plays an important role. Some were even bred specifically to dig out small prey burrowing underground. In addition to Dachshunds, breeds with digging DNA include:
- Airedale Terrier
- Alaskan Malamute
- Cairn Terrier
- Fox Terrier
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Siberian Husky
For dogs like Huskies and Malamutes, digging may be more like creating a spot for insulation or building a den.
Marking Their Territory
Every dog parent knows dogs pee on things to claim their territory — trees, fire hydrants, walls, and anything else they can aim at. Some even pee in the house to mark their space.
That’s not their only business card, though. They have pheromone-producing sweat glands in their paws. When they dig, they mark surfaces with their scent that says, “Mine!” They may as well have planted a special dog flag on your sofa because they have claimed it as their prime napping spot!
Nesting Behavior
Is your dog almost ready to deliver a litter of puppies? She may be digging at her bedding to arrange a nest for herself and her babies. Mama dogs dig to create a safe, warm space for her little family. She might choose your sofa if no other space is available.
There’s Some Leftover Food in There!
Your dog may decide something is in the sofa, so they need to dig to find it. Perhaps it’s a toy or some food crumbs. Have kids? Something’s probably in there. You may also find your dog trying to bury a prized possession in there for safekeeping.
Emotional Distress
For some dogs, digging is an attempt to comfort themselves when stressed, fearful, or bored.
When they’re left alone for long periods of time, dogs can experience separation anxiety. Worried that their pack has left them, they may whine and bark or become destructive or even compulsive.
If the dog digging behavior seems extreme, consider that there may be an underlying medical condition and take your dog to the vet.
Your sofa may fall prey to frenzied digging activity. The tearing sound and the stuffing flying around are quite satisfying for a dog. It pings that instinct to capture prey, and suddenly, the dog is no longer bored or much less anxious. This outlet for their distress is called displacement behavior.
Sometimes a Dog Just Wants to Get Comfy
When we want to get comfortable, we fluff the pillows and rearrange blankets to make things right.
Our dogs dig. They’re rearranging things to be just so for the perfect nap. They may top their arranging off with some spins before settling down and sighing joyfully for a job well done.
What You Can Do to Stop Your Dog’s Digging
Digging is a natural behavior for dogs. You cannot change that natural instinct, but you can redirect the behavior to something more acceptable!
Keep Them Off the Furniture
If they never get on the sofa, they can’t tear it up with digging!
You will have to train them to follow that rule, and you’ll have to be consistent. If it’s allowed only sometimes, you will only confuse the poor dog.
It’s best to enforce that rule as soon as you bring them home. But if you’re changing the rules and no longer allowing access, you must be patient and give the dog time to adjust.
You can protect your furniture with covers, especially those designed with pets in mind. There are also sprays available with unpleasant scents that deter digging. And if toys or food particles get stuck between the sofa cushions, get the vacuum and make sure those areas are free of enticing things.
Training
Training in the basic commands is always a good thing, digging behaviors or not.
Training your dog to stay off the sofa using the “Off” command can go a long way toward a permanent solution. You can also use a leash and interrupt the dog as soon as they start digging.
Then, redirect them to do something else. Make sure you use plenty of praise for the behavior you want.
Crate training is helpful for times when you’re not home and can monitor your dog. It’s also a great way to train a puppy.
Properly Groom Your Dog’s Nails
If your dog does manage to dig at the sofa, shorter, blunt nails will cause less damage. Of course, keeping the dog’s nails clipped is always a good idea.
Upgrading Your Dog’s Bed
A dog that likes to dig, especially a large dog, can quickly destroy a cheap dog bed. It won’t be comfortable, and your sofa will become a more enticing target.
Certain styles of dog beds are much more durable and can handle a lot of digging and scratching. It’s well worth the investment if it saves your sofa!
A good quality bed means the dog’s bed is the one place where they can sleep — not the sofa. As a result, your dog will be comfortable and happy.
Give a pregnant dog a whelping box in a quiet spot. Add some soft blankets or sheets for her to form her nest.
Tackling Your Dog’s Emotional Issues
Psychological matters may seem daunting for pet owners, but there are things you can do to help your dog:
- More attention from you — If work or other things keep you away for long stretches of time, consider a doggy daycare or a pet sitter/walker. Dogs are pack animals and need social interaction.
- More physical and mental activities — Dogs are intelligent and need things to do, especially working dog breeds. Make sure they get plenty of walks and opportunities to run and exercise.
- Try games and toys where they have to chase, find things, learn tricks, retrieve, or solve a puzzle. Agility courses are great for high-energy dogs.
- Designated digging places — If you have space, create an area where the dog can dig to their heart’s content. A spot in the backyard or a box of rags or old towels can do the job.
- Have you considered adopting another dog?
- Desensitization and counterconditioning teach the dog to let go of negative associations leading to anxiety and stress and replace them with positive emotions.
Can’t Curb Your Dog’s Destructive Behavior? K9 Basics Can Help!
Your dog’s digging instinct may be so strong that you find it hard to redirect their behavior. If so, K9 Basics is here to help! Our capable trainers will teach your dog to turn that digging instinct onto more appropriate things, not your furniture. We will teach you how to identify the issues causing the problem and what you can do to get the results you want — better behavior and intact furniture!
Contact us and make an appointment. We are here to help. Give us a call at (866) 592-2742 or, if you’re from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New York, visit us at 131 Kenilworth Road, Marlton, New Jersey 08053, to learn more about our dog training services. Also, browse our blog and social media for various topics about dogs and their lives with us!
References
- Goswami, Nikhil. “Why Do Dogs Dig on Beds & Couches?” The Island Now, 9 Aug. 2022, theislandnow.com/why-do-dogs-dig-on-beds-couches/. Accessed 3 May 2023.
- Harpe, Author Tamsin De La. “Dogs Destroying Furniture: Why Do Dogs Dig on Beds and Couches?” PawSafe, 12 Oct. 2022, pawsafe.com/blogs/repellents/why-do-dogs-dig-on-beds-and-couches. Accessed 3 May 2023.
- “Why Do Dogs Scratch & Dig in Their Bed?: Casper.” Casper Blog, 2 Dec. 2022, casper.com/blog/why-do-dogs-scratch-dig-in-their-bed/. Accessed 3 May 2023.
- Oelze, Patty. “Why Do Dogs Dig on the Couch.” Wag!, Wag!, 19 Feb. 2018, wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-dig-on-the-couch. Accessed 3 May 2023.