Y Do Dogs Scratch Their Pillows When They Are About to Sleep?

9 Comments

1. amy says:

   June 27, 2011 at 11:31 pm

   i would guess it is the same reason we fluff our pillows to be more comfortable
2. Sara says:

   June 28, 2011 at 12:20 am

   they are trying to get comfortable
   moving the lumps
   they are not cleaning it
   they are just ajusting the pillow just like people do when they go to sleep
3. David says:

   June 28, 2011 at 1:05 am

   they are trying to flatten it
4. rockymtn357 says:

   June 28, 2011 at 1:25 am

   Dogs are descended from wolves. In the wild, wolves scratch at the leaves and sticks on the ground to make a more comfortable bed for themselves. Dogs aren't that far removed from wolves and their genes remember it. So, yeah, they're just getting comfy!
5. red says:

   June 28, 2011 at 1:44 am

   its called nesting. Cats dogs along with most animals do it:)
6. Susan S says:

   June 28, 2011 at 2:09 am

   My Chihuahua scratches his/a pillow when he wants to get under it. He scratches the couch, bed, his bed, anything when he wants to curl up and sleep covered. He has a small blanket and can get under it himself. However, if he has walked away from his bed with his blanket draped across his back, it can end up anywhere it falls. He's not into bringing it back. He is gratefull when I go and get it and cover him up. He makes a few circles under the blanket and flops down. Secure and happy. That's my experience.
7. tayluhh. says:

   June 28, 2011 at 2:35 am

   Hahahaha, the equivalence of us fluffing our pillows before bed?

   My pets are very particular about their sleeping arrangements.

   I give my tiny teacup chihuahua baby blankets in her fluffy bed to keep her warm, and she adjusts them in a postion that will keep her comfortable, it's funny.

   My english bulldog will also move his bed around and fluff it to his liking before bed.

   I even have hermit crabs that move their extra shells around a certain way, and get angry when I move them into a neat pile!
   It's pretty funny!

   Picky picky animals, hahaha.
8. janette says:

   June 28, 2011 at 2:41 am

   when dogs lived in the wild pre-domestication they travelled in packs and slept wherever it was dry and comfortable.
   They would find a good place they flatten the grass or brush or whatever they were laying in with their paws this is also why dogs turn around in cricles sometimes before laying down its to flatten the foliage so they can lay down on a flatter surface and cushion them selves
9. xtech930 says:

   June 28, 2011 at 2:45 am

   my dogs do this to a pillow , blanket, chair, couch... whatever they are about to lay down on trying to make it more comfortable.