Thread: Puppy Digs at Blankets: What does this mean?

Hello all,
I have a 6 month old Boxer mix, female. She is definitely very playful, but i have a question about her behavior with digging. (I use the term "digging" bc it best describes the action, although she isn't technically digging through anything to). Ok, so we keep a blanket or the floor for my puppy, she takes it in and out of her crate and sleeps with it, etc. but she also does this if I am sitting on the floor with a blanket.

She digs *furiously* at the blanket until she is pretty much out of breath which is usually about 30-45 seconds. Then she takes the side of her face and lays it on the spot she was digging for about 10-15 seconds. Then the cycle repeats.

I am not so much concerned with stopping this behavior as of right now as I am trying to understand why she does this. Is this something innate? Or is she just being a silly puppy?

Any and all feedback will be helpful!

Yep, just pretend digging. My almost 2yo dog "digs" into a bean bag, lol.

One of my two Shih Tzus does this as well, its adorable to watch :P

-IJMB

Ours both dig, too. Ours are digging breeds, so I thought that was the reason. BUT, they do it more at night, or when they want a nap. It really looks like they're nesting, or making their area comfortable. It's so funny, Abby does that when she goes under the covers in our bed....on a flat sheet. There's really nothing to "arrange", she'll dig at a sheet that's already pulled tight!

Several of my dogs do it, usually before lying down for a nap. I assumed they were just trying to make that spot more comfortable. Trev really goes at it....he'll dig for about 1-2 minutes before he's satisfied. Sometimes I make him stop because I don't want him to ruin my sheets or apohlstry (sp?).

Martha digs at her at her bed. I can't decipher why or when she does it. Her digging appears to be quite random to me...however kinda fun to watch.