Why is My Dog Scratching the Carpet at Night? Causes & Solutions

Do you notice your dog often scratching the carpet at night? Wondering what’s making it do that? Well, there might be different reasons for such behavior. To understand why your dog is acting all weird with the carpet at night, you need to observe it carefully.

In this article, we’ll be pointing out some common reasons why dogs scratch the carpet at night and discuss the ways to prevent it. So, why don’t you have a look to find out what’s wrong with your pup? 

Let’s take a walk!

Common Reasons for Carpet Scratching at Night

Dogs scratching carpets at night might look fishy, but it really isn’t an unusual behavior. Many breeds of dogs tend to do it naturally. Here are a few reasons why -

1. Nesting Instincts

Most dogs have innate nesting instincts that they inherit from their wild ancestors. If you see your dog scratching the carpet right before taking a nap, it is most likely their nesting behavior. By scratching the carpet, they try to make the spot safe, comfortable, and designated for them to rest. 

2. Marking Territory

It is another behavior that dogs are born with. Dogs are usually very possessive about their territory. They don’t like the interference of other dogs or pets in the space they consider their own. So, if you have other pets or pups in your house, observe if your dog is acting possessive about their space in their presence. Then, that might be your reason.

3. Anxiety & Stress

Often, anxiety or stress triggers repetitive compulsive behaviors within animals that don’t necessarily have to do anything with the action. So, if your dog is undergoing anxiety or stress, he might be doing it impulsively without even realizing it. 

4. Boredom & Excess Energy 

One of the most common causes of dogs scratching the carpet is simply because they’re bored. At night, usually, there aren’t many activities for dogs. Their owners rest while they get awfully bored. So, they entertain themselves by playing or digging the carpet.

5. Seeking Attention

Does your dog tend to scratch the carpet whenever you’re around? Then, maybe he simply wants your attention. Your dog realizes which of their actions grabs your attention. Even if there’s a negative reaction from you, they would prefer that over not being noticed by their owner at all.

6. Medical Issues

When was the last time you took your dog to a vet? Could it be a medical issue? That’s always a possibility. You can go for a medical checkup to make sure this carpet-scratching behavior isn’t being triggered by one of the following issues:

• Allergies: Many times, due to nutritional deficiencies, allergic reactions might develop on your pet’s skin. To get rid of the discomfort of those reactions, the pup might tend to scratch the carpet. Sensitivity to specific foods might trigger this, too.
• Dry Skin: Like human skin, canine skin also requires essential vitamins and minerals. Lack of proper nutrients and necessary fatty acids like Omega-3 often leads to skin irritation and dryness, causing dogs to scratch the carpet out of itchiness. So, take a close look at its diet and nutrition.
• Parasites: Again, itchiness or skin irritation might be caused by the presence of germs or parasites in your dog's body. This can make your dog restless and want to scratch the carpet vigorously. If you suspect that to be the cause, take it to a vet for a thorough checkup immediately.

How to Stop the Behavior?

Scratching the carpet once or twice isn’t something concerning; it’s rather funny. However, if it seems to have become a habit of your dog that it does more or less every night, you might have to take measures to stop it before it pierces your carpet. Here are some suggestions for you:

Addressing Normal Behaviors

If you have detected that the issue is your dog’s instinctive behavior causing it to dig your carpet, first be relieved that it isn’t concerning. To address it, try the following steps:

• Provide a Comfortable Bed: The nesting behavior is usually triggered by the lack of a designated spot for the dog. So, the dog tries to build its own comfortable space. Why don’t you just give it what it wants? A bed of its own might just be the solution. No more digging carpet to build a nest.
• Increase Exercise: If your dog’s behavior is caused by boredom or a lack of activity, make that pup work out. Increasing the amount of exercise activity will burn more of its energy. So, when you and your family are resting at night, the dog will be sleeping, too.
• Mental Stimulation: Other than exercising, the most fruitful solution to increasing your dog’s activity and keeping it entertained is spending time with it. Play different games that help it develop consciousness and skills. Throwing balls and frisbees and playing hide-and-seek can go a long way.

Treating Medical Issues

Don’t stress out if your dog is diagnosed with a medical issue. Be its support and help it recover from it. Make sure you do it right. Don’t miss out on any of the following:

• Veterinary Consultation: First things first, take it to the doctor. Go through the proper tests and procedures to get clinically confirmed about the medical issue. 
• Allergy Management: If it turns out your dog has a specific allergy that caused the carpet-scratching as a reaction, take proper steps to keep your dog away from whatever is causing the allergy. Manage the reactions with proper medications prescribed by the vet. 
• Skin Care: For itching or dry skin problems, nourish your pup with the proper nutrition and skin care it needs. Follow the necessary skincare and pawcare routine and diet suggested by your vet nutritionist.

Managing Anxiety

If stress or anxiety is causing your dog to behave aggressively toward the carpet, you need to calm and secure the environment around it.

• Behavioral Training: Sometimes, separation or living alone for some time might also cause this behavior. In that case, train your dog to be comfortable with independence and solitude. Get expert help if necessary.
• Anxiety Medication: Your dog is your baby. So, prioritize its mental health as you should. Take it to therapists and go through the therapeutic routine required to get it as calm and joyful as before.

Final Thought

Here’s a thought: how about you wait a bit? This might be a very temporary attitude from your little buddy. Your dog might get over it by itself within a few days. So, just sit back and observe for a while.

However, if your pup continues to show this behavior for more than a week, take the necessary measures to control it. Don’t worry; it’s nothing you can’t solve.