Scratch and Sniff Behavior

[pppuggrammie]

Spike has this habit of scratching the upholstery or bedding, then stuffing his wet little nose to it and slobbering all over it. This is becoming quite damaging! I'm trying to stop it, but he is very persistent. Is this a dog thing, a pug thing, or just something Spike developed on his own?

[ViralMD]

It sounds like one of Spike's personal idiosyncrasies. How about substituting something else when you see him do that - like a chew toy or a game of fetch?

[pppuggrammie]

Thanks for the advice. Instead of just reprimanding him, I'll give him a better activity!

[bezrk]

our little girl does this all the time. when she does we have started playing tug of war of fetch to destract her so far it seems to help.

[Ebony's Dad]

Ebony does something quite similar to this. When she starts doing it, we know it's time to take her back to the Vet for those anal glands to be expressed. Could that be Spike's reason?

[pppuggrammie]

The behavior is somehow linked to his bed "preparation." He usually starts the digging and sniffing, then circles to make his bed. I've been trying to give him a subsitute activity, but that isn't working, since he's really just getting himself ready for a nap and doesn't want to play. He mostly does it on his favorite chair, but he also does it when on our bed. Haven't noticed him doing it much in his kennel, but then he's already shredded his imitation sheepskin throw. Even with his nails cut short, he can really do some damage!

[lashwish]

It's not just him...
Sometimes my boys do that before sleeping.

They dig on the bed & then lie down. They have been known to dig & then pee too
They constantly have their noses to everything in search of food crumbs.

I believe dogs in the wild circle in their spots trampling down brush etc, or padding down snow (digging a hole) to prep for sleep, just as you said.

[rolland]

I think this is one of the cutest things. I see how it could be a problem though if your pug is sleeping on your bed! Our little guy has his own plush big bed right at the side of our bed and he does this before he goes to sleep each night. He does it in a nice way though, if that makes sense? He does not shred anything anymore, we constantly used to tell him to be nice to his bed...and believe it or not that worked! We would say be nice and show him how to be nice and he would do it. Smart little bugger. Now when he gets something new he digs it first thing just to see if we will tell him to be nice or if he can really dig in!