My first stupid question of the month . . . Deb W.

sharismom

Also, if he were out in the wild, scratching the spot might scare off something he doesn't want to lay down on.

Yeah, I vaguely remember somebody telling me that it was an in-bred thing because when dogs were more outside animals they would scratch to scare away snakes before laying in the dirt or grass.  I didn't know if that was BS or not.

Deb W.

 sounds like a reasonable explanation. I always figured it was a way to nest - or fluff up their bed so to speak.

I've never heard the snake theory.  I thought they were just getting their bed comfy just like I do before I lay down. lol 

JackieG

I thought they were just getting their bed comfy just like I do before I lay down. lol 

I hadn't heard the snake theory, either, but it totally makes sense to me.  If I have to do any walking in "natural" areas, I prefer to make some noise, stomp my feet, whatever it takes to scare them away!

Ruby does the scratching thing, too, whether she's on our bed or on the couch.  If her blanket is spread out first, then she ends up scratching it up into a big ball, then she lays down on it (oh, and this is accompanied by turning round in several circles, too).

 I knew it was a nesting activity, never really thought about it beyond that, though.

 Seems every dog has their own way of doing it.  RB Sugar would pile up blankets and pillows, then settle BEHIND them so she had a chin rest.  Willy 'digs to China' which is a nuisance when he wakes up to resettle things at 2 am - he sleeps on the bed, at the HEAD of the bed, next to my pillow!  

 Luke does this sometimes. I always figured he was just adjusting it for his comfort.