If you’ve asked yourself why does my dog flip his bed over, the most common reasons for this behavior are:
- Acting out of boredom
- The bottom side of the doggy bed is more comfortable
- The bottom side is colder than the top side
- Acting out of habit
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over?
So, you’ve noticed that your dog has some pretty interesting habits.
Tail chasing, bum dragging, barking at all hours of the night ― these habits seem to be pretty common in our canine friends.
But, have you ever asked yourself, Why does my dog flip his bed over?
Every dog owner has witnessed their pup biting, clawing, and flipping over its bed at some point.
However, no matter how many times you see your dog doing this, I’m willing to bet you still think it’s an incredibly weird habit.
If you’d like to find out what’s causing your dog to behave that way, and whether or not you can change this habit, keep reading.
I’ve got some fantastic tips and tricks that will help you get to the bottom of your pup’s strange behavior!
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over? The Root of The Behavior
It’s perfectly normal to feel frustrated with your dog if it keeps on flipping its bed every night. The bottom line is that this behavior isn’t harmful to you or your dog.
However, it can be incredibly annoying.
For starters, you most likely went to the pet shop in search of the cutest, comfiest bed for your pup.
You probably even imagined how adorable your pooch would look in it, all curled up and sleeping like an angel. But then reality hit.
Now your dog won’t stop flipping its bed over, and you’re racking your brains trying to figure out how to stop this behavior.
Ultimately, these four things could be causing your dog to flip its bed over:
- Your pup is merely acting out of boredom, and it considers its doggy bed a toy.
- It prefers sleeping on the bottom side of the bed because it’s more comfortable.
- Your pup might be warm, and the bottom side of the doggy bed is a bit cooler than the top side.
- Your dog is flipping the bed out of habit.
Overall, none of the things I mentioned should cause you any concern.
However, since you’re here to find out if you can change your pup’s behavior, here are my suggestions on how to encourage your dog to stop flipping its bed over.
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over? The Bored Pooch
Many indoor dogs have strange, quirky habits, and most of them are a result of boredom. We humans often do some out-of-character things when we’re stuck inside as well.
The only difference is that we don’t consider them to be strange.
For example, binge-watching an entire season of a show in one afternoon could be considered a bit strange, wouldn’t you say?
It’s the same for your dog (except your dog prefers wreaking havoc on its bed).
How to Fix This Behavior
When pups are bored, they’ll look for ways to entertain themselves.
If your dog is flipping its bed out of boredom, the best thing you can do is give your pooch some much-needed playtime.
Here’s what you can do:
- Make time during the day to take your pup to the park.
- Buy some fun chew toys for it to play with while you’re out.
- Make sure your dog is tired before its bedtime.
The main thing you need to remember is that indoor dogs tend to get bored quickly. That’s why you need to make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise during the day.
Also, doggy toys are great for when you don’t have time to take out your pooch.
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over? Creature Comforts
We all have our preferences when it comes to the comfort of our bed. Some people like to sleep on a firm mattress, while others enjoy a cloud-like feel to their bed.
Dogs are the same as humans in that way.
Some pups like to “make their bed” by dragging their owner’s clothing onto it, creating a soft sleeping surface.
However, other dogs know better than to ruin our clothes, so they resort to flipping over their bed.
If you think about it, it’s quite understandable. When a doggy bed is right-side-up, the bottom part is on the floor, which may feel uncomfortable for your dog.
Once it flips the bed over, the bottom part of the bed takes on a cushion-like shape, which probably feels more comfortable for your dog.
How to Fix This Behavior
I find that the best way to fix this behavior is to make your dog’s bed more comfortable. Add some old pillows or a sweater for it to sleep on.
Even better, find something with your scent on it. That will make your dog feel safe and will most likely stop it from flipping over its bed.
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over? A Cool Solution
As we already know, dogs are pretty intelligent creatures. When your dog feels hot in its bed, it’s bound to flip it over onto the cooler side.
I’m sure this sounds familiar.
It’s precisely like flipping over your pillow in the summer because the other side is cooler!
Your dog is merely trying to cool down, and you’ve got to admit that this is a pretty smart solution!
How to Fix This Behavior
When those high temperatures hit, it’s up to us to pay special attention to our furry friends and their needs. After all, they can’t escape their thick fur.
That’s where cooling beds come in handy!
In case you haven’t heard of them, cooling beds are filled with water or gel, and they provide incredible comfort for our pups in the summer.
You can opt for a cooling mat or a doggy bed with a removable mat, whichever you (and your dog) prefer.
On the other hand, I’m aware that not all dogs like these beds/mats, so if your pup refuses to sleep on it, I have another solution: elevated dog beds.
Buying an elevated bed is an excellent solution for several reasons:
- It’s incredibly easy to clean.
- It doesn’t contain any stuffing (your pup won’t be tempted to chew on it).
- It helps keep your dog at a comfortable temperature.
However, if you’re looking for a cheaper solution, I’m happy to say that you can also get an elevated doggy bed on Amazon for $25 – $35!
Why Does My Dog Flip His Bed Over? Learned Behavior
Dogs are creatures of habit, so flipping the bed could be a learned behavior that you’re only now noticing.
Your pup may have started flipping the bed out of boredom, which may have caused this to become a regular habit.
If you let your dog roam around the house while you’re at work, I’m willing to bet that that’s when the habit started.
How to Fix This Behavior
First things first ― you need to break your dog’s habit of flipping its bed when you’re not around. The best way to do that is to put away the bed when you go out.
Ultimately, if your dog doesn’t have access to the bed, it won’t be able to flip it over, drag it around the house, or even try to destroy it.
Also, remember to leave out some doggy toys for it to play with, or else it will get frustrated and end up chewing something else!
Bring out your pup’s doggy bed only when it’s time to sleep. After a while, your dog will learn not to play with the bed and only sleep on it.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, flipping its bed isn’t the worst thing your dog could be doing, but I can see why you would like for it to stop.
No matter how much we love them, our furry friends can be a handful sometimes.
But, once we understand why they behave the way they do, it’s easier to curb their strange habits.
For those of you wondering, Why does my dog flip his bed over?
I hope my article gave you a better insight into your pup’s peculiar quirk.
It may take some patience on your end, but if you follow my tips, the bed-flipping will soon become a thing of the past!
