Dogs are by far the most commonly kept type of pet in the world and with dogs having some quirky behaviors we often see people reaching out and asking questions about different things that their dogs do.
There really are some random quirks that dogs can have and we see a number of different questions every month but more recently, it seems people have been having problems with their dogs pushing pillows off their couch and bed.
Due to there being a number of reasons that may cause this, we decided that we wanted to publish this article going over why your dog pushes pillows off the couch and bed to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Push Pillows Off Things?
The first thing that we want to look at is whether it is actually normal for dogs to push pillows off things and the answer to this question surprisingly isn’t as straight forward as you may think.
Dogs are known for their habits of digging and scratching around in their beds or on the couch which can often lead to them pushing things off, however, this isn’t always the case.
Pushing things off of surfaces is a pretty natural behavior for dogs and there are actually a number of reasons that your dog may do this.
Why Does My Dog Push Pillows Off The Couch?
While there are many different reasons that your dog may push pillows off of things, we have compiled a list of some of the most common reasons below.
- Your Dog Is Bored.
- Your Dog Wants Attention.
- Separation Anxiety.
- Your Dog Is Hot.
- Your Dog Is Playing.
- Curiosity/Exploring.
- Training/Rewards.
As you can see, there are a number of different reasons that your dog may push pillows off of things and it is important to try and figure out which one is affecting your dog.
If you can identify the reason why your dog is pushing pillows off of things, it will be much easier to find a solution to the problem.
How Can I Stop My Dog Throwing Pillows Off Things?
If your dog is pushing pillows off of things and you would like to stop them from doing this, there are a number of different things that you can do.
Below, we have listed some of the best solutions for each of the different reasons that your dog may push pillows off of things.
Your Dog Is Bored
If your dog is bored, it is important to try and provide them with more stimulation.
This can be done by increasing the amount of exercise that they get, providing them with more toys, and spending more time playing with them.
Your Dog Wants Attention
If your dog is pushing pillows off of things to get attention, it is important to try and ignore the behavior.
This means not reacting to it in any way, whether that be positive or negative.
If you do react to it, your dog will learn that this is a good way to get your attention and they are likely to continue doing it.
Separation Anxiety
If your dog has separation anxiety, it is important to try and desensitize them to being left alone.
This can be done by gradually increasing the amount of time that you leave them alone, starting with just a few minutes and slowly increasing it over time.
You should also make sure that you don’t make a big fuss of leaving or coming home as this can just make the problem worse.
Your Dog Is Hot
If your dog is pushing pillows off of things because they are hot, it is important to make sure that they have access to cool water and a shady area to rest in.
You should also avoid exercising them in hot weather as this can just make the problem worse.
Your Dog Is Playing
If your dog is pushing pillows off of things as part of play, it is important to make sure that they have plenty of toys to play with.
You should also try and redirect their attention to the toy whenever they start to push a pillow off of something.
Curiosity/Exploring
If your dog is pushing pillows off of things out of curiosity or to explore, it is important to make sure that they have plenty of other things to occupy their time.
You should also try and confine them to a smaller area when you can’t supervise them so that they can’t get into too much trouble.
Training/Rewards
If you are training your dog, it is important to make sure that you only reward them for the behavior that you want them to do.
This means that if they push a pillow off of something and you don’t want them to, you should not give them a treat or any other type of reward.
Round Up
As you can see, there are a number of different solutions that you can try if your dog is pushing pillows off of things.
It is important to experiment with different solutions to see what works best for your dog as every dog is different.
If you are having trouble stopping your dog from pushing pillows off of things, it is important to speak to a professional such as a veterinarian or animal behaviorist.
They will be able to give you more specific advice that is tailored to your dog’s individual needs.
Why Does My Dog Rip Pillows?
If your dog is ripping pillows, it is likely because they are bored or they want attention.
It is important to try and provide them with more stimulation and to discipline the dog for the behavior if you want it to stop.
