Why does my dog bury his head in the couch?

If your dog has been burying its head into the couch, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.

So, why does my dog bury its head in the couch? Possible reasons why your dog buries its head into the couch are that it is trying to get to food stuck between the gaps, it is anxious, your dog finds it comfortable, or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.

There are actually multiple possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.

Reasons why your dog buries its head into the couch

Below are a number of possible causes and what would make them more likely.

It wants some food stuck in the couch

A very likely cause is that it is trying to get to food stuck between the gaps in the couch. This would be more likely if you know that there is food stuck there and if it tends to bury its head into a certain spot.

Fearfulness

The cause could be that something has been causing your dog to be fearful and it has been burying its head into the couch as a way of hiding. This would be more likely if your dog tends to do it more at a certain time, when it is more likely to be fearful, such as when there is thunder and lightning.

Anxiety

The reason why your dog has been doing it could also be that something has been causing it to be anxious. This would be more likely if your dog tends to do it more when it is more likely to be anxious such as when you are about to leave home.

Comfort

Another possible cause is that your dog simply finds it comfortable. This would be more likely if your dog does not push its head into the gaps of the couch and it just rubs its head into the surface.

Encouraging the behavior

The cause might also be that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats, or extra attention, when it buries its head, into the couch, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.

Mental issues

It might also be the case that it has been doing it due to a more serious cause. It could be the case that there is a mental issue that is causing it. This would be more likely if your dog has been doing other unusual things such as be dizzy, vomit a lot, or have seizures. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

What else happened when it first started doing it

If your dog did not always do it, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be due to some food getting stuck in the couch, something causing it to be anxious, or learning that the behavior is rewarded.

What is different when your dog buries its head in the couch

If your dog tends to do it more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different when it tends to do it. For example, if it does it more when you are leaving home, it would be more likely that it is doing it due to separation anxiety.

What to do about your dog burying its head into the couch

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Remove any food from the couch

The first thing to do would be to clean the couch and to make sure that there is not any food stuck between the gaps in the couch.

Redirect its focus

Another option would be to redirect its focus towards something else, when it is about to bury its head into the couch. Ways to redirect its focus could include giving it a toy or bone or getting it to perform an exercise.

Give it another place to lie down

It could also help to give it another place to lie down so that it is less likely to want to bury its head into the couch.

Get help

If your dog has started doing it suddenly and it has been behaving unusually in other ways, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out more serious causes.