If your dog has been rolling on your blankets a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog roll on blankets? Possible reasons why your dog has been rolling on your blankets are that it likes the scent on them, it is anxious, the behavior gets rewarded, it likes the way it feels or that it is trying to get attention from you.
Since there are a number of different possible reasons, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason. Once you have a better idea of the main cause, it should become easier to get your dog to stop doing it.
Why your dog rolls on blankets
Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
It likes the scent
It is likely that your blankets have a strong scent on them. The reason why your dog rolls on your blankets could be that it likes the scent on them. This would be more likely if it also does things such as roll around in your clothes. It would also be more likely if it tends to roll on blankets that you have been using yourself.
It is anxious
The reason why it does it could also be that it is anxious and rolling about on your blankets calms it down due to the scent on your blankets. This would be more likely if your dog tends to do it when you are not home and if it starts to become anxious when you are about to leave home.
Encouraging the behavior
It could be the case that it has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. If you tend to give it things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when it rolls in your blankets, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, it would help to give it rewards when it behaves the way you want it to and to avoid rewarding it when it does not.
To mask its own scent
If it also tends to roll around on smelly things such as grass or mud, the cause of the rolling could be to mask its scent. This is so that other animals can’t smell it when it is near and so that they don’t know where it’s been.
It likes the way it feels
The reason why it does it could simply be that it likes the way that it feels to roll around on your blankets. This would be more likely if it does not do it excessively and if it rolls around in other places just as much.
To get attention
The cause could also be that it is trying to get extra attention from you. This would be more likely if it tends to do it when you are around, when you have not been giving it much attention and if you tend to give it extra attention when it rolls around on your blankets.
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 your dog first started rolling on blankets
If your dog did not always roll around on your blankets, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If your dog started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as learning that the behavior gets rewarded or something causing it to be anxious.
What is different when it does it
If your dog does not always roll around on your blankets, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog does roll around on it. For example, if it only seems to do it while you are not home, it could be because it has some separation anxiety and the scent on your blankets makes it feel safer.
What to do about your dog rolling on blankets
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop doing it.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it could be the case that your dog has learned that rolling around, on your blankets results in it getting rewards. Instead, it would help to try to reward your dog when it behaves the way you want it to, to avoid rewarding it when it does roll on blankets and to try to redirect its focus when it seems likely to start doing it.
Reduce reasons why it might be anxious
It could be the case that it has been doing it due to being anxious. It would help to limit possible reasons why it might get anxious, especially when you are away. Things to do would include feeding it, letting it pee and giving it exercise before leaving it for long time periods.