What Is 'Denning' and Does Your Dog Do It? Here's What It Probably Means

A dog owner has shared footage of her Australian shepherd "denning" and it's something she believes all dogs do.

Toni McCain's dog Luna was born completely deaf, which was something the family was initially unaware of when they brought her home as an eight-week-old puppy. "When we first met her, we were told she was the calmest of the litter," McCain told Newsweek. "It wasn't until a couple weeks later that my partner picked up on her lack of response to sound."

Luna's condition is more common than many probably realize. The American Kennel Club estimates that around five to 10 percent of dogs in the U.S. suffer from some form of deafness, whether it's unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (both ears).

Owning a deaf dog still represents something of a challenge though. McCain has had dogs all her life, but Luna was her first experience with a deaf animal. "Initially, there was a learning curve but it was more so our inability to communicate with her. A hearing dog can take verbal commands and not need any other forms of communication; but with a deaf dog, verbal communication obviously does not work," she said.

"The biggest difference in owning a deaf dog is developing a new form of communication. For us, eye contact and hand signals are vital. We initially taught Luna how to 'check-in' in which she makes eye contact with us at various points. Through eye contact, we are then able to implement hand signals."

Luna, also nicknamed Lulu, might be different to other dogs in some respects, but she also shares plenty of the same behaviors as canines that can hear. McCain would point to Luna's habit of "denning" as a prime example. It's an example she recently highlighted in a video shared to TikTok under the handle lulu_the_aussie.

"Denning is essentially a dog digging in an area, typically where they sleep or want to make themselves comfortable," McCain explained. "Luna has been denning since she was a puppy! Her favorite places consist of her cage, our play tent and bed."

The video showing Luna "denning" around the family home has proven popular on social media, with the TikTok clip amassing 1.8 million views and counting. McCain isn't entirely surprised though, as she believes "denning" is something other dogs do as well.

"Denning is something that comes natural to dogs. The instinct to dig, scratch, or circle comes from their ancestors," she said. "It's also been observed in wolves and foxes. In the wild, it's a safe area for these animals to rest and relax; so your dog is just trying to make a comfortable space to do the same."

What Is "Denning"?

Susan Nilson, a professionally accredited cat and dog training and behavior expert, reviewed the footage and backed up much of what McCain said.

"Dogs often engage in this type of scratching 'rearranging-the-bedclothes' behavior simply as a way of making a comfortable resting spot," Nilson told Newsweek. "Not all dogs do it, but some dogs do it instinctively as a way to create a den-like sleeping environment."

She said that many of these dogs like to build outdoor dens as well, despite having perfectly comfortable beds in the home.

"They usually do this in hideaway spots like under trees or bushes, or in an elevated space where they can feel more secure from potential threats. I've seen dogs dig fairly substantial dens in sand, mud, and even snow," she said.

Nilson said that it's a practice born out of two key factors. "Sleeping in a cozy den outdoors is a way for dogs to stay warm or cool, depending on the outside temperature, as well as to feel safe and secure while they're in the vulnerable state of sleeping," she said.

Though Luna may be doing her "denning" indoors, Nilson said the same logic applies." The dog transfers this same instinctive behavior to a different setting, but the outcome is the same: a cozy, safe resting spot," she said.

What Does It Mean if Your Dog Is "Denning"?

Nilson added that the practice may also represent a form of "territorial behavior and scent marking." She explained: "When dogs scratch at a surface, the scent glands in their paws leave an olfactory signal, informing other dogs of their presence. In a situation where a dog is setting up his resting spot, he also leaves his own olfactory mark when he scratches at the bedding."

It may even be the case that Luna may be feeling some form of anxiety and "denning" may help in another way. "If a dog is feeling stressed or anxious, surrounding himself with his own scent like this can be a way to self-soothe and make himself feel more secure."

Luna might be different in some respects but if her habit for "denning" shows us anything, it's that she's more like most dogs than many might realize.

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