Why Does My Dog Take Everything Out of His Crate?

Dogs are some of the cutest creatures on this planet (if not the cutest). And that’s for many reasons. Sometimes they follow orders perfectly and show their smarts. Other times, they just…be doing things. Even if those behaviors don’t make the most sense. And that’s another reason we love them. For example, you might be wondering: “Why does my dog take everything out of its crate?”. That could be food, blankets, toys, etc. Do you ever look at your furball and wonder what’s going on in its head?

Some people might have had this happen to them and are looking for an answer: “Is this an issue? Should be worried? What measures to take?” If that’s you, keep on reading. If that’s not you but you just want to know why dogs have the mind-boggling habits they do, also keep reading. There are several possible reasons, but first, something should be clear:

The crate is the dog’s HQ

Keep in mind, it is the dog’s zone of comfort and privacy. If you’re reading this blog, we assume that you’re using the crate to keep your pet safe and happy in a healthy manner. Being inside of a crate causes the dog to form at least some form of connection to it. If it’s a bad connection, you must get that checked immediately, but if it’s a good connection then the dog will see it as its home. This means that it has full freedom over its privacy there. The crate itself should be neat, yes, but in a way that makes the dog happy. Now let’s see some of the possibilities.

Maybe it just wants to play

Yes, that’s very possible. Before getting to the logical reasoning and thinking hard about this, do consider that dogs are playful creatures and sometimes they move objects around for the sake of it. Now if this happened once, I wouldn’t worry, but if it happens several times and it causes a mess then I would recommend that you find other ways for the dog to be entertained. Entertain your dog, of course, just in other ways and teach it to not move certain objects around. Get new toys, or just involve the ones you already have more. If you don’t know what kind of training to use, the internet is full of guides that will be useful if used correctly.

It could be for comfort

Some objects just don’t feel good to have around. Could be as simple as wanting more space. You see, people tend to prefer rooms with space to move around. Having enough space to move around without bumping into something is an extremely valuable thing in life. I’m not even joking, there’s no human being that likes a heavily busy room. Some are even phobic of tight spaces.

Well, the exact same applies to dogs. Yes, claustrophobia affects dogs too and they may understandably feel discomfort at a lack of moving space. Remember, dogs love running, they can stay inside a house and crate but ultimately, they’re active animals. Too much stuff in their way could be bad for them.

Even if your dog doesn’t have an issue with small spaces, and is the lazy sleepy type, they might prefer more space to be lazy and sleepy in. Comfort is a very possible reason behind a lot of this behavior. But what if it’s not a matter of comfort?

What if my dog is pregnant?

Now yeah, this is also a possible reason depending on a very big factor: whether your dog is pregnant in the first place. Sometimes, pregnant dogs make space for their puppies in advance. This is not as likely of a reason as the others, but if your dog happens to be pregnant and this is the first time this happening: it’s very possible it will give birth soon. Keep an eye on it.

Chances are your dog is just an elegant eater

This is especially a possibility when your dog removes specific food from its crate. As common-sense stands, food can make a big mess. Sometimes it gets spilled on the sheets or where the dog sits. Then it’s not goofy behavior at all:
Your dog could be smart for removing food and keeping it outside. It’s the equivalent of dropping all the dirt from your carpet or dining sheet out the balcony (as many of my Europeans do). Being an animal doesn’t make it less important to keep your food in a place that’s neat and doesn’t make a mess, and as far as some doggos are concerned, that could be literally just outside their cage, yes.

Instinct

Keep in mind, dogs are driven by instinct. They love to run, bite, drag, rub, dig and more. It’s in their genes to always want to express themselves through action. No matter how tame and civilized your dog is: its instincts will stick with it. If those instincts come out in a non-harmful way, there’s no issue with them. Imagine this: if your dog was outside, they would probably be playing in the grass. If it was in the wild, it would be digging for food. Right now, it’s at home and something is telling it to make an impact on the world. If this is the case, taking your dog out for a walk and more physical activity might quench its thirst for action.