Once every so often you will find your dog rubbing his face on the grass, ground or carpet. This is usually seen as normal behavior and should not be anything to worry about. However, if you notice your dog rubbing his face on the carpet excessively, there could be other underlying reasons why your dog is showing this behavior that might need addressing.
Our dogs constantly communicate with us in various ways. As a dog owner, it is important to be able to pick up on any signs to understand what your dog is trying to tell you. Often the carpet serves as an excellent face-cleaning or scratching tool, but there could be other reasons why your dog is rubbing his face on the carpet. To make sure you understand your dog’s behavior, have a read through the following reasons why your pup might rub their face on the carpet.
Normal behavior
Itchy face
Nothing quite beats an itchy face than a good face rub on the carpet. The soft and fuzzy texture of a carpet makes it a great scratching tool for your dog’s face. An itch can appear without any severe reason and the carpet is perfect to relieve some of that itchiness. This is absolutely normal behavior and it should not raise any worries if your pup goes for a rub ever so often.
Cleaning a messy face
Besides being a perfect itching tool, your carpet is also great to get rid of some sand, sticks, grasses or any other dirt that got stuck on your dog’s face from walks or playtime in your garden. That’s why often when you come back home from the outdoors you’ll find your pup rubbing his face on the carpet. Another time you are likely to find your pup rubbing his face is in the morning. Some dogs tend to get eye rheum from sleeping and a good rub in the morning cleans it all up. One more popular face rubbing time is straight after a meal. Small crumbs of dog food can get stuck on your dog’s lips, cheeks and around the nose. A good rub wipes it all away.
Behavior that needs your attention
Collar irritation
You’ll likely find your dog rubbing their necks and face on the carpet when the collar is causing irritation. Dogs usually wear their collars all the time, although some pup owners prefer to take them off after walks. No matter the frequency of wearing the collar, it is always important to check if the collar sits comfortably around your dog’s neck. When the collar is fitted too tight, the collar chafes the neck of your dog which causes irritation.
You can easily check if the collar is fitted properly by slipping two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. If you can do this easily, the collar of your dog will be just fine. If you struggle to get two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck, this is a sign you need to loosen your dog’s collar. Another reason your pup might be suffering from collar irritation is due to a dirty collar. Make sure that you give the collar a wash every so often to prevent irritation caused by dirt from happening.
Skin Allergies
If you find your pup scratching and rubbing themselves on the floor or other objects excessively, this might be due to skin allergies. An allergic reaction on the skin can be caused by dust mites, food, pollen, shampoo or any materials in the collar your dog might be allergic to. Allergies cause severe irritation and your pup will try to get rid of the discomfort by rubbing and scratching themselves.
If you have recently introduced a new food, shampoo or collar to your dog, make sure to let your vet know if you are suspecting your dog is suffering from skin allergies. Your vet will be able to advise you on what might have caused the allergic reaction and can prescribe proper treatment for your dog’s condition.
Obsessive Behavior
Although some dog breeds require more exercise than other breeds, all dogs need to get enough mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If you find your dog rubbing his head on the carpet excessively, this might be due to boredom or obsession. Dogs can show obsessive behavior when being kept on a leash, put in a crate at home or when they lack mental and physical stimulation.
If your dog is rubbing his head on the carpet excessively and you and the vet are unable to find any physical condition causing this behavior, it is likely your dog needs more stimulation. Make sure you take your dog out for frequent walks, preferably 3 to 4 times a day. You can also invest in mentally stimulating toys or try to teach your pup a new trick.
Itchy Eyes
A good face rub can help relieve irritation caused by itchy eyes. Just like with humans, eye irritation can be caused by dirt that may have gotten into your puppy’s eyes, like hair or sand. This is usually harmless and will fall out of your dog’s eyes by itself. However, some eye irritation is more severe.
If you notice your dog is squeezing their eyes, is unable to open its eyes or if they are scratching its eyes excessively, it is likely the eye irritation is caused by something other than a speck of harmless dirt. Severe eye irritation can be caused by an injury, allergic reaction to food or shampoo or an eye illness. In this case, it is important to contact your vet and explain the situation. The vet will be able to find the correct treatment for your dog’s itchy eyes.
Ear Infection
Pay attention to what areas of their face your dog tries to find relief for most. If you notice your pup mainly rubbing his ears on the floor or against an object, there is a possibility that your dog is suffering from an ear infection. Ear infections are annoying and it is advised to pay a visit to the vet if you suspect an ear infection. Medicine or pain relief for ear infections can sometimes be bought over the counter. However, before you buy any remedy from the shop, make sure your vet has checked and approved this product.
Tooth Problems
One of the most painful and maddening problems your dog can experience are tooth problems caused by tooth breakage, gum infections or tooth decay. Your dog will want to find relief for their discomfort and is likely to rub its face to do so. If you notice this behavior in combination with a change in behavior regarding dinner time, your dog is likely experiencing tooth problems.
Other symptoms of tooth problems are restlessness, blood in saliva, licking of lips and bad breath. Tooth problems cause severe discomfort and if not addressed on time can lead to other health problems such as dehydration and starvation due to the inability to eat. If you notice a combination of these symptoms, you must consult your vet who will be able to treat your dog’s tooth problems.
Head or Skull Injuries or Disease
Though not among the common reasons for a good face rub, it is still important to address the possibility of any illness or head injuries your dog might be suffering from. Brain tumors or head injuries lead to severe discomfort. Your dog will start rubbing his head on the carpet or floor to relieve the pain.
Innocent or not? Ring the bell in time!
As you have read, there are several reasons why a dog rubs its face on the carpet. While some reasons don’t hurt anything, others deserve a little extra attention. Do you feel that something is wrong with your dog? Then be sure to visit the vet to rule things out.
