Nesting behavior

Question
Hi Karen,  My 13 yr. female Border Collie died this morning.  She as been deaf and nearly blind for 2 years but died of complications of diabetes.  For the month prior to her dying she had been vigorously nesting every night before sleep.  This was not her previous behavior.  Do you believe this was in preparation for her death?

Answer
I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. Don't get me started, as I've lost three old dogs over the last few months.

I have had some dogs who nested on a regular basis, and some who did not. I cannot recall ever having one who did not, suddenly start doing that behavior toward the end of its life (and I've lost a lot of dogs over forty years of owning multiple dogs). And I cannot tell you how many times I have had to holler at someone to "Stop that! It doesn't fluff!" as said dog dug vigorously at carpeting or wooden floor*G*.

I think that maybe your ol' gal was just trying to get more comfortable with her sleeping arrangements. When we get older, we get more aches and pains in places we never did before, and maybe she was trying to ease those in some fashion by "fluffing her bed".