Hello
I have an 8 mnth old cocker spaniel.. who has developed two weird habits:
(a) he bits on his back paw.. and sometimes puts the whole paw in his mouth and just knaws on it??
(b) just before bed every night.. he digs in his bed.. its like a ritual.. just digging until he settles.

anyone experience similar.
thanks

Hi guest. Inanswer to
a) Have you checked that there is nothing in the bits between his pads? Grass seeds, or anything small really, can get lodged in there and annoy a dog. They will chew it to try to get rid of it, even its own hair, if knotted or tangled (which happens a lot with hairy dogs like spaniels ;) )
b) Dogs generally turn round, and some will dig, in order to get comfy :) It has something to do with their spine needing to relax in a certain way so they can curl up.

I have cockers, the bed digging is just a normal bed making ritual, but I wouldn't say chewing their back feet was normal, have you checked to see if there is a problem?

My Dog chews his back paws, more during the summer months the vet says that he has a pollen allergy

Apw chewing can also be linked with blocked/compacted anal glands. But the bed thing is quite normal - we all like our own 'nest' just the way we like it don't we? :)