why does my dog, and any dog turn around in a circle several times before they get comfy and go to sleep?

Answer 1

My dog does this on my belly when i get into bed (sorry to all those owners who dont approve of doggy human-bed sleeping). She has managed to get to the bed 15mins before me, made herself comfortable, and then moans when I push her over....the cheek of it! We have a humerous relationship though and she soon moves, with a look of annoyance....its a hard life for dogs-home mongrels in this day and age- I want my £70 back....joke :)

Answer 2

We had a holiday in Finland where we went out with the huskies for a couple of days. All the huskies slept outside in the snow and before settling down would circle several times. This made a depression in the snow which they settled into sheltering from the wind. Seemed to make sense.

Answer 3

Circling is common behavior in dogs. No one knows why, but the theory is that they "make a bed" by knocking down tall grass, padding down snow or shuffling stones off the dirt before curling up for a nap. It may be for any of these reasons, but pet dogs will circle anywhere indoors, even in their own beds. It's not reasoned behavior, but is instincitve to all canids, domesticated and wild.

Answer 4

My dog lays on the carpet in front of the electric fire then looks at me and growls because i'm sitting on the settee. "All right you can stretch out on here after i've gone to bed" I said. That's just it with dogs even on a thick pile carpet they dont feel comfy. They turn this way and that way and say "Woof" as if to say "I cant get comfortable".

Answer 5

Because in the wild, dogs would burrow in leaves and other material to make a bed. They are just re-positioning themselves just like when we move around in our bed~to get comfy.

Answer 6

many moons ago dogs were used to making there own beds, straw,fallen leaves, or anything that was near. the spinning round is to make the bedding into there shape or in bygone times more comfy.

Answer 7

It is going back to the wild even if or not they dogs or horses and also a style of alternative animals, the position they could ought to trample down tall grasses to hide in at the same time as they necessary to sleep, so predators couldn't see them at the same time as they were scanning the encircling section. - desire this helps

Answer 8

The only relevant theory I have heard is that it is a habit inherited from when dogs were wild & they had to tread down the grass before they slept. Although how that would work, i have no idea.

Answer 9

It is still an instinct to burrow around in leaves and grass to make a suitable bed before laying down. It is just their nature.

Answer 10

same reason a cat pads before sleeping. to get comfy