why do dogs turn in circles before they lie down?

Answer 1

It's just a throw back to when they lived wild, and would flatten down any grass etc on the patch of ground they were going to lie down in for any length of time.

It also meant they could move somewhere else before actually lying down if the circling showed up rocks etc in the patch chosen

Answer 2

Dog behavior: why they run in circles
by Tricia Chamney
Is your dog making a bed, or is it expressing nervousness? Compulsive, frantic running in circles is easy to recognize; your dog just won't stop! This can be caused by stressors such as overstimulation in your home environment, combined with lack of a quiet place to escape to. This is seen most frequently in breeds, or mixes, considered high-strung.

Answer 3

Its a basic instinct to do it. They do it about 10 - 12 times on average before laying down, to build up heat under their bodies. They are just doing it to ensure their bed is warm. Its like us snuggling up under the covers at night.
It's just a normal dog thing!

Answer 4

it has been inbred in them for hundreds of years of living outside in grassy areas, to turn around a few times to flatten the grass or leaves in the place they will potty or lie down to sleep. Passed down thru DNA or brain cells somehow.

Answer 5

while canines have been wild, they might circle to be certain the area became into sparkling of predators like snakes and of pests like bugs in the previous laying down. They nevertheless try this now regardless of if there indoors.

Answer 6

My dog does this when he's making a bed for himself. Just to get comfortable I suppose

Answer 7

because their ancestors used to sleep in marshes where there are tall weeds .so they turn in circles to trample down the weeds and make the area comfortable to sleep

Answer 8

I was told that they do that to make a bed to lay on and to make sure there weren't things in the grass that could hurt them. Dogs that live indoors do it because it's their nature/instinct. :-)

Answer 9

i agree with weatherman _1965....throw back time! or maybe they just checking there's no *****-doo b4 they lay!? heh heh! Nah, it's their way of making a comfy "lie-down" place.....remember, they won't be sleeping there for long b4 they wake (again!) :-)

Answer 10

for the same reason humans look at their chair before sitting.
to check their space