Why Does My Dog Do Circles Before Lying Down?

Thursday 29th August 2013 @ 2:17 PM. (NZST)

DoggleHQ

Have you ever noticed that your dog will circle before lying down?

Apparently this ritual comes from the days when our dogs’ ancestors lived in the wild. Circling on the spot was how dogs would flatten the terrain in order to create a level surface or nest to sleep in. 

“Many dogs will circle around a spot before they settle down to rest. While no one can be certain of the exact reason why canines do this, the ritual is likely a residual habit from the days when wolf-like dogs lived out in the wild” says veterinary behaviourist Dr. Karen Sueda, DVM, of the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital.

Dogs would carve out a nest to create warmth or safety, when sleeping outside in the elements. Circling around on the spot was a way to achieve the nesting effect.

After circling, do you notice your dog scratch at the bedding, carpet or even the couch before curling up?

Like circling, the digging behaviour is an ancestral behaviour related to making a safe and comfortable place to sleep. In extreme conditions, be it extreme hot or extreme cold weather, digging a hole was a way for our dog’s ancestors to regulate their body temperature by the surrounding soil. When it was hot, the soil had a cooling effect, and when it was cold climbing into a hole allowed a dog to retain body heat.

So why haven’t our pampered pooches evolved from these behaviours?

“Adaptive behaviours tend to linger long after they’ve lost their usefulness if there’s nothing to discourage them or “select against the habit,” Dr. Sueda says.

Should circling ever be cause for concern?

Sometimes your dogs restlessness can be a sign of discomfort or even pain. If your dog is repeatedly circling and digging yet clearly can’t get comfortable, there may be a health problem, you should investigate. If you are observing this kind of behaviour, visit your vet for advice, and proper diagnosis.

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