Why do they walk in circles before laying down?

[Kiwi_Storm]

This was answered by the dog from another planet that lands on Earth in the movie "GoodBoy". I am having a brain-freeze and can't remember what the answer was right now, so tomorrow, I'll have to watch the movie again I'll post the dog's answer tomorrow

LOL - I've seen this movie! (only got it out for a boxer perv!) I think it was something about making a ring around to keep bad dreams out. Wasn't that boxer beautiful & showed all the common traits on screen!

 

[Jen79]

Boomer does the circle-thing too. A boxer that my parents once had, named Cosmo, was a circler too!
None of my previous dogs, or Abbey, Boomer's rotti girlfriend do it.
Boomer even does a similar thing when he does a #2. It's like he can't just do it in one spot, but has to leave a bit in a few different spots!?
Does anyone else's boxer do this when they go potty? Cosmo also had this strange habit.

 

[Gruntsmom]

Grunt started the circle thing when he was about 6 months old. Before he goes to bed, he'll scrooch and scrunch up his towels to make a pillow, circle three times, and sink down into the towels....punctuated by a big sigh and chewy, smacking sounds. He is down for the night after that ritual.

 

[armyboot]

I remember reading a Farley Mowat book (I think Never Cry Wolf)a long time ago and he had an interesting theory: Something about dogs circle to work themselves up a bit so they don't sleep too long. Long periods of sleep lead to vulnerability. I think he even tested the theory and found several of these naps actually gave him some pretty good rest.

 

[blurble33]

in reference to "Good Boy" it is referred to as a "mind fence" to keep out all of the bad dreams!! i had a brain freeze about it too and had to ask hubby

 

[Claudia807]

I think Lucy does it (on our bed) so that she can gather up all the blankets, lay on them, and then re-arrange her mass to make herself heavier. Then there is no way for me to get the blankets back and my hinder goes blanket-less all winter long!

 

[Erica&Riley]

Riley circles like mad and scratches at her bed when she's tired and getting ready to lay down for a long nap! It's so funny to watch!

Erica

 

[Putermom]

I don't know if this is true or not but I also had heard (read somewhere) that dogs do this to align their spines. Now whether or not this is true, I have no clue but for some reason, it stuck in my brain. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

Otis does this all the time. He'll circle round and round and then plop down and let out a big ole sigh. Sometimes, after all that circling and plopping down, it's just not quite right, so he'll get up and circle a few more times before plopping down again.

 

[Hberry23]

To Funny

My little Sadie girl does it to...it's funny to watch first she digs at her bed sometimes toss's it around then circles a few times, then shes out like a light...there just to cute

 

[MyGirlHeidi]

I remember reading a Farley Mowat book (I think Never Cry Wolf)a long time ago and he had an interesting theory: Something about dogs circle to work themselves up a bit so they don't sleep too long. Long periods of sleep lead to vulnerability. I think he even tested the theory and found several of these naps actually gave him some pretty good rest.

That's interesting and proves why Heidi only circles when she is going to nap on the bed as opposed to how she just jumps up and plops down on the couch. In the bed she is probably prone to sleeping longer and the couch is for quick naps or until somebody else needs a seat and she needs to get down.