Probably every dog owner has wondered more than once why their beloved pet walks in circles before going to bed.
Dogs behave similarly in other situations.
Read on to find out why your dog is circling before bed. Find out why your dog walks in other situations. When and why do dogs walk in circles?
It is important to understand that no one is yet sure what causes this behavior in dogs. However, many different, more or less reliable and reasonable theories have emerged on this matter.
Experts and veterinarians claim that this habit has been preserved since the time when dogs lived in the wild as wolves. How is this really?
Find out why your dog walks like this in other situations. When and why do dogs walk in circles? How natural is this behavior for dogs?
It turns out that running in circles is a completely normal and natural behavior for dogs. So we don’t need to worry if we see it in our pet. But why do dogs mysteriously circle around or stomp on their bed before they finally settle down and go to sleep? What does this strange canine ritual mean?
Until now, many, sometimes very different, theories have been developed to explain the phenomenon of why dogs spin in circles.
The most popular view is that dogs circle before going to sleep because they want to knead and thus choose a place for their den. This is an atavistic behavior inherited from the wild ancestors of wolves.
In natural conditions, this allows it to step on growing grass, leaves and crush them in such a way that a comfortable bed is formed. In winter, in turn, the animal has a hole in the snow.
Another theory is that dogs also scare away insects and rodents from the future den site.
Thus, walking around the place intended for the den was simply necessary to level the ground for convenience and comfort for sleeping.
By moving in a circle, dogs also show other relatives (the ancestors of wolves lead a herd lifestyle) that the chosen part of the territory is “occupied” by them and that no one else has a right to it.
For this purpose, dogs may also rub their mouths and backs on occupied ground to mark it with their scent as already occupied (marking/marking their territory, rights to this territory).
The dog naturally seeks warmth, peace and security in the den. The dog, circling in a circle, sniffs its den carefully and from all sides. Reassuringly looks for a position and place from which it can conveniently observe the surroundings and quickly react in case of danger. It protects itself from this even before it falls asleep.
In the wild, in the dangerous desert, this is a very important precaution! In the past, such behavior even determined life or death. But why does a dog walk in circles today, even if he no longer lives in the forest? Why, after so many thousands of years, have our pampered pets not gotten rid of their original habits?
Now dogs live with people, so they can feel completely safe. However, some behaviors inherited from their ancestors have not disappeared and still exist. Although they have long since become useless, these habits will probably remain in the behavior of dogs for a very long time.
Just as the dog circles around in its den before going to sleep, it also scratches and "digs" blankets, carpets, bedding on the couch, towels thrown on the ground, its den, etc. This is also a primary atavism, a phenomenon inherited from its ancestors.
In this way, dogs imitate the usual digging of holes. This behavior ensures their comfort and safety.
Dogs may also want to dig a burrow in hot weather and bright sunlight, seeking darkness and coolness as protection from heat stroke (overheating).
The burrow is also a natural, very cozy and warm shelter during winter frosts and snowstorms. After all, burrows protected and secured the ancestors of dogs from both dangers and overheating or freezing.
Attention! However, remember that too long, sometimes even night circles around the bed do not necessarily have to be a natural phenomenon! In this case, it should cause the owner to be wary. Why? Because such nervousness and insomnia in a dog can be a signal that something is wrong with the dog.
For example, he may have health problems - such as diarrhea, kidney disease, neurological problems, joint inflammation or cancer pain. Once you have a dog, you need to watch him every day and react when you notice any abnormalities or strange behavior. If you notice anything suspicious, take your pet to the vet and ask the doctor for a diagnosis.
Dogs walk in circles not only before sleep, but also in some other life situations, such as before taking care of their physiological needs (before defecation and urination), or in a situation of excitement and joy, as well as in a chase, trying to catch their tail. Why do dogs also walk in such situations?
When a dog wants to defecate, it will walk in a circle to crush any plants that might interfere with its ability to defecate and urinate in peace.
So in this case there is nothing strange about such behavior. However, scientists have observed this phenomenon more closely and have come to the conclusion that a completely different, rather strange theory can be applied here. It is based on the phenomenon of so-called magnetoreception.
This is the ability of some living organisms (such as certain microorganisms or birds) to detect changes in the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.
These animals are perfectly oriented in space thanks to this adaptive mechanism. Dogs may also use the Earth's magnetic field lines to defecate in a certain direction.
Researchers, observing dogs' defecation, noted that in this case they prefer to be located along the north-south axis. However, this thesis is poorly supported by other studies.
A dog walks in a circle before defecating, also because it exposes its usually hidden and sensitive private parts to the possibility of attack. Therefore, it must be very aware of what is happening around it, and especially behind it!
Therefore, it is very important not only to find the right place to satisfy your physiological needs, but also to protect yourself from enemy attacks at this moment.
Experts also note that dogs always mark their territory, so the smells of pheromones of other animals scattered in certain places can have a repulsive effect on your pet. That is why the dog turns and looks for a suitable place for a neutral smell to defecate or urinate.
Dogs also mark such places and consider the most trusted places as their favorite ones for satisfying physiological needs.
Therefore, you should not rush your dog when he spends too much time spinning around, looking for a comfortable place to pee. You should allow him to calmly find the best and safest place.
It's hard to explain this phenomenon rationally. Why do dogs want to chase their own tails? While it's funny to see a dog running around chasing its tail, it's important to know that this behavior causes serious problems.
This is definitely not a game on the part of the dog! Dogs that behave this way have obsessive-compulsive disorders, which in humans are called so-called. OCD. This circling around itself proves that the dog is neglected and lacks contact with a person.
The lack of exercise, play and training causes the pet to feel intense boredom and growing frustration. So why do dogs walk in this situation? Because they want to show that they are suffering mentally, because they want contact and closeness, but this is unattainable for them. Such a dog, which is emotionally neglected by the owner, lets him know that he urgently needs his attention.
In this regard, scientists analyzing dog behavior have noted that the most problematic dogs are those with a high temperament and activity, especially German Shepherds and Bull Terriers.
Earlier we talked about why dogs are afraid of water and bathing .
