Why Your Dog Walks in Circles Before Going to Bed: There's a Simple Explanation - and It Will Surprise You

08.11.2024 10:31

Many dog owners have probably noticed one strange behavioral feature of their pets.

So, many dogs don't go to bed right away.

First, they walk in a circle in the place and near the place where they plan to lie down.

Why do dogs do this? It turns out that this "ritual" has a fairly simple explanation.

Why does a dog walk in circles before going to bed?

This action is explained by the “genetic memory” of our four-legged friends.

dog
Photo: © Belnovosti

The ancestors of modern dogs walked in circles around the place where they planned to sleep.

This action had an important practical significance: it was necessary to trample the grass surface, make it softer, and at the same time scare away dangerous creatures (for example, some insects and reptiles).

Now dogs, being domestic animals, sleep in comfortable conditions.

Pets rest in a comfortable bed, not on the grass or on the ground.

This way, domestic dogs don't have to walk in circles before going to bed.

However, the instinct has been preserved. That is why dogs continue to behave in the same way as their ancestors.

Without performing the ritual, it will be difficult for your pet to relax and fall asleep.

Author: Kurchev Anton Deputy Editor-in-Chief