Why Do Dogs Circle When Laying Down
As a canine behavior specialist and the training director of Denver Dog Works, clients will often ask questions that they are curious about and one the the most common ones is: why does my dog circle around before laying down?
Answer:
No one know for sure but the best explanation I have heard comes from the days when the dogs were wild. The dogs would encircle where they laid down to sure sure that there were no enemies and also as part of a ritual to make sure it was a good resting place (tamping down the ground before they laid down). Pets will circle anywhere indoors, even in their own beds. It is not reasoned behavior, but is instinctual to al canines, domestic and wild.
It is commonly though that dogs circle before laying down to find what they think is the most comfortable position. Most canines do not like to lay on a flat surface, that is why they sometimes “paw” at the same area before laying down.
A theory is that in the wild, canines would choose to sleep with their nose blowing to the prevailing wind, that being said, they circle to figure out which way that is. One contraindication to this is a sled dog which will often pad out a circle in the snow and sleep with the wind blowing from back to front so the dog will stay warm.
Another theory is that dogs circle to mark their scent so they can find their place again.
The jury is still out on this but it is a common question so, I thought it would be best to give a rational answer. We are in the teaching business and our job is to improve the relationship between human and dog.
If you have ay questions that perplex you about your furry canine friend, send them along and we might use them on our radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Please email all questions to live@dogdoctorradio.com
Citation: WikiAnswers
Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment