Everyone has seen a dog turn around several times before going to bed, whether on the ground, on its cushion or on a bed. This funny habit intrigues humans. What is the purpose of this habit?
If your dog does this, there is nothing abnormal. He is not sick, not stressed, not crazy!
Here's why he acts this way...
A reflex that comes from a long time ago
The domestic dog descends from the wild wolf. This ancestor of the dog had the habit, in nature, of digging a "banner" to sleep in. As his place of life had many dangers, the wolf turned and turned around to protect himself from possible attacks. The dog has simply retained this reflex inscribed in his DNA.
Territory protection
Like cats, canids need to mark their territory. The dog has sweat glands on its paws. Thus, when he turns around, he leaves olfactory marks on the ground to indicate his presence and protect his territory.
A question of comfort
When the dog (like the wolf) lived without the forest and slept on the ground, he turned around to prepare his bed by flattening branches and leaves for more comfort. Additionally, this helped him regulate his body temperature. Nowadays, even in the comfort of a human living room, the animal retains this ritual.
So there you go! This little game that can be dizzying is in no way harmful and is not a sign of stress or illness. It's an ancestral memory!
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