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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Why Do Dogs Walk Around in Circles Before Lying Down?

The most common and logical explanation for the phenomenon is
that in the wild, circling was a method of preparing a sleeping area
or bed, particularly when it was necessary to flatten down an area
among tall grass, leaves, and rocks.
Some experts also believe that circling is a way for dogs to map
territory, to define an area of power. Dog writer Elizabeth Crosby
Metz explains the habit this way:
I believe it also has to do with spreading their proprietary scent
around their nesting site, to say: “Keep away, this is MY nest!”
     In fact, as a breeder I know that mother dogs will circle many
times before lying down to feed their sightless, deaf newborns
as a way of spreading her scent and indicating to them exactly
where she is and how far they have to go to reach her. Think
about it: How else can blind, deaf newborns so surely find the
milk bar?



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