Let’s face it, our dogs can do things that simply perplex their owners. How many times have you just had to shake your head at your dog’s seemingly strange behavior? Or been revolted by something that just seems disgusting to you?
Amazingly, there are people, canine behaviorists, who have studied this to try to help us understand our canine companions. Their observations can enhance the human/canine connection we share with our pets. Many of their findings explain our pet’s behaviors through survival pack instincts that enabled dogs to communicate and flourish before they became domesticated.
5Circling Before Lying Down
I know that I can accurately predict how many times one of my dogs must turn around in a tight little circle before he will lie down. At times it is humorous and at times it is aggravating. And don’t get me going on when he digs at his resting area! Why? Is he just trying to get comfortable or is it more complex than that?
Behaviorists tell us that this is a link back to our dog’s wild past. By flattening down an area, he is sending a message that this spot belongs to him. And the digging and kicking? He may be throwing out any bugs or other disreputable creatures from his sleeping area, even though they don’t exist in your comforter. These behaviors may be a throwback to strategies that enhanced his survival in the wild, so the instincts persist.
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