Why Do Dogs Turn Around Three Times Before Lying Down?

According to American humorist Robert Benchley, a dog teaches a boy three things: fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.

All domestic dog breeds can be traced back to three lines of wolves and many of our dog’s behaviors can be explained by this ancestral tendency. In the wild, before lying down, they trampled the grass several times to make a comfortable sleeping spot.

Even though our domestic dog usually has a plush bed as a sleeping place, this denning ritual continues. Since this behavior gives your dog a sense of contentment, it will likely be continued through future generations of dogs, even though it is no longer needed.