You’re drifting off when you hear the familiar sound of your dog scratching the carpet, followed by a few circles and a dramatic flop. It might look like quirky behavior, but this bedtime ritual is rooted in ancient instinct.
Even though your pup sleeps on a plush dog bed or your cozy couch, dogs are domesticated wolves whose habits reflect that wild ancestry. In the wild, wolves and wild dogs would dig into the earth to create a comfortable, safe sleeping spot. They’d clear debris, regulate the ground’s temperature, and flatten vegetation. Circling helped them trample the area and get oriented to better spot danger.
Your modern pup doesn’t need to worry about predators in the living room, but those behaviors haven’t disappeared. Digging and spinning are instinctive actions passed down from generations of survival in the wild. Think of it as your dog’s way of making the perfect “nest” before bed.
There are other possible reasons, too:
- Temperature regulation: Wild canines dug to cool off in hot weather or trap warmth in colder temperatures.
- Scent marking: Dogs have scent glands in their paws, and digging can leave behind their scent to claim the space.
- Comfort and routine: Like fluffing a pillow or straightening blankets, this motion may feel good and signal “time to rest.”
So the next time your dog does a little pre-bed scratch-and-spin, don’t be annoyed—be fascinated. That simple routine is a glimpse into thousands of years of canine survival, comfort, and instinct. It’s one of the many ways our furry friends carry their wild past into our modern world.