Before settling down in their bed (or your bed), has your dog ever scratched or pawed at it like they were searching for buried treasure? Or has she twirled in a bunch of tight circles that remind you of a coin spinning, eventually flopping-down into a cozy position? This isn’t exactly a ritualistic dance, but it’s not far from it. There is an interesting reason why our dogs exhibit these behaviors, and it’s good to know that it’s actually a compliment to you as their friend! Let’s take a look at the science of the “dig and twirl.”

Digging for Safety

Like most instinctual behaviors that our dogs share, digging or pawing prior to lying down stems from our pups’ ancestral behavior that has kept wolves alive. Wolves in the wild typically dig in their pack sleeping area for several reasons: marking pack territory with the scent glands on their paws, controlling the temperature, or maintaining a low profile. If they have pups, they dig a full-blown den until the litter can regularly hang with the pack. In any case, creating this environment has increased their safety and security for generations. This is one of the many behaviors that has translated to their domestic counterparts that live with us today. Our dogs may dig in an empty bed, or move the blankets around, but their DNA is telling them to accomplish the same objective: feel safe before you snooze. With this safety comes comfort, too, which leads to the twirling behavior that may accompany the digging.

Twirling Into Comfort

When our dogs spin in the bed (sometimes while digging) they are channeling their wolf-ancestors’ desire for comfort. Because wolves evolved to thrive in grassy plains and forests, sometimes matting down the grass or twigs is necessary so that it doesn’t poke them and keep them awake. Pressing over grass, and scratching it in a just-right direction, also makes a perfect cushion to insulate from the cold ground. When the first wolves domesticated to become dogs some 12,000 years ago, they took this instinct with them, no matter the breed, which is why pitbulls do it today.

A Dog in Wolf’s Clothing

Wolves in the wild don’t need clothes because they are not removed from their species’ survival instinct; they are literally gray wolves. However, dogs have evolved to rely on humans for many things , to include food (where they developed puppy dog eyes to con humans into feeding them), and warmth. With their short hair, pitbulls especially can’t cope with low temperatures that wolves can. My senior pitbull, Bacon, shivers when it gets below 60⁰ (F), and he gravitates like a magnet to dog-sweaters and pajamas when I take them out for him.

The canine desire for warmth and security is what our clothing provides many dogs. A lot of folks have said that their pup instantly goes to sleep or settles down when they wear a sweater or pajamas, and this is why: he is in touch with his natural instinct to be cozy. It amplifies your pal’s ability to feel safe and warm in addition to what may appear to be odd digging and spinning. The important thing to know is if your dog does the dig-and-twirl in your house or even your bed, they are telling you that they consider you a trusted friend who they can rely on for safety, security, and love!

Does your dog do the dig and twirl, or do you have videos of it? Please comment!