Our four-legged best friends are odd creatures at times.
They get scared of their own reflections.
They chase after balls and sticks without hesitation.
But ultimately they’re the most adorable little critters on the planet.
And now we understand them a little bit better. According to Mental Floss, the reason all dogs circle their bed before lying down is actually an instinctive trait to protect themselves.
The behaviour is a relic of wild dogs and wolves from a time when they slept outside in packs. Walking around in a tight circle was to flatten down high grass and ward off any unwelcome visitors like snakes and creepy crawlies.
There may also be an element of hierarchy to the circular territory protection. Wolves and other wild dogs often have a strict social hierarchy and the circling may have been a way to mark one’s position in the pack.
So know we now.
Gifs via Reddit and Tumblr
