Why does a dog turn around three times before laying down?

Goes back to dogs in the wild.

He's making the bed, making sure that it fits right, and doesn't have any rocks or sticks in it.

Dogs walk in circles before laying down to make sure the area is comfy. As for the 3 times - that's just your dog. All dogs will be different in this. My 11.5 yo AmStaff usually only does 1 turn but my 2.5 yo Rhodesian Ridgeback varies each time she lays down, anywhere between 1 and 5 I think.

Dogs really enjoy feeling completely comfortable when sleeping and it is impossible if they do not have access to a soft place or if their bed is to lumpy etc. Before laying down, a lot of dogs turn around in circles in order to get rid of any protuberances or lumps on their bed.

a million) Circling is elementary habit in canines. no person is conscious why, however the theory is they "make a mattress" via flattening tall grass, padding down snow or shuffling stones off the airborne dirt and airborne dirt and mud till now curling up for a snooze. that's for any of those reasons, yet puppy canines will circle everywhere indoors, even of their very own beds. it is not reasoned habit, yet is instinctive to all canines, domesticated and wild. 2) another theory is wild canines use to circle till now laying all the way down to be certain there have been no standard enemies together with snakes or particular forms of bugs that would harm them. 3) no person is conscious for particular however the terrific rationalization i've got heard come from the days whilst canines have been wild. they could encircle the place they laid-all the way down to be certain that there have been no snakes or different enemies and likewise, it replaced into component to the ritual of make a reliable resting place (tamping down the floor till now they laid down.)

i saw on t.v. it is from a very long time ago when they used to go on hunting trips or hurding the sheep and cattle. thier owner would make a bed of straw or some sort and they would stomp on it to make it comfortable. so when mother dog would find a place for pups to sleep they would mark that of the owner. it is said to be a trait that they have kept for many years. when a mother has her pups you will also see her circle aroung a few times to make a place for her to lay down and feed her pups....hope that helps. they pick that up from mom

It is a long time tradition from their relatives: wolves. They look around to see if there is any danger. Now dogs do it for that and for making themselves comfortable if they live outside with a lot of dirt.

way way back in the day when dogs roamed wild in packs, before they were domesticated and grass and brush were high, they would trample the area before they lay down, to make it more comfortable. this is what i have heard and it makes sense, so i guess what we see today is just instinct??

when dogs were still living in the wild they would circle their bed before lying down to make sure there were no predators around them

They are making the area comfortable

Someone told me that is was to make sure that they were safe or something like that.