Besides being great companions and painfully cute, dogs can be a little quirky. Between their funny expressions and odd behaviors âlike rolling in grass and tilting their heads âeach of our furry friends has eccentricities that make us love them even more. But some of the adorably weird things they do are actually an innate part of being a canine, which might come as a surprise to some pet parents .
Take, for example, when dogs curl up in a ball before falling asleep . To the average pet owner, this probably just seems like a way to get comfortable before dozing off. And while that could be part of it, Dr. Margaret Gruen, an assistant professor of behavioral medicine at NC State Universityâs College of Veterinary Medicine, said that the behavior is also evolutionary.
âWhen dogs sleep in the wild, especially where itâs cold, theyâll dig a nest and curl up into it,â Gruen told Vetstreet.com in 2012. âThis gives them warmthâtucking into a ball conserves body heat. It also protects their most vulnerable organs in the abdomen from would-be predators.â
Yes, sheâs saying your dog gets into this position so no one comes for their organs. It sounds silly for your beloved pooch, but itâs a reasonable tactic for their wild ancestors.
The next reason makes more sense: Your dog is making their own nest when they curl up in an attempt to stay safe from external threats. Even if your dog is at home, they often revert to basic instincts when getting ready for sleep, as itâs a vulnerable state.
It turns out that thereâs a whole host of reasonable explanations for your dogâs other odd behaviors; here are just a few of them.
This article originally ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2023.
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