Does your dog walk in circles before lying down?

Why do dogs circle and scratch before they lie down? 

That spot might look comfortable to us – but most modern dogs cannot shake that ancient canine ritual. Your dog’s ancestors likely slept outside without much shelter from the elements. Circling their sleeping spot helped them check and tamp down the potential bed. Most dogs will even give a scratch or two to the surface before hitting the sack.

While circling and scratching is perfectly normal, you do want to take note if your dog does this excessively and can’t seem to get comfortable. That could indicate an underlying health problem such as arthritis or neurological problems.