Why do dogs circle counterclockwise?

[k9Karen]

Mickey spends most of his day sleeping. He gets up fairly often to change places or get a drink of water. Everytime he goes to lie back down, he makes a production of "making a bed" and circles around several times before he finally goes down to rest. The circles are always counterclockwise. In fact, he's doing it right now right beside my chair, which is what makes me ask. I've watched the others, and they do the same thing, it's just not such a production number with them as it is with Mickey.

Anyone know why they do this and why it's always counterclockwise?

[davet]

its gotta be a hemospheric thing, like water going down the drain in different direction in norther and southern (which is a fallacy any way) but Sassie gets her circling binge and goes round and round in one direction then reverses, like to unwind....will have to check her making a bed routine.....interestng

[Mary Plummer]

I also wonder why Mr. Blue has to dig at anything he lays down on. I can understand it, if his digging does any kind of re-arranging, like in our blankets, or a leaf pile. However, he also does it when he lays down on his dog pillow, which has a very sturdy and non-re-arrangeable cover. The other thing is that he always circles three times before laying down - never just once or twice!

[Marty]

The carpets always have scratch marks. But she doesn't dig in the yard!

[k9Karen]

Mary - have you watched to see which way Mr. Blue circles? Clockwise or counterclockwise?

[Mary Plummer]

...but I will next time I see him doing it. I've gotten stuck on wondering about why it's always him circling 3 times!

[TheSkeptic]

Kaiser and Apache go clockwise most of the time and do at least three circles. ....

[ShelbysMom]

I'm relieved to hear that other dogs do this......I always thought it was a Doberman thing. Both Dobies I've had just couldn't sit down without doing the obligatory "circle, circle, circle--and plop!"

[BoxerTom]

Scribbly is a counter-clockwise circler, too, but only when she lies down late at night to sleep. Other times she just flops down without the ritual. Same with Mickey?