Millions of Brits own dogs, making them one of the nation's most beloved pets. Yet some of our four-legged companions' behaviours still leave owners scratching their heads. One thing that puzzles many dog owners is why their pet spins around in circles before doing their business. Thankfully, experts like broadcaster and conservationist Chris Packham are on hand to shed some light on the matter, explaining it's all linked to the Earth's magnetic field.
Chris Packham's explanation
Appearing on the Oh My Dog with Jack Dee & Seann Walsh podcast, Chris, 65, offered his explanation for this peculiar canine habit. The Springwatch presenter said: 'They tend to do that in places where they haven't been before. Because what we've learnt is they're spinning round because they're sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field. And essentially, they're marking that spot with their faeces and that particular scent. They're mapping the area.'
He added: 'So if you take your dogs to the same place everyday then it's unlikely that they're going to spin round, but if you take them somewhere new that's when they start that spinning behaviour because they're building a map of their new environment.'
Other canine behaviours explained
Chris' remarks about canine behaviour come just weeks after he weighed in on the possible science behind why dogs lick their owner's faces. While also discussing potential health benefits in dog's saliva on the same podcast, he said: 'When we cut our finger, what's the first thing we do? We lick it. And you lick it because there are bacterial fauna in your saliva which have antiseptic and healing properties.'
He continued: 'In days of old, when they were having medieval battles and doing unspeakable things to one another with swords, there were a lot of wounded people and they would allow the camp dogs to come and lick their wounds. They discovered that if the dog was licking the wound... it would be less less likely to get infected.'
Separately, one pet company has shed light on another question dog owners frequently ask – why their four-legged friend brings them toys when they arrive at the front door. According to US organisation Wisconsin Pet Care, this is your dog displaying a positive signal that was once rooted in ancient survival instincts in the wild.
They explained: 'The art of "gift giving" does not happen in every domesticated canine, but for those dogs that do exhibit this behaviour, it's downright endearing. It can be theorised that carrying and retrieving stems from natural hunting behaviours in canines. Wild dogs learn to carry their food (ie, prey) and cache meals - much like a squirrel would hide its nuts all over the forest - in case of times of famine.'
The organisation also proposed that the dog may be acting this way in order to receive affection, having noticed a link between bringing their owner something and being rewarded with cuddles.
