A dog will circle/spin if they are feeling anxious or threatened and noting that Pugs are naturally an intuitive breed, I think you’ll pick up quickly if their spinning is not typical for them or if the environment is what is causing them to behave differently. Worryingly, Pug spinning can also mean that something is not right either environmentally or medically. I don’t about you, but I have been on the end of “the look” when I’ve woken one of my boys when they have not wanted to be woken and I am surprised I am still walking let alone alive! Similar to the toilet circling, bed circling and re-positioning has been passed down the generations as the dog’s way of creating the pawfect dirt and undergrowth bed it was also used to keep cool on hot days as well as make themselves less conspicuous to predators whilst they took a nap. This situation has resulted in Pug stand-offs over the years, including one of them storming off to the bean bag in my office to sleep alone in silent Pug protest. His brother Winston knew that if Charles got to the bean bag first that all bets were off, and the beans will have been properly positioned for maximum Charles comfort. The other circling habit for Charles is when he’s had enough of the day and is going to bed it’s his equivalent to the “do not disturb” sign at the hotel. Yes, I too have suffered from Pug-manipulation on more than one occasion. Yes, there have been times when he’s done the “poopy dance” as we like to call it and as soon as he sees the bag out ready to go he walks off like “not really feeling it right now mum and I might go check that spot out instead” ….
We know as soon as we see him stop, sniff and then circle a few times that it’s time to get the bag out ready. In my mind, circling is different to spinning but there is no real consensus on what is spinning versus circling behaviour so I’m including circling for completeness notwithstanding the fact that Charles displays some of the circling behaviour himself but my other boys, Louis and Winston, did not.Ĭircling prior to going to the toilet is something that has lasted the ages with all dog’s ancestors circling the area prior to “going to the loo” to ensure they couldn’t see or smell a predator I think we can all agree that we are kinda vulnerable at that point and no-one likes to be disturbed!Īnother theory in regard to the toilet circling is that the Pug uses it as a way of letting the system know its show-time for Charles this has always been the more likely explanation for his circling.
Interestingly, I have seen the wording 'circling' associated with behaviours that others use 'spinning' for. Luckily for me, all of my Pug’s have spoilt me rotten over the years with their affectionate performances, but did you know there are occasions when spinning is their way of telling us something, or that it is something that their ancestors have been doing for centuries?
Unfortunately, in reality their dinner bowls also got the same performance, possibly on a more regular schedule than my own overture, but I will continue to stick to the delusion of my being the greater love regardless. It definitely made me feel like the most loved person in the world when Winston and Charles would greet me at the door with their uniquely choreographed Pug spinning ballet. In my opinion, the Pug spin is one of their most endearing qualities.