We all have bedtime routines, and so do pets. Some dogs would fluff a pillow, while others dig at a blanket — but Thibault the English Cocker Spaniel’s video shows that her nap-time routine is different from the rest of them. Instagram user @thibault_thecocker shared the hilarious video, and it says everything there is to know about the dog’s pre-nap habits.
Dog circles exactly 12 times before napping
In the video, the dog hops up onto the bed and prepares for her nap. She immediately starts spinning in place, treating the mattress like a track meet, before she finally lies down. The on-screen caption jokes, “Spinning into sleep like it’s an Olympic sport.” Meanwhile, the caption speaks from Thibault’s point of view — “If I don’t do 12 circles, the nap won’t work” — and yes, she does a full twelve circles before she is content enough to rest.
She even switches it up as she goes. The dog spins clockwise and then anticlockwise, as if she is on an important duty. And anyone who has lived with a dog will recognize the behavior, even if Thibault’s commitment level feels a little extreme.
Dogs often circle before lying down because it’s an old nesting instinct. In the wild, such a movement could help flatten grass, clear little sticks, and make a spot feel safe and comfortable enough to settle down in. It’s basically just another bedtime routine, only one that looks a little dramatic.
Viewers loved how seriously Thibault took the job. One person explained it was a “natural instict from the wolves to make it comfortable,” while another added, “I love watching my spaniels nest like this too! ???”
Thibault’s routine ends the way all great athletic events do — with a final turn, a satisfied plop to rest, and immediate peace. After twelve circles in both directions in the video, the dog decides she can finally settle in, because, apparently, that’s just her bedtime routine.
