My dog is kneading like a cat, why does he do that?

Okay, so picture this: I’m lounging on the couch the other day, just minding my own business, when my dog, Buster, jumps up and starts doing this weird thing.

He’s pawing at the blanket, pushing it around with his nose, and just generally acting like he’s trying to make a nest or something. I swear, it looked exactly like what my old cat, Mittens, used to do.

This got me thinking, “Why is Buster acting like a cat?” I mean, he’s a dog, through and through. He fetches, he barks at the mailman, he chases squirrels… but kneading? That’s new.

So, I pulled out my phone and started doing some digging. Apparently, I’m not the only one with a dog who likes to play baker. There were tons of articles and forum posts about dogs kneading. Turns out, it’s not that uncommon, but it’s definitely more of a cat thing.

Some dogs do it for comfort

• The first thing I learned was that some dogs might do it simply because it feels good. They knead and then they might just start mouthing something like a blanket or a plush toy.
• It’s like a self-comforting thing.
• Some articles say it’s a leftover instinct from when they were puppies and they’d knead their mom to get milk. Makes sense, I guess.

Some dogs might do it before they lay down

• Some dogs will knead the ground, or bedding before lying down.
• It’s probably some kind of territorial thing, to mark their space.
• Others suggest it’s a way to make the spot more comfortable, like fluffing a pillow.

Some dogs might just be copying cats

• This one’s my favorite theory. Maybe Buster saw Mittens kneading all those years and just picked it up.
• Dogs are pretty smart, and they learn by watching.
• They might also do some play behavior like stalking or pouncing.
• Or they might start to choose similar resting spots.

I watched Buster knead for a while longer, and I started to notice a pattern. He usually did it when he was getting ready for a nap, and he seemed pretty relaxed while he was doing it. I guess it’s just his way of settling in. He’d do it on his bed, on the couch, even on my lap sometimes! It’s kind of cute, now that I’m used to it.

So, mystery solved, I guess. Buster’s not turning into a cat. He’s just a dog with a quirky habit. And honestly, it makes me love him even more.

I kept an eye on him after that, and sure enough, the kneading was almost always followed by a long nap. It was like his little ritual. It was funny to see this big, goofy dog doing something so delicate and cat-like. But hey, who am I to judge? We all have our quirks, right?

In the end, it didn’t really matter why Buster was kneading. It wasn’t hurting anyone, and it seemed to make him happy. So, I just let him do his thing. I even bought him a super soft blanket that he could knead to his heart’s content. And you know what? He loves it. He’ll spend a good ten minutes kneading that thing before he finally curls up for a nap. It’s become his favorite spot in the house.

And me? I’ve learned to appreciate Buster’s little quirk. It’s a reminder that even though he’s a dog, he’s still an individual with his own unique personality. And that’s what makes him so special.