Each night, Nicky will turn in numerous circles while "fixing" his bed.

Does anyone know why dogs do this?

LOL, Pack Leader, most dogs do this, but I find Pit Bulls, or PB mixes do it more so. The "fixing" of the bed is the funniest thing. If there are pillows on a couch, they will kick them off. They will circle, they will push and pull their beds. Everything has to be "just so." Dogs do this for the same reason we people do it, adjusting our covers or punching and pushing our pillows at night. They are just built differently. Lying down and stretching out the way we do is not the most comfortable sleeping position for them. Curling up is the position that will allow them a long stretch of sleep. So, they do this to find the most comfortable position for a good night's sleep. :)

Years ago a friend owned the smartest full size Poodle I had ever seen. He could retrieve the correct toy (out of a dozen) from his toy box, when asked to get the chicken or bone etc. He would spend several minutes getting his blanket perfectly arranged on the floor, before laying down. All that you had to do was touch, just a corner of the blanket, to make him appear to say: Damn,you messed it up. He would get up and go through the entire bed making ritual, every time it was touched. He was a joy to behold.

Poodles are actually one of the most intelligent breed of dogs. Those that own them believe they are the most intelligent! Heehee. Loved the story Dr. D! Thanks for sharing.:)

From the depths of my mind I seem to recall reading once that its thought, dogs circle before lying down to push the grass all down in their bedding area for comfort.-- Savage

I agree with Savage. I recall hearing this as well.

Critters are so neat because they are able to make us, the dominant species, expend so much effort trying to figure our why they do what they do.

I have a few dogs, my big ones just plop down anywhere,
But I have a little Chihuahua that turns a million circles while digging into her pillow.
It's quite funny to watch her make the perfect bed...

My puppy just lies on his side with his legs out straight, he's a weird one.

No he is not Cappy. Every dog is different. When your puppy matures, you will see the old instinct of circling and curling up start to kick in. It may not happen all the time, but it will happen. A lot of dogs lie with their legs sticking straight out. Mine did that as a pup and will still do that at times during the day. At night is when she curls up. She doesn't always circle. Just when she is trying to find that comfortable position for herself. Is the heat on in your house or is he warm? A lot of dogs will lie the way you are describing as a way to keep cool. When it is chilly, they will curl up. Give him some time to mature.

I'm pretty sure he is a strange one :D