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If you’ve read our blog, you’ll know there are plenty of benefits to sharing a bed with your dog. Curling up to your furry friend at night is the ultimate comfort, but what about their sleep? Watching your dog sleep soundly is super cute, but you may want to look into your dog’s sleeping position meaning.
What do dog sleeping positions mean?
Dogs showcase their emotions in lots of different ways, as obviously they can’t communicate by talking to you! One way you can figure out what your dog is thinking and feeling is by looking at their sleeping position. Dogs love to sleep a lot - something you can understand more about in our guide to understanding dogs’ sleeping habits - but how they do it can tell us more about them than we might realise.
Dog sleeping positions and what they mean
The Sphinx
Also known as a ‘Lion’s Pose’, this dog sleeping position is where they sleep on their front with their head on top of their paws. Much like a lion, this means they’re relaxed and content, but in a good position to check their surroundings or pounce if needed.
This position generally means that your dog is happy and snoozing soundly, but they’re feeling protective. If they tend to sleep in this position on your bed or while they’re around you, this means they want to be alert and ready to protect you at a moment's notice.
Side Sleeper
If your dog sleeps on its side with its legs stretched out, this means it's relaxed, comfortable, and at a good temperature. Side sleeping is popular for humans, and it’s no different for dogs.
In the wild, having their belly exposed like this would make them vulnerable, so this sleeping position actually goes against their natural instincts. However, if your dog sleeps like this around you, it means they feel totally safe and protected and don’t feel the need to be alert or ready to protect themselves.
Stretched Out
With their belly on the floor and their legs stretched out in front and behind them, this dog sleeping position might mean your pooch is particularly playful.
Sleeping in this position means your dog is prepared to jump up and play at any second. They’re relaxed, but they’re not restricted in getting up quickly if they need to. This position is popular with high-energy dogs who just want a quick nap in between play sessions, or puppies who haven’t quite got their puppy sleep schedule down to a tee yet.
If your dog sleeps on their tummy on a cold surface, it could be that they’re trying to cool down quickly by placing as much of their body’s surface area on the cold floor as possible. If you suspect your dog is too hot, follow our tips on cooling your dog down quickly, and seek veterinary assistance if needed.
The Donut
Possibly the cutest dog sleeping position of all, the curled-up donut position is when your dog has all its limbs close to its body. This position might mean your dog is feeling a bit anxious, as it's protecting itself from things going on around them.
This doesn't necessarily mean your dog feels unsafe - it could be that your dog is a rescue and this is just what they’re used to, or they’ve had a busy day and want some time to themselves without being disturbed.
Burrower
If your dog loves to get underneath the covers, or ‘burrow’ into their bed, they may be trying to self-soothe and calm themselves down.
Dogs that burrow to get into the most comfortable sleeping position often have more anxious tendencies than others and are searching for a little hiding place to sleep soundly. This could be because your house is a bit noisy, you’ve got guests over, or they’ve had an excitable day and want to relax without being disturbed.
If you notice your dog sleeps in this position a lot, make sure they have access to blankets and pillows that they can use to burrow, as this will help them sleep better and feel more relaxed around you.
On their back
Does your dog sleep on its back with its belly up in the air? This means it feels incredibly safe around you, as having their belly exposed in the wild would be incredibly dangerous and leave them vulnerable to attack.
Therefore, if your dog chooses this sleeping position, it means they feel safe and secure, familiar with their surroundings, and know that nothing is going to hurt them!
This position also allows for maximum airflow over their body, so it could be that your dog is trying to cool down. If your dog is in this position on a hot day and doesn’t normally sleep like this, we’d recommend trying to cool them down.
Dog sleeping positions when sick
The easiest way to use your dog’s sleeping position to tell if it’s sick is to compare it to how they usually sleep. Dogs love habit and routine, so anything your pooch does that is out of the ordinary - including how they sleep - may indicate they’re sick or not feeling great.
As we’ve mentioned, it’s important to notice if your dog is overheated and sleeping in a position where they’re trying to cool down. However, if they’re more generally sick, they’re likely to curl up in a ball in order to preserve body heat and soothe themselves - like they’re giving themselves a cuddle.
When dogs are sick, they’re also likely to move out of the way and find a quiet spot to rest. Check that your dog’s behaviours are normal and consult with your vet if you think your pooch might be poorly.
Do dogs dream?
Yes! Dogs absolutely do dream and can enter the same level of deep sleep as humans. Ever noticed your dog twitching, barking, or even ‘running’ in their sleep? That’s because they’re dreaming. Much like humans sleep-talk, twitch, wriggle, or even jolt about in their sleep, dogs do too, and it’s nothing to worry about. If your dog tends to really move around while they’re asleep, just make sure they’re safe - for example, if they’re snoozing on the sofa, maybe transfer them to the floor if they start dreaming too hard!
What do dogs dream about?
Research shows that dogs dream like humans do, to process emotions and events from the day, so it's likely your dog is dreaming about things you’ve been up to that day. So to answer the question we know you want the answer to: yes, your dog is dreaming about you!
Letting your dog sleep in your bed with you is not only cute, but beneficial to your sleep, and the same can be said for sleeping with your cat. So get all your furry friends in bed with you and enjoy a proper night’s sleep! Now you know what your dog’s sleeping position means, find out what your couple’s sleeping position says about your relationship, and read other interesting posts in our Snooze News section.
