• What Does Your Dog’s Sleeping Position Indicate About Them?

    Dogs have evolved and adapted to understand human behavior; they are experts on human movement, facial expressions, and tone of voice, and they can even pick up on our emotions. While dogs know a ton about us, we are still learning about our furry canine friends. One thing we do know, is that observing and examining our pet’s behavior is a great key to help us learn more about them. The way your dog eats, plays, and even sleeps can tell us a lot.

    Dog Sleeping Over Mat

    Animal experts have discovered that dogs’ sleeping positions can indicate certain health or personality related characteristics. In this article, we will discuss some of the common canine sleeping positions and what it might mean if your dog tends to crash a certain way.

    How Do Sleeping Positions Help Us Learn About Our Dogs?

    Dogs are fascinating creatures; they are highly observant, loyal, and adopt specific characteristics just like humans do. A dog’s sleeping position can tell us a bit about their personalities, but also how they may be feeling in a given moment. For instance, if a dog is cold, they’ll want to adopt a position that keeps them especially warm and protected. This might indicate that they need a blanket or somewhere warm to cuddle up. So, take a hint from your dogs – become a behavior expert! Here are some of the most common dog sleeping positions and what they could mean about your pet:

    Back Sleepers

    Dogs who sleep on their backs tend to stick their arms way up in the air, as if they’re flailing in their sleep. Dogs usually lay on their backs when they behave submissively, when they are feeling playful, or when they are especially comfortable in their surroundings. Dogs who sleep in this way are typically playful and autonomous. Furthermore, dogs lay on their backs to help expose their bellies to cool air. So, it’s not unusual for your pet to enjoy the back-laying position after a long walk or an especially active day.

    The Stretched-Out Flying Pup

    We’ve all seen this before, and it never gets old. Dogs who stretch out in their sleep this way look could almost pass for a furry rug. Dogs usually fall asleep in this position when they’re awaiting their owner’s response to them. They are usually sleeping like this so that they can get up quickly. Dogs who frequent this sleeping position are usually easily-excited and have tons of energy to burn.

    Snail Side Position

    Dogs who sleep on their sides are usually very relaxed and joyful personalities. They tend to be extremely comfortable with their pack, their home, and their environment. Dogs who sleep on their sides tend to get very restful sleep and prefer to be by their owner’s side at all times.

    Curled Up and Tucked In

    Dogs prefer this position when it’s chilly or when they don’t have anywhere to snuggle up. Their tails curl way up and touch their nose, and they stay warm by preserving their body heat in this position. Dogs who tend to sleep mostly in this position are fun-loving, sweet, and great with children.

    Other Ways to Learn About Your Dog

    If you enjoy observing your pet, then you’re already on your way to understanding them better. Here are some other ways, besides their sleeping positions, that can help you learn more:

    • Eating habits
    • Play habits
    • Social engagement
    • Daily routines
    • Level of activity

    Monitoring these types of behaviors in your dog can help you notice changes that might indicate they need a bit more care in a certain area. For instance, if your pet doesn’t seem like they want to eat, they could be in need of a change of diet or they may have a health issue that needs medical attention.

    Sleeping Dog

    How We Can Help You

    Here at Dr. Ron’s Animal Hospital & Emergency, we proudly serve the families and pets in Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Chatsworth, and other areas nearby Ventura County. We love our job and our patients and make it our mission to promote healthy pets in our community. If you’d like to learn more about your dog’s behavior, please feel free to contact one of our helpful professionals today.

    posted on August 9, 2019 at 3:42 am by devdrronwpuser