Sleeping dogs are the cutest thing in the world. You probably have hundreds of pictures of your furry four-legged friend while sleeping. Dogs usually sleep from 8 to 14 hours, while little puppies from 18 to 20 hours.
You probably noticed that sleeping positions change over time. All of those positions have a certain cause and meaning.
That is why we decided to explain them in the following article.
Types of Sleeping Positions
Dogs have different sleeping positions depending on the time of day they sleep, their mood, and their body condition.
There are plenty of sleeping positions in dogs. We decided to mention the most common:
The Superman
Superman is a pose in which the dog’s legs and arms are stretched back and completely straight. The dog lies on its stomach, and its body is completely relaxed.
Dogs usually sleep in this position when it is very hot and like to cool off on a cool surface in the summer.
They can also place themselves in this position when they want a short rest after an exhausting game of fetch. This way, they have a night of light sleep and are ready to get back on their feet when they need to continue playing.
The Donut Pose
The Donut Pose is a pose in which the dog curls completely – like a donut. While sleeping, the arms and legs meet at one point, and the body is bent into a circle.
This pose is mostly used in winter – when it is cold, and they want to warm their vital organs. It is also often used by stray dogs because, in this way, they are least sensitive to external attacks.
The pose can also be called dog beds in a round shape, where this is the most comfortable position to take.
Side Sleeping
Side sleeping looks just like it’s called. Dogs take this position when their muscles are completely relaxed.
If you see the dog sleeping in this position, you should know that your friend is in a deep sleep.
Additionally, it means it’s completely relaxed in your environment and trusts you while revealing its most vulnerable parts.
Leo’s Position
This is a position in which the dog lies on its stomach but with its legs bent. Dog’s head is resting on both front paws, which means that the dog has just started falling asleep.
The musculature is not relaxed, and it is ready at any moment to get up and start running. Over time and after deep sleep begins, it will turn over and sleep on its side.
Belly Up
The puppy is lying on its back with its belly up, and all four paws are in the air.
This pose shows that the dog is extremely relaxed and is happy and content with the environment in which it resides. Sometimes this is also a way for him to lower his body temperature and cool down.
It usually happens when your puppy sleeps with you and is covered with many blankets, so it turns on his back to cool his body.
Sleeping And Caressing
Dogs cuddle up to you or other dogs when they want to feel the warmth and a sense of safety and security.
It is probably one of the sweetest sleeping positions and shows that the dog trusts you and enjoys your presence. It also makes them feel like little puppies in their mother’s womb.
Dog’s Sleeping Behavior
Once your dog begins to sleep, observing him can tell you a lot about the quality of his sleep.
This is important because the body rests most during the REM phase of sleep and is very little occupied during low-quality sleep. Because of this, your dog may not rest enough and have a constant need to sleep.
Light Dosing
Light dozing can occur during the day when the dog is bored and you don’t interact much with it. While in this phase, your dog does not get REM sleep and cannot restore its energy reserves.
You can tell if the dog does this by observing its reaction to sounds in the environment. In this state, the dog will raise its ears at every loud sound and may open its eyes a little.
It means that it is bored and waiting for the moment when you start playing fetch.
Soft Barking or Twitching
This is an abduction that is unplanned and unconscious for the dogs. Barking, blinking, and shaking occur when dogs are in a very deep sleep, which is in the REM phase of sleep.
This means they are dreaming loudly and getting quality sleep. So, don’t move or wake them – this is completely normal! Shivering is rare when a dog feels cold; this generates energy by activating all the muscles while shaking.
Digging and Circling
Dogs carry this habit from their ancestors – the wild wolves. In the past, dogs dug holes into the ground to keep them warm on the cold winter days. They also used to circle the place to make sure it was safe and soft enough (with layers of leaves and soil to feel comfortable).
This is normal behavior and happens 3-4 times before the puppy goes to bed. In case this lasts for a long time, and the dog constantly changes its position, this may mean that the dog has some discomfort such as neuralgia or arthritis.
In such situations, you should record it if you can and take it to the vet so that he can find out what it is about.
Respiratory Distress
Sometimes the dog is nervous, agitated, and furious during sleep. The puppy starts shaking, barking, and licking its paws, which is normal because he has nightmares.
In these situations, pet your puppy and talk in a soothing voice to calm it down. But if this happens too often and does not stop, it can be due to a disease that causes breathing problems. In that case, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian immediately.
To Sum Up
There are many different positions in which the dog falls asleep, and each of them is specific to a particular part of the sleeping process. It is necessary to analyze how dogs sleep because it tells us how much sleep they get. Rarely, some habits may also be a sign of some diseases; in such cases, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary.