4 Dog Sleeping Positions & Why

Number 1 : The Side Sleeper

— Similar to humans, dogs enjoy when they are able to sleep on their side. When they do this, it means that they feel relaxed and safe in their environment. According to Dr. Coates (DVM), “dogs will sleep in this position when they are feeling comfortable with their surroundings and are at a comfortable temperature”.

Number 2 : The Donut

— When your doggie is all curled up in a ball with all their limbs tucked close to their body: this is called the donut position. This sleeping position means that the dog’s vital organs are hidden. Therefore, they are wanting to protect themselves while sleeping or they are still getting used to their environment. Dr. Simon (Veterinarian) says, “when the weather is cold or windy, as it would have protected the dogs from the elements when they were/would have slept outside”.

Number Three : The Lion Pose

— The lion pose is when your dog sleeps with its head on top of his paws. Dr. Coren stated that, “the dog is simply resting, and not in a deep sleeping state”. They are just resting, but at moments notice they can be awake and ready to play with their owner.

Number Four : The Superman

— This is a sleeping position that researchers are not 100% sure on why dogs do this. They do have a few guesses though, Dr. Coren thinks it is related to the temperature of the dog, and this position they are attempting to keep their belly warm since it lacks fur on the underside compared to the rest of their body.