10 Dog Sleeping Positions + Their Adorable Meanings

04 May 2022

10 Dog Sleeping Positions + Their Adorable Meanings

The Side Sleeper

Just like humans, dogs love to sleep on their side. Lying on their side with their legs extended is one of the most common sleeping positions for dogs. This sleeping position is especially prominent in puppies as well as older dogs who may be suffering from stiff joints.

The Lion’s Pose

The lion’s pose sleeping position (also called ‘the sphinx’) is when your dog sleeps with their head on top of their paws — similar to statues of lions you might see outside of large buildings. Your dog can also fall asleep in this position with their front paws tucked in and their back legs at one side.

The Superman

The superman position is when your dog lays sprawled out on the ground with their belly pressed to the floor, their back legs behind them, and their front legs stretched forward. Sometimes called a “sploot,” this is a common position among puppies and very playful dogs.

The Donut

The donut position is when your dog sleeps curled up in a ball with all of their limbs tucked close to their body. Sometimes their nose will touch their hind legs in a “shrimp” curl and they may even drape their tail over their body.

The Cuddler

One of the most adorable dog sleeping positions is ‘the cuddler’ position. This is when your dog prefers to sleep on top of you or another dog cuddled up. This is a great position for those that love to let their dog sleep in bed with them.

The Burrower

Have you noticed that your dog seeks out pillows, clothes, or blankets to sleep under? If so, your pooch likes to sleep in the burrower position.When dogs sleep in the burrower position, they are searching for comfort and security. Burrowers may also be seeking to calm themselves down — studies have shown that dog shirts meant to swaddle them in gentle pressure help ease nervous behaviors for dogs with anxiety disorder.

The Belly Up

Arguably one of the cutest dog sleeping positions, the belly up position is just as it sounds. This position is when your dog lies on their back with their belly up and paws in the air. As uncomfortable as this position may look, this is a sign of true comfort and relaxation in dogs.

Back to Back

Similar to the cuddler sleeping position, when a dog likes to sleep back to back, it means they like to cuddle up and get as close as possible by placing their back next to either you or another dog. In the simplest form, this position is a sign of love and comfort.

On a Cold Surface

Whether it’s lying face down on the kitchen floor or sprawled out on your pavement, dogs tend to sleep on a cold surface when they are hot. This type of position can take the form of the superman pose or could be similar to the lion’s pose. Whatever it is, your dog is likely making sure their tummy is touching the cold surface.

Head and Neck Raised

Some dogs seek out a sleeping position where their head and neck are raised. They will usually leverage the side of their dog bed or a couch cushion.If your dog likes to sleep in a position where their head and neck are raised, it could mean that they may have issues breathing properly — something that is commonly seen with chronic heart disease and other health problems.

KM GLOBAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Reference : 10 Dog Sleeping Positions + Their Adorable Meanings - Casper Blog