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“When dogs are really warm, they will stretch out on cool surfaces, but most of the time, they curl up,” she says. Houpt explains that dogs do this to make themselves as small as possible, and that it also helps them regulate body temperature. “They almost all sleep that way when they're undisturbed-in balls, curled up,” she says.ĭr. Houpt completed a study that looked at dogs in shelters and how they sleep. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.ĭr. The DonutĪnother common dog sleeping position is when canines curl up into a little ball, says Dr. Look for a large dog bed, such as the American Kennel Club memory foam sofa extra-large dog bed for comfort and plenty of room. Coren.ĭogs that sleep on their sides need space to stretch out. “As soon as the dog starts to dream, his muscles will relax and he will roll out of the lion pose into the normal sleeping position,” says Dr. Coren explains that a dog will often start to dose in lion pose and then slump onto his side once he falls into a deeper sleep. This means that a dog is relaxed and comfortable and shows a level of trust with his surroundings.ĭr. “The most common posture that dogs use to sleep is lying on their sides with their legs extended,” says Dr. “If you see a dog in a lion pose-with his paws stretched forward and head resting on his paws like the statues of reclining lions in front of some government buildings-the dog is apt to be simply dozing and not in a deep sleep state,” he says. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in the Psychology Department at the University of British Columbia and author of numerous books, including "Do Dogs Dream?" If you see your dog sleeping with his head on top of his paws, chances are he’s just resting, says Dr. This helpful guide breaks down five common dog sleeping positions and explains some of the science behind why dogs sleep in certain ways. But what do these dog sleeping positions mean? Why do dogs sleep the way they do? You have the back loungers, the spread-out space hogs, and the curled-up cuties. Pet parents witness all sorts of dog sleeping positions, especially if they share a bed or couch with their pups.
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Healthy adult dogs spend an average of 12 to 14 hours per day sleeping, and puppies, senior dogs or those with health problems may require even more rest. Reviewed and updated for accuracy on December 7, 2018, by Jennifer Coates, DVMĪs much as dogs like to run, play and sniff out the world around them, they also like to snooze.
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