Why My Dog Sleeps Like This? | Dogalize
Think your dog has some weird sleeping habits? From napping curled up in a ball to the twitching that somedogs do when they sleep, we investigate what these habits mean.
Curling Up in a Ball
This way of sleeping has a fascinating evolutionary basis. When dogs sleep in the wild, they often dig a nest and tuck into a ball to conserve body heat. Curling up also helps protect their vulnerable organs — the ones inside the abdomen — from potential predators. This doesn’t mean that your dog feels unsafe in his bed; it could just be that he happens to have the same sleeping preferences as his ancestors!
Sleeping Belly Up
What about dogs who sleep on their backs? This sleeping position might signal that your dog feels extremely relaxed and comfortable in his environment. It could also mean that he’s hot and doesn’t need to curl up to conserve body heat.
Twitching While Asleep
Some dogs twitch while they’re asleep and maybe even vocalize a little. Is your dog dreaming about chasing a squirrel? He may be. Experts theorize that dogs dream during the REMstage of sleep and may act on their dreams by twitching or “running on their side.” If you need to wake your twitching dog, gently call out his name. Using your hand may scare him, and you could get bitten.
Crawling Under the Covers
Animal behaviorists say theories for this behavior range from a dog’s need to feel companionship while sleeping to an evolutionary behavior from when wild dogs raised their puppies in small, dark dens. Crawling under the covers may actually be more common in breeds that were bred to burrow, like Dachshunds.
Source: vetstreet
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