When dogs sleep they adopt very curious postures, some are so curious that it makes you want to take a photo and keep it as a souvenir. And it is that, whether because they put their stomachs up or on their side, with their faces covered or not, it is very easy for them to get our love and trust.
But if there is something that may intrigue us a lot, it is what the positions of the dogs to sleep mean, or in other words: Why do they sleep ... how do they sleep?
What positions do they take and why?
Common stance
It is the typical posture adopted by a dog that wants to rest but, at the same time, stay alert. For example, when he is alone at home, or when his family is watching television and he has stayed on the carpet. His body forms a kind of "ball": his back is straight but his neck to the tip of his nose describes a kind of arc.
Sideways
It's the posture you take when you sit very relaxed and calm. Normally, we will see him like this at night, when he is sleeping with us or in a very comfortable area. In addition, this is how you can reach the deepest phases of sleep, and therefore, the ones that will help you feel much better when you wake up.
prone
It is the position that the puppy adopts after having been playing and / or running for a long time. It is also typical of brachycephalic dogs, such as the bulldog or the pug, to be able to breathe better or to cool their body.
The »L»
It is similar to the side position, but when it takes the "L" we will see that it is curled up, and we can even often see that it surrounds itself with its tail. It is very common in puppies, but adult dogs also adopt this position when they feel cold or when they just like to be snuggled.
Face up
Image - Flickr / normanack
When the dog adopts this posture it exposes its most vulnerable parts, thus expressing security, confidence and well-being. There are nervous dogs that can also get like this at bedtime, but it is not usually very common in them.
Are there more positions?
Yes of course. Dogs move during the REM phase. They move their paws as if they were dreaming of chasing something, and we can even hear them bark or moan. But it does not mean that they have a specific meaning, but rather they are the typical movements they make when they are dreaming 🙂.
How much does a dog sleep?
In order for the dog to be healthy and happy, it is very important that we let it sleep as long as it needs, which depending on its age are:
- Dogs: from 14 to 18 hours (the most babies sleep more hours than those who are already older).
- Adult dogs: about 13 hours.
But we don't have to worry: they don't sleep all those hours at once. They generally sleep 9-10 hours at night and part of the morning, taking small naps the rest of the day.
How can we help you sleep better?
As important as letting it sleep is that the animal does so in a suitable, comfortable and quiet place. So, it is necessary to provide him with a specific bed for dogs that is made with good quality materials and the size he needs. In addition, it would not hurt to have a summer one, made of fabric for example, and a winter one.
On the other hand, and as long as we do not have an allergy, we can let him sleep with us in our bed, since this way we will get him to spend a much calmer and more relaxed night.
Did you know that dogs adopt such different postures at bedtime? Which ones does yours adopt?