How Do Dogs Sleep? Postures and Meanings

Based on the opinion of numerous canine ethologists, who study dog behavior, we can say that depending on the position a dog sleeps in, we can get relevant clues about how it feels and its personality.

If you want to know your dog's personality and what it's feeling in that exact moment when it takes a nap, simply identify the position it takes and compare it to the ones we cover below.

At SoyUnPerro, we show you all the information about the different positions dogs sleep in. And although we don't fully agree with these ethologists' opinions, we found it fun and rewarding to gather them so you can have a good time learning more about your dog.

Meaning of a Dog Sleeping Curled Into a Ball

This is one of the most common sleeping positions in dogs. This posture already gives us some clues about how our dog is feeling, since by curling into a kind of ball, it's keeping its body heat in.

Some dogs even tuck the tip of their muzzle into their belly or under their back legs, retaining even more heat this way. If our dog sleeps in this position, the first thing we should know is that the room temperature is a bit tight for it, or even somewhat cold.

On another note, dogs that sleep curled into a ball show a docile, gentle character, according to experts. That said, we don't quite agree with these opinions, and we'd simply say dogs using this "fox" sleeping position are doing so because they're cold.

Meaning of a Dog Sleeping on Its Side

Without a doubt, this is another of the most common positions dogs sleep in, and it's possibly also the most appropriate, since it tells us the dog is sleeping calm and happy.

Dogs that sleep on their side feel confident and know they're safe at home — they trust their family (you), which is why they sleep completely carefree. This is actually one of the best positions to rest in, so besides being calming, it's also very comfortable.

Some experts say the personality of a dog that sleeps on its side is calm and relaxed, but we'd say personality has nothing to do with it. This position simply tells us the dog feels very confident, calm, and protected.

Meaning of a Dog Sleeping Belly-Up

This time, we can't disagree at all with the canine behavior experts' opinion, since we fully agree. Dogs that sleep belly-up, or with their paws in the air, are simply dogs that are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

When they take this sleeping position, it's because they feel extremely good, super comfortable and calm, fully enjoying a nap that isn't necessarily deep but is very satisfying, most of the time while dreaming. Did you know dogs dream too?

• We explain it in: What Do Dogs Dream About?

We might even hear our dog growl with happiness when it takes this position, paws up, since it's like the ultimate in sleeping bliss. If your dog sleeps in this position, don't bother it — let it enjoy itself.

Meaning of a Dog Sleeping Fully Stretched Out

Did you think dogs couldn't imitate Superman? That's because you never saw a dog sleeping with its front and back legs fully stretched out, its belly flat on the floor.

Dogs that sleep fully stretched out tend to generally be young dogs or puppies, with a tremendous amount of excess energy, and once they've burned it off, they simply flop down to sleep wherever they happen to be.

On another note, dogs that are hot also take this position to sleep, since pressing their belly to the floor naturally cools them down, lowering their body temperature. If your dog sleeps this way, it's probably feeling warm.

Meaning of a Dog Sleeping on Its Paws

Another very common sleeping position dogs take is the one we can see in the photo, where the dog tucks its back legs but rests down on its front paws, usually stretched out.

This position indicates the dog is perfectly comfortable in terms of both room and body temperature, without being too hot or too cold. It suggests calm and comfort, and it's usually taken during deep sleep.

According to experts, this position can indicate our dog has a somewhat nervous or timid character, though we don't quite agree — it's possible there's some connection.

Did you enjoy learning why your dog takes a certain position when napping?