Because our pets can't directly tell us things about themselves, sometimes we as pet owners have to take it upon ourselves to do some digging while also paying attention to key clues. And those clues can sometimes come from some pretty unlikely places.
Take, for instance, the position that your dog sleeps in. Believe it or not, it can be pretty revealing about your dog's overall health, along with their personality.
For instance, does your pup sleep in a curled-up position? Your dog is doing that to conserve its body heat while protecting its limbs, face, and throat. Interestingly, dogs who sleep in this position are gentle and have a naturally sweet disposition.
Keep reading to discover the meaning behind several of the most common sleeping positions for pups.
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1. The Side Sleeper
If your pooch tends to sleep on their side, it means that they're incredibly comfortable with their surroundings, are secure with themselves, and are in no way high maintenance.
And though these dogs may be guarded and alert when awake, they feel blessed to be in your home and company and have an enormous sense of trust in you.
Dogs who sleep in this position tend to be happy-go-lucky and fiercely loyal.
2. The Snuggly Fox
The curled-up position is probably the most common. Dogs' paws will be comfortably tucked away under their bodies, and their tails will wrap all the way around until touching the face.
By curling up, dogs are naturally conserving their body heat and protecting their limbs, face, throat, and all vital organs, according to BowWow Times.
Dogs who sleep in this position are gentle and easygoing, and they have a naturally sweet disposition.
3. The 'Superman' Pup
Many dogs sleep on their stomachs, but the "super" pups are probably the most adorable of them all. With all their four limbs stretched out and heads level on the ground, they look like they're flying through the air.
This position makes it easy for pups to spring up and get moving, as soon as you call them, or as soon as they've woken up, according to Dog's Best Life.
Pups who sleep in this position are super high-energy and very easily motivated.
4. The Crazy Legs
Even though this position looks slightly odd, it's nothing to be concerned about — this just means that dogs are very confident and secure with themselves and with their home environment.
This makes sense especially since sleeping on the back translates into being the most vulnerable position for a dog. You'll most likely never see wolves sleeping on their backs in the wild, as this sends a message of vulnerability and submission, according to NextGen Dog.
Dogs who assume this sleeping position usually tend to be very laid back and have an independent streak.
5. The Tummy Curl
Dogs who sleep in this position may not be as relaxed, since the muscles are still too tense to enable them to drift into the REM stage of sleep, according to Dog's Best Life.
Don't worry, though — this doesn't mean that your pup isn't relaxed in real life. In fact, they may even be the more energetic, adventurous ones in the pack, ready for action and fun at all times!
Pooches who curl up on their tummies while they sleep tend to be very gentle but slightly timid and shy.
6. The Passed Out
Many dogs who sleep indoors opt for this "passed out" position. Dogs will lie on their backs in order to help themselves cool down as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Most of the time, dogs who have expended lots of energy during the day, or who are overheated, will sleep flat on their backs.
In addition, really happy, secure, and relaxed dogs will tilt their legs in the air during their sleep.
Dogs who sleep in this position are highly confident in themselves, and they also tend to be very adaptable to different and new situations.
