MY DOG KEEPS HAVING NIGHTMARES FREE

This is behavior that comes from dogs’ wolf ancestors who would often trample down grass, leaves, or snow to get comfortable. It’s normal behavior for dogs to circle their sleeping area or even dig a bit before lying down for sleep. Circling and digging (Photo credit: Getty Images) Pay attention to these signs and behaviors to make sure your dog is getting the best sleep possible. Sleep is important for healing and repairing the body, and REM sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep, is the most restorative. Once your dog is napping, you may get some clues about the quality of their sleep from their behavior. Sleeping behaviors (Photo credit: Getty Images) Try showing your love in return by taking a snooze with your pup. A dog sleeping this way feels very loving and affectionate, and they’re completely comfortable with whoever they’re napping with. Your dog is bonding and showing that they want to get close to you or their furry siblings. You may catch your dog sleeping back-to-back with your other pets or snuggling up to you. Back-to-back or snuggled up (Photo credit: Getty Images)

This position is common in the summer months. A pup who’s sleeping in this position most likely doesn’t have a care in the world. Because this position exposes a dog’s most sensitive areas vulnerable, it indicates a dog is comfortable. Since the fur is thinner around the belly and the paws hold the sweat glands, exposing these areas is a great way to beat the heat. In the opposite way curling in a ball conserves heat, sleeping with an exposed belly helps a dog cool off. On the back, paws up in the air (Photo credit: Getty Images) It’s the position of choice for high-energy pups or pups who get sleepy during play. Dogs who sleep in this position don’t want to miss a chance to be in the action. You often see this position with puppies who need to nap frequently but also want to be ready to jump up and play at a moment’s notice. It allows for a dog to pop up and be on their paws right away.

This is sometimes called the “ Superman” position. Sprawled out on the tummy (Picture Credit: Getty Images) Also, it may just simply feel better for a particular dog to sleep in that position. It’s a common position in the fall and winter months when the weather is cool. You might think that a dog who sleeps in this position would be uncomfortable in their surroundings. It restricts movement during sleep, so you may see less twitching from a dog who snoozes in a ball. This position protects the vital organs, helps conserve warmth, and makes it easy to get up quickly. This is also called “nose-to-tail.” It’s a common position for animals to take in the wild, too. Curled up (Photo credit: Getty Images)Ī very common position dogs take when sleeping is to curl up in a ball.

MY DOG KEEPS HAVING NIGHTMARES FREE

This position also leaves their limbs free to move during sleep, so you may see more twitching and leg kicks. That said, they may switch to a different position if they’re sleeping somewhere new or around someone they aren’t familiar with. Dogs who favor this position tend to be pretty easy-going and relaxed.

On the side (Photo credit: Getty Images)Ī dog who sleeps on their side feels safe and comfortable, as this position leaves the vital organs exposed. Below are some common sleeping positions and what they might mean.

My dog keeps having nightmares