Dozy doggies! What your pooch’s favorite sleeping position says about their state of mind – from spreading their legs to curling up like a donut

• You can tell a lot about your hound’s wellbeing from their top sleeping positions
• Experts from Cornell University and British Columbia explain reasoning behind it
• Claim dogs that sleep in a donut position are more likely to feel vulnerable
• Dogs that sleep on backs are relaxed and comfortable with their surroundings

Ever watched a dog having a nap and wondered what they were thinking? Well, a pooch’s sleeping position can actually tell you a lot about their state of mind. 

According to PetMD, a hound’s go-to snoozing position is a window into their character and well-being. 

It can also reveal things about their health, so paying attention to this detail can help you better care for your four-legged friends. 

Dogs that are relaxed are more likely to sleep on their backs with their legs spread or on their side, while playful pups will sleep on their bellies, ready to jump. Here we break down the most common sleeping positions.

1. ON THEIR SIDE

Your dog’s sleeping position says more about them than you think, according to experts. Sleeping on their side is the most common position for pooches and it means they are feeling relaxed and trust their surroundings. Pictured: stock image

Lying on their side is the most common sleep position for dogs, who tend to initially dose off with their head on their paws and then slide to the side. 

According to Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in the Psychology Department at the University of British Columbia, it means they are comfortable and relaxed, and trust their surroundings.

2. THE LION POSE

A dog doing the Lion Pose (with its head on its paws) is never properly sleeping, merely resting. Pictured: stock image

Dogs that adopt the Lion Pose – with their head on their paws – are merely resting and have not yet reached a complete sleep, Dr Coren explained. 

Their muscles have not fully relaxed and are still keeping their bodies in a relatively upright position. 

3. CUDDLING

Puppies cuddle to regulate their temperature as they struggle doing so on their own – and some adult dogs will carry on the habit. Pictured: stock image

According to Dr Coren, if your pup enjoys snuggling up for a snooze it’s because they used to do so as puppies to regulate their temperature. 

Young dogs have difficulties in keeping their body heat in check and often have to cuddle up with a human or other mutts to keep warm.

4. THE DONUT

Some pooches like to curl themselves up into a ball, thus making themselves as tiny as possible. Some do so to regulate their temperature, while others might try to make themselves less vulnerable to their environment. Pictured: a puppy adopting the doughnut position

When dogs curl up into a ball, they’re doing so to make themselves as small as possible. 

Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, pointed out that the technique also helps them regulate their temperature.

The ‘doughnut’ position could also be a way for pups to shelter themselves from the rest of the world and feel less vulnerable.  

5. THE SUPERMAN

Dogs sometimes like to sleep on their bellies, with their legs spread out around them. It might be because they need to cool themselves down. Pictured: stock image

Dogs sometimes like to sleep on their bellies with their legs stretched out either side of their body – a position commonly referred to as the ‘Superman’ because it makes them look like they’re about to take flight.

Dr Coren explained that dog’s fur on their underside is not as thick and is less insulating than that on the rest of their body, meaning some dogs adopt this position to keep themselves cool. 

For Dr Houpt it’s more to do with size, as smaller dogs can stretch their back legs more easily than bigger breeds. 

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