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There are very few things cuter than a sleeping dog. But have you ever looked at your pup while they were sleeping to find them in a strange position? Dogs, like humans, sleep in a variety of positions based on multiple different factors such as age, comfortability, and trust. Believe it or not, you can learn a lot about your furry friend through their sleeping habits. Today, I’m sharing 6 popular dog sleeping positions and what they mean.
One of the most popular dog sleeping positions is on their side with their legs extended out in front of them.
If your dog tends to sleep on his side, he likely feels a lot of trust and comfort around you. Sleeping on their side leaves a dogs vital organs exposed, which a nervous dog would tend to avoid. When a dog does not feel safe in their environment, they will make a conscious effort to keep those organs covered.
Dogs get their deepest sleep on their side which often leads to dreams. You’ll often notice your pups legs and feet twitching while they’re asleep on their side as a result of dreaming.
Dogs who sleep in the lion pose can be found asleep with their head resting on their front paws.
These dogs are not in a deep sleep, but are simply resting. If your dog is sleeping in the lion pose position, they’re ready to jump up and get back to playing at any moment. Dogs will also rest in this position if they feel as though they’ll need to jump up quickly to protect themselves.
The Superman sleeping position is when your dog is asleep with his belly on the floor, his back legs stretched out behind him, and his front legs stretched out in front of him.
This position is commonly found in puppies and more playful dogs. Like the lion pose, dogs who sleep in the Superman position are ready to jump up and back into play at any moment.
This sleeping position can also be a response to a warm environment. The fur on a dogs underside is not as thick and insulating as that on the rest of their body. If your dog is sleeping on a cool surface in a warm area, they may fall asleep in the Superman pose to remain cool.
The Donut is another common dog sleeping position where the dog will curl into a tight ball, with their limbs tucked closely to them.
This position allows dogs to keep their vital organs tucked and hidden, and therefore is common in stray dogs, or dogs who are adjusting to a new environment. Dogs will sleep in this position to protect themselves against any potential dangers.
Dogs will also sleep in a donut position when they are cold because this position can preserve body heat.
A fan favorite amongst humans who love to cuddle with their pups, the cuddler sleeping position is when your dog prefers to sleep cuddled up or on top of you or another dog or animal.
If your dog is a cuddler they are showing signs of love and wanting to bond with you or whoever they are cuddling with. These dogs are affectionate and loving dogs who want to be close with those around them.
My personal favorite sleeping position in dogs is the belly up. This is when your dog lays on his back with their paws sticking up in the air.
The belly up sleeping position is a clear sign of comfort and security in a dog. Because the belly area is full of vital organs, a dog who is wiling to sleep with that area fully exposed is completely trusting of their environment and able to relax fully.
Sleeping belly up is also a way for dogs to cool down. Dogs sweat through their paws, so sleeping with them up in the air is a dogs way of trying to stay cool.
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You probably think your dog has it pretty good when it comes to their daily life. They don’t have to cook for themselves, do any chores, or go to work. But while lounging around all day may sound like fun to you, it’s probably not very fun for your dog. Dogs spend a lot of time alone while their human goes to work, runs errands, and hangs with friends. Unlike humans, they can’t occupy themselves by watching TV or taking themselves for a walk. This results in a bored dog, and a bored dog is a destructive dog. Doggy boredom can lead to behavioral issues so it is important to recognize when your dog is bored ASAP. Today Im sharing 6 signs your dog is bored, and how to cure it.
Barking
Are you getting complaints from your neighbors that your dog is barking all day long while you’re gone? While the barking may be a result of separation anxiety, or spotting a squirrel out the window, there’s a good chance that your dog is simply barking out of boredom. Dogs will bark and howl as a way to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, their canine concert isn’t very entertaining to your neighbors.
Chewing
Your dog could have a collection of a thousand toys, but if they’re bored enough they’ll chew on anything within reach. This behavior can be detrimental to your shoes, furniture, and even dry wall.
General Mischief
Besides chewing, a bored dog may get into other mischief as well. Getting in the trash, pulling stuffing from toys, or dragging pillows off your bed are all signs that your dog is bored.
Escaping
Does your dog bolt out the door at every opportunity? He’s likely bored and looking for something to entertain himself. It may start innocently with him chasing after the mail man, but once he realizes how much fun he had, it could become a bad habit.
Licking, Panting, Pacing, and Scratching
If you find that Fido can’t seem to sit still and relax that is a common sign that your dog is bored. Excessive licking and scratching of themselves could be a result of allergies, but if you’ve ruled that out, it may be boredom.
Dogs pant for a variety of reasons, but if they didn’t just return from a long walk and it’s not super hot outside, they could just be bored.
Like humans pace when fidgety, dogs do the same. If you notice your dog pacing back and forth they’re likely bored and not sure what else to do with themselves.
Excited Greetings
All dogs are excited to see their people when they return home. However, if you’re often greeted with lots of whining, jumping, and zooming that’s a good sign that your dog is bored when you aren’t home and is over the top excited to finally have someone to play with!
So you’ve come to the conclusion that your dog is in fact bored all day. But you can’t skip out on work and the grocery store! So how should you cure your dogs boredom?
Walks
A long walk in the morning before you leave will do wonders for curing your pups boredom. Get up early enough to take him around the neighborhood for a mile or two. Let him sniff and take his time exploring his surroundings so that he’s satisfied when he returns home and you leave for the day.
Provide Mental Stimulation
Leave your pup with a food puzzle or stuffed Kong to keep him entertained during the day. Mentally stimulating toys will give your dog something to do throughout the day and keep their brain working. Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise! By the time Fido has solved his puzzle, he’ll be mentally exhausted enough for a long, mid-day nap.
Stick to a Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit and thrive on a consistent routine. Teach your dog that the middle of the day is his time to relax. Feeding them, walking them, and playing with them at the same time every day will remind them when it’s play time and when it’s calm time.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
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Dental hygiene is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Like people, dogs can experience dental disease and cavities. In fact, 80% of dogs over the age of three experience dental disease, most commonly, periodontal disease. Keeping your pups teeth clean is as important as feeding them healthy foods or making sure they get an adequate amount of exercise. However, every dog owner knows that brushing your dogs teeth can be tricky. Today I’m sharing 4 tips for brushing your dogs teeth plus other ways to keep their teeth clean.
Tip #1: Choose a Calm Time
Find a time when your house is calm and ideally you’re alone with just your dog. Bright lights, noisy children, and other distractions can cause your dog to become stressed, making teeth brushing even more difficult.
Tip #2: Introduce the Toothbrush and Toothpaste Slowly
If you whip out your toothbrush, spread some toothpaste on it, and shove it into your pups mouth they’re going to get overwhelmed and likely try to run off. Introduce the teeth brushing materials slowly. Lightly tap the toothbrush to the dogs gums and teeth, praising them as they allow you to do this.
As for the toothpaste, spread a little onto your finger and let your dog lick it off to get used to the taste.
Note: Make sure you are using a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. A dog toothbrush will be easier to use than a human one. And human toothpaste is toxic to dogs if they swallow it.
Tip #3: Brush From the Front to Back
Start the teeth brushing process with the bottom front teeth as these will be the easiest to access. If your dog is tolerating the front teeth being brushed, you can move your way back to the side and back teeth and then up to the top.
Tip #4: Praise and Reward
Praise your dog constantly throughout the brushing for being calm and allowing you to do so. You can also give small treats at each step to reward them for being good. Getting their teeth brushed is unnatural for dogs, so we won’t to praise them greatly for allowing it to be done.
Bones and Chew Toys
The act of chewing will remove plaque build up from your dogs teeth. Get your pup some natural chews such as bully sticks or cow ears to help keep tartar to a minimum. You can also use chew toys in place of a natural chew.
Dental Treats
Dental treats are made to remove plaque from your dogs teeth as they chew while also helping to freshen breath.
Professional Cleanings
Once your dog reaches maturity, yearly cleanings done by the vet are great for keeping dogs teeth clean and healthy. Your vet will be able to remove plaque build up to prevent dental disease from spreading and causing issues later on down the road.
Watch Their Diet
Too many treats or scraps from the table are large culprits in causing plaque build up on canine teeth. Stick to feeding your dog a healthy, vet approved diet and keep treats to a minimum. If you do want to feed your pup the occasional piece of human food, stick to foods that are healthy for them such as fruits and veggies.
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