There’s something about watching your dog sleep that is comforting and sometimes even comical. Do you know that several of your dog’s sleeping behaviors are similar to those of bears and others are inherent?
The average dog sleeps 12-13 hours a day. It might not look like it, but puppies sleep even longer! That is almost half his life! Dogs are adept at catching a few winks whenever they can. That form of napping is similar to the Stage 1 dream, where they sleep, but barely.
Sleep is a vital part of your dog’s health, physical and emotional well-being. It is during sleep that puppies grow, wounds heal, and energy is conserved and stored for what lies ahead.
Indoor companion dogs sleep longer and deeper than outdoor dogs and working dogs. Dogs that are kept outdoors and dogs that work try to take an extra nap here or there, but they rarely relax enough to achieve a healthy, deep and restful sleep.
Do dogs dream?
Dogs appear to follow similar sleep stages to humans. Stage 1, he hardly sleeps. This is where most outdoor dogs, wild dogs, and working dogs sleep. In Stage 2, the animal’s blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature gradually decrease. Stage 3 is a transitional state between light and deep sleep. Stage 4 is the slow wave stage where generally the dog is now oblivious to his surroundings. If they wake up suddenly, they often seem confused. Stag 5 is where the fun begins! This is the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of sleep. Here, your body relaxes, but your brain remains active. At this stage, your dog’s eyes roll under the lids and slowly sink into those dreams that we find so funny. They moan, growl, make sounds and movements licking and eating, moaning, barking and / or appear to be chasing something!
Most indoor dogs spend up to 12% of their sleep time in REM. Puppies spend a higher percentage of time in REM. During this stage, puppies are believed to process and fuse what they are learning every day into behaviors that they will follow.
Interestingly, smaller dogs tend to dream more than their larger cousins.
Shaking during sleep can be perfectly normal for an average dog. Dogs that have suffered trauma and puppies separated from their mother too soon, can also shiver in their sleep. Tremors could also be an indicator of health problems in dogs, such as hypothyroidism, pain, chills, and gastrointestinal upset.
If your dog trembles in his sleep, call him calmly and gently pat or touch him to assure him that everything is okay. Don’t shake them to wake them up! It is not known if dogs have nightmares, but since many rescues and dogs that have suffered severe physical and emotional trauma shake in their sleep, a little security goes a long way.
Favorite positions of a sleeping dog
Your dog’s sleeping position tells you a lot about him or her. Some like to sleep on their stomachs, almost like in a “down” position. This allows them to jump in at the slightest perceived threat or the fact that they may be missing out on what you’re doing.
Others prefer to sleep on their side. This is a resting position. Your dog is comfortable with his surroundings.
Then we have the sleeper “Superdog”. They choose to sleep stretched out, face down. It looks like they are flying. They’re in a good night’s sleep, but ready to go as soon as they hear you move!
The most inherent position for sleeping is snuggling. You will see this as the favorite sleeping position for dogs kept outdoors. You will find them curled up in a ball, with the legs under the body and the tail wrapped around the face. It is the least vulnerable and least quiet position to sleep. They conserve body heat, protect the extremities, face, throat and vital organs. This position gives them the advantage of being able to stand up immediately. The dog’s muscles are tense and ready for action, if necessary. Dogs that sleep in this position rarely relax enough to move into the REM stage.
Curling is the normal sleeping position for wild dogs and wolves gathering. It offers a sleeping position for awakening awareness as your senses are intensified with movements, sounds and scents. They conserve space in the study; protect your offspring and share body heat. You will notice that even most domesticated puppies will snuggle together or around their mother.
Finally, we have what looks like the “dead cockroach” position. There are dogs that prefer to sleep on their backs; legs in the air … looking like a dead cockroach! This is the position only found in a very safe and confident indoor pet. Sleeping on the back is the most vulnerable position for a dog to sleep. It is believed to be the most comfortable and relaxing position. Plus, it’s your dog’s way of getting cold quickly. Indoor dogs that have expended a lot of energy and / or are overheated will sleep on their backs.
The position of sleeping on the back has not been observed as a behavior exhibited by dogs or wolves in the wild. Dogs that are kept outdoors will not sleep in this position either. This position sends a message of vulnerability and submission.
It should be noticed; dogs that sleep on their backs with their paws “protecting” their chest indicate that they prefer not to be disturbed. Be careful when suddenly waking up a sleeping dog in this position!
Now that you know more about what happens when your dog sleeps, you will have an idea of his confidence and sense of well-being. In addition, it will give you a clue as to why your dog behaves the way he does, when he is awake.
Bottom line: Comfort equals healthier, deeper, and deeper sleep. Whichever sleeping position your dog prefers, make sure his sleeping spots are safe and comfortable. A dog that is well rested is generally healthier and happier.
