For countless dog owners, sleeping near their companion at night can regularly be therapeutic. In most cases, you’ll probably notice that your dog is sleeping while touching you. You’re not the only one. My dog has to sleep touching me on the side or by my legs at times and here’s why. The perception of your companion is that you’re their pack leader. The dog you raise will view you as its leader, which by nature provides them with a sense of security that you’re guarded. As pack animals, dogs will stay with their group to sleep while touching each other for safety and assurance. Other reasons include:
- Reason #1: Experts believe that your partner sleeping next to you is a way for them to compliment you. Thus, your dog likes to sleep next to you and you should take it as a compliment.
- Reason #2: It’s in their nature and instincts to sleep next to their leader.
- Reason #3: Your dog touches you for warmth.
- Reason #4: You might have an elevated bed. Dogs like to be able to watch their surroundings.
After all, it’s their normal behavior to touch you. To this day, there are still experts weighing in on their opinion and reasoning for a dog’s need of touching a person during their sleep.
Reasons For Behavior
Amongst one of the most popular pets in the world, dogs whether Poodles or Golden Retrievers have a special way of displaying affection towards their owners. At times, figuring out the decisions they make while acting in certain situations can be quite challenging to understand. Figuring out your dog requires a lot of patience, which means you’ll have to spend a lot of time observing. One behavior that many dog owners question is the reasoning behind a dog sleeping while touching their owner. According to dog experts, there are several reasons for this type of behavior.
Throughout history, dogs are known to be animals traveling in groups. Experts believe that dogs sleep next to you because of their instinct. As a person that feeds, shelters, and watches over them – your dog will view you as its pack leader, therefore, touching you will let them know that you’re there to be guarded.
Studies showed that wild dogs will sleep next to each other to help each other stay warm. If your bed is highly elevated, your dog might want to rest on it to be able to view its surroundings. If you believe that your puppy is not touching you because of its instinct or warmth, then it’s likely displaying a sign of affection and love to you.
Approving/Unapproving Its Behavior
For many dog owners, having them sleeping at night by your side touching you is a common occurrence. Is this considered bad/good behavior and should you stop them from getting used to sleeping by your side?
Unfortunately, there are no right or wrong answer to this question because it all comes down to your personal decision. If sleeping next to you at night isn’t your preferred option, you could have them nap next to you to prevent these sleeping habits. When it comes to your partner’s health issues, sleeping side-by-side with you won’t affect them physically but could cause separation anxiety if they’re already used to it. Keep in mind that different types of dog breeds will act differently when it comes to sleeping at night with their owner.
If your companion developed a habit of sleeping next to you, forcing away its habit will cause them to feel uncertain about their place in life. You can break their habit but break it carefully. One way to fix this behavior is to place your dog’s bed (invest in a high-quality dog bed) next to yours. By doing this, your dog will still get the feeling that it belongs in your “pack.” Your puppy will feel content, safe, and protected by their leader.
What To Consider
As mentioned above, every dog breed will have different levels and types of cuddling. There are dog breeds that are clingy and affectionate such as the Goldendoodle, Maltese, and Pomeranians. If you’re a dog-loving person with a strict rule about sleeping on the bed, then it’s best to do your due diligence on each dog breeds’ behavior before bringing them back to your place. If you’re unsure, you could always contact a veterinarian, breeder, or dog expert to help you find a compatible dog breed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs like sleeping with their owners?
Many dogs like to sleep with their owner for several reasons. To stay warm, to protect, to feel a sense of security, to view its surroundings, or to show its affection to you. While most dog breeds prefer being with their owners, there are breeds out there that would prefer sleeping in its territory.
Why you shouldn’t sleep with your dog?
There is good and bad to this question. Sleeping with your dog can be therapeutic and be a pleasure to both sides. When your dog goes outside for exercise, he/she could likely be exposed to allergies. For allergy-sensitive people, then having a dog sleeping by their side might not be a smart decision.
Is it bad for your dog to sleep under the covers?
Many dog breeds will react immediately when they feel the heat or anything that could irritate them. By being under the cover, they’ll likely bring themselves out. Depending on the dog’s breed or age, it can be bad to have them sleeping under the covers because they might not know how to react or escape uncomfortable situations.
Conclusion For My Dog Has To Sleep Touching Me
Whether you have a Cavapoo or a Goldendoodle, many breeds of dogs sleep next to their owners to show their love, guard their owners, or simply stay warm. To this day, dog enthusiasts are debating and arguing over the reasons when it comes to these sweet fur babies.
If you’re planning to bring home a puppy from a breeder or adopt a dog, it’s recommended to do your own due diligence on how each breed behaves. If you already own a dog with this behavior, don’t force its habits because it’ll feel out of place in your life. To change its habits, take it with patience and one step at a time. You can begin by placing your dog’s bed next to yours, so it’ll still feel like it belongs to the pack.
Your decision to let your dog sleep by your side or not has no answer to whether it’s good or bad behavior. It’s your personal preference. The journey of raising a dog can sometimes be rough, but the positive experience will outweigh the difficult times you’ll endure.
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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