Waking from a cozy night’s sleep can sometimes be marred when the first thing you see is your puppy’s bum right near your face. If this situation sounds familiar to you, you probably want to know, “Why does my dog sleep with his butt towards me?”
There are many potential reasons that your dog may be displaying this behavior that may seem so rude to humans. Dogs love sleeping with humans and this can lead to some particular behaviors. Read on to learn why your dog likes to sleep with its butt in your face.
Reasons That Dogs Sleep with Their Bum Facing You?
There are quite a few reasons behind you waking up to your pup’s behind. The vast majority of these reasons are positive. So, do not feel like you need to dissuade this sleeping position unless it is bothering you.
Protection
Why do dogs face away from you when sleeping? As a result of loving you and wanting to keep you safe, your pup may be sleeping with their butt facing you because they want to be in a good position to protect you if the need arrives.
That is not to say that they are ready to attack at any moment. They are simply in an advantageous position if they need to protect you. If your dog is very defensive, be careful not to rouse them suddenly since this can be startling for them.
Related Article: Why Does My Dog Sleep Touching Me?
Trust
A big part of why your dog may sleep with its bum facing you may be that they trust you. Facing away from you is a solid signal that your dog is not worried that you might attack them. Not only that, but they trust you to have their back.
You can also tell that your dog trusts you if they sleep on their back and side. Your dog shows trust in a variety of other ways when not sleeping. If your dog seems relaxed and comfortable around you, they likely trust you. Wagging their tail and blinking are signs that you are trusted. Often, a dog who trusts you will listen to your commands.
Support this trust by gently interacting with your pooch and avoiding displaying any behaviors that may negatively affect your dog’s trust. Your dog may also be more likely to trust you if you are in certain moods. They can tell if you are in an unpredictable mood, and they are less likely to trust you.
Comfort
Sometimes your dog’s sleeping position comes down to the same things that yours does. Are they comfortable? Your pup may sleep with their butt facing you because that is a position in which they feel comfortable.
Your pooch may also move a few times in their sleep to adjust to changes in temperature. Often animals will flip onto a different side if they want to get warmer or cooler. If they are sleeping in your bed, they may partially be doing so because they want to be warm. As a result, they may choose a sleeping position based on how hot they are with you.
Smell Contribution
Dogs have scent glands near their tails, and they may be using those glands to mark you with their smell. This smell shows other dogs that you are your dog’s human. Many pets like to combine their scent with their owners to create a hybrid pack smell.
Pet Requests
If your pup loves scritches on their back this sleeping position may be a simple way to request some pets in their favorite area. This desire will become especially apparent if your pup is actively scootching towards you, asking you for pets.
Keep your own pooch’s preferences in mind before offering some pets while your dog is sleeping. While some dogs adore a good butt scratch, others may be startled by sudden physical contact. Only pet your dog while sleeping if they are not prone to be startled.
Should You Discourage your Dog?
Since the reasons behind this sleeping position are largely positive, you do not need to stop your dog from choosing this sleeping position.
You may choose to suggest alternate sleeping positions to your dog if you simply prefer no butt in your face. Do not try to redirect your pup’s sleeping pattern if they are deeply asleep.
If you choose to redirect your pup’s sleeping position, do so carefully. Avoid giving your dog punishment for how they are sleeping. Instead, give them plenty of positive reinforcement for other sleeping positions. For example, give your dog plenty of pets whenever they settle near your feet.
Related Article: Why Does My Dog Sleep At The Foot Of The Bed?
Why Do Dogs Put their Butt on You?
There may be some other cases when your dog points their butt towards you when they are not sleeping. Quite a few of the reasons for this behavior may relate to your dog sleeping with their butt in your face.
For example, your pup may point their butt towards you if they want you to pet them. They may also push their butt towards you to say hi or because it is a behavior that you have reinforced.
Something Unhealthy
Some signs can point towards an infestation of fleas or other parasites. If your puppy’s butt smells especially bad, or if they are constantly licking their butt, your dog should go to the vet.
Beyond fleas, tapeworms, heartworms, and other parasites can infect a pup and lead to them paying particular attention to their rear. They may also show this behavior if their anal glands are clogged.
Should I be Worried if my Dog Does not Sleep with their Butt by my Face?
After hearing that the vast majority of reasons behind your dog sleeping with its bum in your face are positive, you may think that a dog who prefers another sleeping position does not trust you.
However, some dogs have other sleeping positions that they prefer. Just because they sleep by your feet or in their own bed does not mean they dislike you. They may prefer a different spot or are just too warm when near your face.
In some cases, your dog may have trust issues, and so they may not want to point their butt to you. Give your pup plenty of time and space to figure out that you are someone they can trust by reinforcing trustful behaviors.
What Other Sleeping Behaviors Do Dogs Have?
Beyond bum position, dogs have plenty of other quirky sleeping behaviors. You can learn a lot about your pooch’s personality and comfort level by paying attention to how they sleep. Every dog is different, so do not worry if your pup shows some of these odd sleeping behaviors.
By our Feet
A popular location for dogs to sleep is by your feet. Canines have been sleeping in this area for generations. The foot of the bed is a good location for protecting their humans. From your dog’s perspective, this spot also has the same protective and trustful benefits as other spots with an added comfort component.
It may be a more comfortable area since they are unlikely to get rolled on by you while near your feet. This concern may be especially relevant if your pup is on the smaller side. Sometimes, your dog may even choose to hang out by your feet if they just like the way your feet smell.
On our Heads
Believe it or not, certain dogs may choose to sleep on your head. Dogs of all sizes may choose this position. Dogs often choose this position because they get separation anxiety and they need to be as close as possible to you as much as possible.
They may also respect you highly, and they want to be near your head to show that respect. This position can be another way to indicate that they want to protect you.
Using you as a Pillow
Many Dogs will sleep with their head resting on your body as if you are their especially cozy pillow. They will often do this because they are happy, comfy, and they love you. In some cases, they may also be looking for a few head scritches.
Sleeping for Good Temperature
In some cases, your pooch may choose to sleep on an especially cold or hard surface. This likely means that they feel like they need a temperature change. Your dog may also sleep in certain positions depending on how much warmth they want. A dog who wants to be warmer will try to warm as much surface area of their body as possible.
Conclusion for Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Bum Facing You?
After reading this, you understand that your dog sleeping with their bum near your face is very likely a good thing! This position indicates that not only does your pup want to protect you, but they trust you to protect them in return. So, cuddle up to your pooch, and rest assured that your dog’s sleeping position indicates that they care deeply for you.
Other articles you would like:
- Why Does My Dog Sleep At The Foot Of The Bed?
- Why Is My Dog So Clingy?
- Why Does My Dog Stretch So Much?
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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