As much as we love our dogs and want to be around them, sometimes they get a little too up in our space than is comfortable. Why do they do this?
Why Your Dog Always Wants To Lay On Top Of You
Just like us, dogs love to have quality time with the people they love and laying on us is how some of our furry friends express that love.
why does my dog lay on top of me when I sleep
It is very common behaviour for dogs to lay on or next to their sleeping loved ones so that they would be able to protect them.
While it seems a little silly that they feel the need to do this in your house where you are safe, it is in their instincts to always be on alert fr danger.
why does my dog lay on top of me in the morning
If you find your dogs are always waking you up by squeezing the life out of you by laying on you it’s because they want attention from you.
Whether that means lots of pets and cuddles or just want you to get up to make their breakfast, rest assured they want to get your attention for some reason.
why does my dog lay on top of me when I lay down
They most likely find you warm and comfortable which is why they will take any and every opportunity to get on top of you for a nap whenever you lie down.
why does my dog sleep on me and not my husband?
If your dog only lies on you and not your partner they might just feel more of a need to protect you.
They also could just be playing favorites and they just prefer sleeping with you.
why is my dog laying on me all of a sudden
If your dog has never really been the cuddly type and then all of a sudden you find them on top of you every time you lay down, they are probably lonely.
It may be a good idea to get them a friend if you are away for work often and feel they don’t have enough time with their loved ones.
why does my dog lay on top of my head
While it is quite annoying and honestly feels dangerous sometimes, there is a good reason why your dog feels the need to flop directly onto your face.
It’s because they have separation anxiety. The feel nervous and anxious when away from you, even if it’s just the space between you guys when they are laying next to you.
why does my dog lay on my face in the morning
In this case, they are most likely trying to wake you up, but in a way that they won’t get in as much trouble for, like if they were to start barking.
Why do my dogs always want to sleep on me?
Dogs are used to sleeping together when they are with their pack. They do this for many reasons, warmth, protection, comfort etc.
They always want to sleep with you because you are their family and it’ is part of their instincts to sleep next to or sometimes even on their family.
Why does my dog walk on top of me when I sleep?
In the same way that sleeping nest to their family is an instinct, it means they treat you as a member of their pack.
When dogs are in a pack they don’t really care too much about sleep ‘etiquette’ and will trample their fellow dogs all night long. They are just giving you the true dog experience!
Why does my dog lay on my chest?
This is an intimate and affection gesture from a dog, as it shows vulnerability and that they have complete trust in you.
They also enjoy it as they are able to hear your heartbeat and feel your breath, which is comforting for them.
Why does my dog always sleep directly on my legs or feet?
This can be just the place that they feel is the most comfortable to lay on you.
However, it can also be territorial. If there are other people or dogs around and your dogs lays on your lap or even your feet it can be a sign to others that they have claimed you.
Why do dogs touch you when they sleep?
Dogs are very social creatures, this means that having contact with someone they trust while sleeping is reassuring and comforting for them.
It reminds them that they are safe and allows them to sleep soundly.
Any idea why my puppy must sleep on my head?
It is completely natural for a puppy to want to lay on or near your head if they see you as a parental figure.
His is because they are trusting you to keep them safe and their mothers use their mouth to pick them up and be able to carry them away to safety.
My dog stopped sleeping next to me
There are two factors to consider when asking this question, external factors and internal factors.
External factors could be a change of bedding, location, temperature or even if there are more people present
Internal factors are what is going on inside your dog’s body, which can mean anything from health issues to simply just a bad mood.
My dog won’t sleep unless he’s on top of me?
If your dog is completely unable to sleep unless they are right on top of you it most likely means that they are very anxious and scared.
This doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong necessarily as some dogs are just like that naturally or come from a less than ideal background.
It could also simply be that they are just spoiled and don’t want t sleep in their own bed.
7 reasons why your dog might want to lay on top of you (even while you’re asleep)
- You’re warm and comfortable to them
- You reward them for doing so
- They want to protect you
- They want your attention
- They are very affectionate
- Your dog has separation anxiety
- Your dog wants something from you
Why does my dog feel the need to be protective?
Your dogs aren’t necessarily protective because they think that there is an immediate threat that they need to protect you from.
They will be protective even if you are in the safest place on earth because that is just how dogs work, their instincts are to be on alert no matter what.
Does my dog laying on me mean that I’m not giving them enough attention?
Dogs do lay on their owners to get attention but that does not necessarily mean you aren’t giving them enough.
A lot of dogs have a personality type that means they could never be given enough attention, even if you spent all of your time with them.
There also is the fact to consider that laying on you isn’t always just for attention, a lot of dogs just find it comfortable.
What to do to stop your dog from sleeping on you
- Crate train your dog using positive reinforcement, like treats or cuddles.
- Avoid accidentally encouraging the behavior like petting them when they lay on you.
- Reward them for doing the right behavior, give them treats and praise when they get into their own bed.
Why does my dog sleep or lay on top of me as opposed to in their bed?
They simply think it is more comfortable, after all the grass s always greener on the other side of the fence.
They also could do it just because they would rather spend time with you then be alone in their bed.
It is more comfortable to sleep with people than alone for dogs?
This depends greatly on the personality of the dog in question.
Some dogs need to be with people or other dogs at all times and some prefer to spend more time alone, neither are bad it just depends on your dog.
How to encourage the behavior?
If you like your dog to sleep with you you can give them treats and praise every time they lay with you and you will see them coming back more and more often.
However, if your dog likes to sleep alone do not force them to sleep with you instead. Some dogs are very sensitive about their sleep and you could end up getting bitten.
Is my dog being protective when he lays on me?
To determine whether or not your dog is being protective when they lay on you, look at when they are doing it.
If they are only laying on you while other people or dogs are around (or other perceived threats) then there is a good chance that they are being protective.
Do dogs feel safer sleeping with people, alone or with other dogs?
If dogs see you as their family then you are no different than their pack, and dogs will always feel safer surrounded by those they love and trust.
Is sleeping on you a method for affection in dogs?
Yes! Dogs are not able to hug us the same way that we do other humans so sume of their methods of affection can seem a little strange to us.
When your dog wants to spend time with you or always wants to be close to you that is how they show their love.
Does my dog have separation anxiety?
You can usually tell if your dog has separation anxiety by how they behave when you’re not around.
If they get very destructive when you are away but are usually very good when you are there, this is a sign that they have separation anxiety.
This isn’t them trying to be bad, it is just how they release their bad feeling, like how we cry.
Does my dog lying on me mean they are waiting for something?
Not usually, if they are trying to wake you up for something then yes you may find them laying on you, but for the most part, laying on you would defeat the purpose.
This is because if they are laying on you it is going to be far more difficult for you to get them what they want.
Things to consider about this behaviour in dogs:
- Did any other behaviour change when they started?
- Are they behave differently when they don’t have the chance to lay on you?
- Are they alone a lot?
What should I do if I don’t want my dog to lay on top of me?
- Use positive reinforcement training.
- Avoid encouraging or rewarding the behavior.
- Give it a comfortable place to lay down near you so they can still be close to you.
- Reduce separation anxiety by spending more time with them regularly.
- Enrol them in a dog training program so a professional can help them.
Reasons why your dog loves to sleep right on top of you:
- It’s an instinctive trait due to dogs being pack animals
- Your dog sleeps on top of you for protection
- Your dog sleeps on top of you due to separation anxiety
- Your dog sleeps on top of you for attention
- Your dog sleeps on top of you because they want to prove that they are in charge
- Your dog sleeps on top of you as a sign of affection
Reasons why it may become a problem in future:
- If you get an injury – If you find yourself suddenly injured and your dog has gotten in the habit of letting your dog lie on you it could cause a lot of problems since trying to get them off while injured may be a struggle.
- They will get old – unfortunately, it is a fact of life that we are usually going to outlive our dogs. It may cause them distress as they get older that they aren’t able to sleep with you anymore as it would be dangerous for them to be that far off the ground.
- They ruin your sheet with their claws as well as your washing machine with the amount of fur shed.
Does my dog lying on me constantly mean that something is wrong with them?
Not at all! Lying on you is just a way for them to feel close to you, doesn’t mean at all that there is something wrong with them.
Is lying on members of their family or ‘pack’ part of a dog’s instincts?
In the wild dogs learned to huddle together for warmth and protection when they slept and have kept this all the way into modern-day domestication.
Does laying on me make my dog feel safe?
Having those they trust around when they are sleeping is how they feel protected so yes, laying on you does make them feel safe.
Does laying on my chest help with my dog’s anxiety?
If separation from you or fear is the reason why your dog is anxious then laying with or on you will definitely help them calm down.
There are other reasons why a dog may be anxious that this might not be so helpful for though. Always make sure your dog is coming to you and you are not forcing them.
Is my dog laying on me because he’s cold?
Being cold could definitely be a contributing factor as to why your dog is so cuddly but most of the time they have lots of ways to be able to get warm and just want to be with you.
Does my dog lay on me as a sign of respect?
Dogs don’t lay on people or other dogs as a sign of respect but it does show trust between the dog and the individual.
How do I keep my dog from laying on me while I’m sleeping?
The most effective way to keep your dog from laying on you in your sleep is to keep them out of your bedroom at night.
This is the best way as it is very difficult to control what your dog does while you are asleep.
Do Dogs Assert Their Dominance by Laying on the Other Dogs?
Dogs will show dominance while playing with other dogs by ‘pinning’ them down so they canät move but does the same count while sleeping?
No, when dogs are sleeping while laying on top of each other it is not to show dominance but rather just a comfortable position.
References:
https://www.nnva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6780/Helpful-ways-to-make-your-dog-happy
https://www.boston.gov/departments/animal-care-and-control/pet-behavior-tips