Why does my dog curl up in a ball next to me

When the ancestors of our domestic dog friends were living in the wild and survival was a priority, they would take refuge for the night in dug out dens or nests. In these environments, dogs had to learn to stave off the cold, protect themselves from potential threats, and still find a way to be comfortable enough to get a good night’s sleep. From these necessities, the curled-up position was born. The position keeps dogs warm, protects them from immediate threats, and is comfortable enough for them to get some shut eye. The instinct to sleep curled up persists in dogs today, especially in dogs that sleep outside, and has continued to be utilized by coyotes and wolves that live in the wild. As with other instinctive traits in modern, domesticated dogs, sleeping in a curled-up position means something a little different than it did in the original context. In the modern-day context of a dog’s life, especially for dogs that have the luxury of sleeping inside, the curled-up position tends to be used for either warmth, or a feeling of security. As many people correctly suspect, the position is not the most comfortable position to rest in. Dogs that sleep inside but feel unsafe, either as a result of stressors in the night or a change in environment, will adopt the curled-up position and feel comforted simply by being in the position. Their paws are tucked under their body, their tail is covering their face, and their muscles are tensed for any threat that could present itself while they sleep. Once a dog is completely comfortable in its indoor environment, it may adopt alternate sleeping positions. These include positions on the back and sides, which expose the belly and show that a dog feels completely comfortable in its environment. A dog that exposes its stomach would never do so if it felt even remotely threatened. This is why dogs that sleep outside, regardless of how comfortable they feel within their territory, will never sleep on their sides or on their backs. The curled-up position makes them feel safe, draws upon their instincts, and allows them to get the rest that they need to properly function. 

Reviewed and updated for accuracy on December 7, 2018, by Jennifer Coates, DVM

As much as dogs like to run, play and sniff out the world around them, they also like to snooze. Healthy adult dogs spend an average of 12 to 14 hours per day sleeping, and puppies, senior dogs or those with health problems may require even more rest.

Pet parents witness all sorts of dog sleeping positions, especially if they share a bed or couch with their pups. You have the back loungers, the spread-out space hogs, and the curled-up cuties. But what do these dog sleeping positions mean? Why do dogs sleep the way they do?

This helpful guide breaks down five common dog sleeping positions and explains some of the science behind why dogs sleep in certain ways.

The Lion Pose

If you see your dog sleeping with his head on top of his paws, chances are he’s just resting, says Dr. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in the Psychology Department at the University of British Columbia and author of numerous books, including "Do Dogs Dream?"

“If you see a dog in a lion pose—with his paws stretched forward and head resting on his paws like the statues of reclining lions in front of some government buildings—the dog is apt to be simply dozing and not in a deep sleep state,” he says.

The Side Sleeper

“The most common posture that dogs use to sleep is lying on their sides with their legs extended,” says Dr. Coren.

This means that a dog is relaxed and comfortable and shows a level of trust with his surroundings.

Dr. Coren explains that a dog will often start to dose in lion pose and then slump onto his side once he falls into a deeper sleep. “As soon as the dog starts to dream, his muscles will relax and he will roll out of the lion pose into the normal sleeping position,” says Dr. Coren.

Dogs that sleep on their sides need space to stretch out. Look for a large dog bed, such as the American Kennel Club memory foam sofa extra-large dog bed for comfort and plenty of room.

The Donut

Another common dog sleeping position is when canines curl up into a little ball, says Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Houpt completed a study that looked at dogs in shelters and how they sleep. “They almost all sleep that way when they're undisturbed—in balls, curled up,” she says.

Dr. Houpt explains that dogs do this to make themselves as small as possible, and that it also helps them regulate body temperature. “When dogs are really warm, they will stretch out on cool surfaces, but most of the time, they curl up,” she says. “I think that it makes them feel that they are less vulnerable.”

If your dog prefers this curled-up sleep position, give her a suitable bed like the Best Friends by Sheri luxury shag donut self-heating dog bed. This orthopedic dog bed is designed to keep pups snug and comfy. It uses your dog’s body heat to warm the bed—a nice sleeping option for a cold night.

The Superman

You may see some dogs stretched out with their legs in front of their heads and kicked back behind their butts. This is sometimes referred to as the “Superman position.” While researchers aren’t 100 percent sure why this happens, Dr. Coren and Dr. Houpt have a couple of ideas about this dog sleeping position.

Dr. Coren believes that this position also relates to temperature. “The fur on the dog's underside is not as deep and insulating as the fur on the rest of his body,” he says. “What you call the ‘Superman position’—with limbs outstretched and belly against the floor—is also a response to a warm environment, but usually occurs in situations where the surface that the dog is lying on is relatively cooler than the air around him.”

Dr. Houpt says that she sees smaller dogs and puppies stretch their back legs behind them more often than larger breeds. “You see it often in Chihuahuas and Terriers,” she says. “I think that there may be some mechanical reason why if a dog gets to be over 20 pounds, it's harder for them to do that.”

An elevated dog bed, like the Frisco steel-framed elevated pet bed, might also help to keep your pup cool if he often sleeps in this position.

The Cuddle Bug

If your dog is constantly snuggling up against you, or you notice him nuzzled up next to one of the other dogs in your household, there is a pretty simple explanation for this adorable dog sleeping position, says Dr. Coren.

“The tendency that many dogs have to cuddle when they sleep is a holdover from when they were puppies. Again, this has to do with temperature, since puppies have difficulty regulating their body heat,” he explains. “As the dogs mature, sleeping that way against another living thing merely becomes a sort of learned feeling of comfort held over from puppyhood.”

While you might enjoy your pup’s snuggling behavior, there are times when you need your space. A cozy pet bed like the FurHaven faux sheepskin snuggery orthopedic dog bed encourages burrowing, or you can try a heated dog bed like the K&H Pet Products self-warming lounge sleeper dog bed to keep your dog warm.

Image via iStock.com/Alex Potemkin

When dogs sleep curled up in a ball, in the nose-to tail, curled up position, you may be wondering why they have such a preference. Sure, your dog has ample of leg room all around him, so what gives? 

While there are many advances in studying dogs, the "tell me how you sleep, and I'll tell you more about your dog's personality" quizzes haven't officially popped up from canine experts... at least as of yet. 

However, there are some interesting subtleties in our dog's snoozing styles that are way too interesting to keep for ourselves.

 Here are some interesting findings about dogs who like to snooze curled up in tight balls.

The Winter Sleeping Position

At our place, we like to call the curled up, nose-to-tail position as the "winter sleeping position." Just as mattresses come with a summer side and a winter side, our dogs switch sleeping positions based on the temperatures of our home.

 It's therefore not surprising that dogs choose this nose-to-tail sleeping position for a very good reason: it helps them stay nice and toasty and allows them to conserve heat. 

You have likely stumbled in the past on pictures of groups of sled dogs sleeping all curled up with their fluffy tails covering their faces. 

This is an astute, energy efficient way to trap the heat against their bodies, explains Dr. Susan Whiton, veterinarian and owner of Dream a Dream Iditarod Sled Dog Kennel in Anchorage, Alaska in an interview by the late Dr. Sophia Yin.

Protecting Vital Organs

Sometimes, some things dogs do may be reminiscent of their past, when they weren't fed in shiny bowls and supplied with soft beds and plush pillows. 

If we take a look back in time, we'll see that the ancestors of our domesticated dogs lived in the wild and they were exposed to many predators. 

Sleeping in the nose-to-tail position, not only helped them stay toasty and warm as explained above, but also protected their vulnerable organs from direct exposure to dangerous predators, explains Margaret Gruen, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist working for North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina in an article for Vet Street.

When sleeping curled up in a ball, dogs protect their vital organs.

Need For Security

The nose-to-tail sleeping position in dogs shares some interesting features with the fetal sleeping position in humans with their arms and legs pulled toward the torso: a need for security.

 In humans, this position is associated with people being "tough on the outside and soft on the inside." In dogs, this position may denote something similar, especially if dogs assume this position when it's not a cold day. 

When a dog feels insecure about his surroundings because he's maybe in a new, unfamiliar place and needs some time to acclimate to his new environment, he may revert to this comforting nose-to-tail sleeping position, further adds Dr. Gruen.

 Providing these dogs with a cozy blanket to curl up into may help these fellows feel more secure and protected.

A Need to Burrow

Some dog breeds are more predisposed to sleep curled up in blankets than others. Many of the small terriers, feisty dogs who were selectively bred to "go to ground" chasing and sometimes killing many ground-dwelling critters ranging from rodents to foxes, may be particularly attracted to sleeping curled up in blankets "burrito style."

 Dachshunds, even though they're officially categorized under the terrier category, share many features with small terriers, and among them is their habit of sleeping nose-to-tail under blankets. 

A look back in their history shows that they were once used to hunt badgers, hence why dachshunds have long bodies perfectly engineered to allow them to burrow themselves underground.

Sleeping curled up in a ball under the covers is a Dachshund's favorite sleeping position.

Conforming to Beds

Finally, of course, if you purchase your dog one of those donuts- shaped beds, your dog will have to curl tightly in a ball to conform to the shape of such bed.

 Dogs who decide to sleep in baskets, suitcases or chairs, may also have to keep their legs nicely tucked in to conform to the shape of such objects.

 However, dogs who feel like sleeping with their legs stretched out may figure out a way to still sleep in such beds with their legs protruding out or they may just choose to sleep somewhere else!

Did you know? As much as sleeping in the nose-to-tail position may seem comfy, it comes with a drawback. When dogs sleep curled up in a ball, their muscles are tense and less likely to twitch as they normally do in the REM stage, which is the most restorative part of sleep. 

This position is therefore less relaxing than sleeping stretched out, explains Karen Becker, author and veterinarian at Natural Pet Animal Hospital in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

Do Dog Sleep Curled up in a Ball When Sick?

If your dog normally sleep sprawled out and now, suddenly, he's sleeping curled up in a ball, there may be chances he's feeling under the weather.

Some dogs when sick will curl up to guard an area when it hurts. It's a sort of defense mechanism to protect a vulnerable area and for the dog to wish to be left alone. It could be your dog has a painful joint or maybe an upset tummy. 

Suspect your dog being sick if he's seeking solitude, appears less interested in his surroundings or is acting mopey, shivering and sleeping more than usual. 

Why Does My Dog Sleep in a Ball Next to Me?

Chances are, your dog feels comfy, safe and secure being next to you and that the weather is just right for this sleeping position. If your dog is directly making contact with you, he is likely also absorbing some of your heat and feels reassured knowing exactly where you are, just like dogs who sleep by their owner's feet. 

Now That You Know...

As seen, dogs have their own good reasons to sleep curled up in a ball! If this is one of your dog's favorite winter positions, your dog will likely appreciate having a bed built specifically for his needs. 

So do your dog a favor and gift him with a fluffy donut doggy bed. Your dog will appreciate the raised rims crafted to create a sense of security while also providing your dog's head and neck with support. 

Intrigued by your dog's snowball sleeping position? Then you'll love to read more about your dog's sleeping positions and what they mean.