Decoding your dog's sleep: What their poses reveal

Dogs love to sleep. They spend considerably more time on it throughout the day than humans. Watching them, even briefly, makes it easy to notice that they nap at night and during the day, sometimes several times. Over 24 hours, dogs spend, on average, 12-14 hours sleeping, with the youngest and oldest dogs possibly napping for up to 20 hours.

Like humans, dogs experience different phases of sleep: the REM phase, shallow sleep, and deep sleep. Sleep is extremely important for dogs – it allows them to regenerate and relax. But what do the various positions in which dogs sleep mean?

Adult dogs most often nap in a position resembling the statue of the Sphinx, also known as the lion's pose. Their hind legs are tucked under their body, their front legs stretched forward, and on them rests their head calmly. This position serves dogs for short-term rest, helping them to regenerate. However, dogs remain alert and ready to act in danger.

On the other hand, if a dog curls up into a ball, with its paws and tail close to its body, this indicates that the pet falls into a deeper and longer sleep. Such curling up helps to maintain warmth and feel safer. Often this position can also be observed in homeless dogs.

Puppies and newly born little dogs drift off to sleep in a matter of seconds, and the position they fall asleep in can be completely random. However, how the tiniest dogs arrange their bodies is of great significance.

Feeling safe and loved, a young animal often falls asleep in an open position, exposing the belly. Then, the dogs usually fall into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, a puppy experiencing fear might cover its delicate abdominal area, seeking security. This fear is not always the result of human interactions; it can also be a defence against other animals.