It's when they feel most secure and comfortable. No wonder they try to replicate that feeling of warmth and coziness with you even after they grow up! Your dog wanting to sleep next to you is also a sign of affection and closeness. It means they like your company and consider you a member of the pack.
Your dog likes to sleep with you.
The fact that they are willing to snuggle with you on the couch is a sign that they feel safe with you and consider you part of their pack. You are part of their inner family circle.
Your dog sleeps with or near you
Sleep is a vulnerable time for your dog. If they sleep near or in bed with you at night, they trust and love you completely and consider you a member of their pack.
There's plenty of research to suggest that sleeping with your dog is good for you. It can reduce stress and depression and even help to lower your blood pressure. But there are also compelling reasons to give your pup a comfy spot of his own. Let's take a closer look at five of them.
If your pup likes to sleep with you, it means they feel secure and comfortable with you. When your dog was a puppy, they cuddled up with their littermates for warmth and comfort, so now they want to do the same with their people.
As social animals, dogs choose the person or people who give them plenty of love, attention, and positive experiences. Let your dog be a dog and enjoy hanging out with and being in that person's presence, whether it's you or someone else. But don't give up on being one of the favorites!
The myth that separation anxiety or aggression in dogs is caused by co-sleeping is just that. A myth.
You may find it too dirty, or you may develop allergies
You'll also want to keep up with your dog's grooming to reduce the amount of fur in your bed. If Fido is suddenly making you sniffle and sneeze, you may wish to hold off on co-sleeping, so that your new sensitivity to your best pal doesn't get worse.
Whether in deep slumber or just resting after a meal or exercise, your dog will always sleep in a place where he feels safe and comfortable. By laying his head on you, your pup shows that he trusts you to give him the protection he needs as he sleeps.
Yes, your dog knows how much you love him! Dogs and humans have a very special relationship, where dogs have hijacked the human oxytocin bonding pathway normally reserved for our babies. When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them.
A dog's number one priority at bedtime is comfort and security. So, if they're choosing to sleep in the same space as you, it's a big sign that they trust you. "Sleeping with the owner in the same room helps minimize fear, anxiety and stress," said Christman.
Some dogs love nothing more than to be as close to us as possible and to be showered with cuddles, while others prefer to simply be in our presence while having their own space. Just as some dogs love ear tickles and others prefer a good belly rub, our dogs will all have their own feelings about cuddles.
Canine companions that follow their humans everywhere are often referred to as “Velcro dogs” because of their desire to be attached to your side. “Dogs are pack animals, and we are their pack,” says Sally Morgan, author and holistic physical therapist for pets and people.
Defining “Love” For Dogs
“If you define love as a long-term commitment—meaning they seek one another out when they're apart, they're happy when they're reunited, they protect one another, they feed one another, they raise their children together—then, of course, non-human animals love each other.”
If your dog has separation anxiety, then sleeping with him could make it worse because he'll never learn how to self-pacify and calm himself down. If you snuggle him at night, he'll likely miss you more during the day and won't be able to find comfort in his own bed or crate.
Sleeping with your dog releases the feel-good chemical oxytocin in the brain, which promotes theta brainwaves that are associated with REM sleep. This means it's likely that you're sleeping deeper when you sleep with your dog. The chemical also mitigates anxiety and stress, which can help you sleep better.
Your Dog May Just Have Other Plans
Sleeping in your bed might be akin to abandoning their post, and they wouldn't want to let you down. Some dogs just don't like the bed. Dogs are den animals, some more than others. They like curling up in a small, enclosed, dark space.
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. A dominant dog may stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place.
How cute is that? While our dogs may look a little bit different than human children, this study shows that their feelings towards us are similar. Just like human children, our dogs look to their “parents” to provide them with feelings of security and reassurance when exploring their environment.
Breaking Eye Contact
In the wild, alphas put betas and omegas in their place with a decisive stare. If your dog breaks eye contact with you first, this is a dramatic sign of them viewing you as the alpha. It also demonstrates that you can discipline your dog with nothing more than a look.
A dedicated dog bed is the best place for your pup to rest their weary head at night. But depending on your dog's personality, there might be other sleeping locations that they prefer, or ways you can make their bed more comfortable. Learn why dogs need their own beds and how you can help your pup get better rest.
It is instinctive for them to feel safe when in close proximity to their pack. Once you bring a dog into your home, you become part of their pack. They enjoy sleeping with you because it makes them feel safe and comfortable. Sleeping together gives dogs an emotional connection to their owners.
Other reasons can include who he initially bonded with, if he likes your bedroom, smells, scents, feeling safe, and personality match. If your pup picks you as the one to sleep with, let's hope he doesn't snore! And, if you notice that he moves around or twitches in his sleep, he may be dreaming.