We all know that position in which people sleep says something about how they feel, their personality and even the state of their health. But what about our furry friends? Does their sleeping position say something about them too? Let’s take a look.

Side Sleeping

The most common sleeping positions for dogs is on their side with their legs flayed out. While it’s rare to see dogs in this position during the daytime, they will often migrate to it during the night.

Side sleeping means two things. One, it says that your dog feels exceptionally relaxed and doesn’t mind being in a vulnerable position. And two, it indicates that your pooch is enjoying a deep sleep, not just snoozing.

If you see your dog’s muscles twitching, it is a sign that he or she is dreaming. Sometimes, you’ll also see them yawning or moving their mouths in this position.

The Doughnut

Besides being one of the best dog treats UK, the doughnut is also a common sleeping position. Here, the dog curls around so that its nose touches its tail.

If you go to a dog shelter, almost all dogs sleep in this way. Researchers think that it is a technique that they use to protect themselves against perceived threats in the environment. Curling around protects the dog’s delicate face and underbelly.

Of course, many dogs sleep in the doughnut position even when they are not in danger. It may, therefore, also be a way that dogs regulate their temperature. If the weather is cold, dogs curl up in a ball, but if it is warm, they stretch out their legs to regulate their temperature and cool off.

The Lion Pose

The lion pose is where your dog is still upright but crouched down so that the knees and elbows are in contact with the floor with the front paws resting out in front, near the nose.

If your pooch is in the lion pose, he probably isn’t asleep. Most dogs adopt this position when they are just resting, according to Stanley Cohen, author of “Do Dogs Dream?” It means something like, “I’m happy, but I am going to close my eyes now because it feels nice.”

The Superman Position

The Superman position looks a bit like the lion pose at first glance, but on closer inspection, it’s very different. The dog is still lying on its stomach, but this time, the shoulders are rotated forwards so that the elbows are out in front, not underneath. For the hind legs, it is the same. The dog turns the hips so that the legs stretch out flat on the floor behind – a bit like Superman flying through the air. Biomechanical differences in larger dogs mean that they are less likely to adopt this position.

Researchers are still figuring out why dogs sleep in this position, but they think that temperature regulation is again involved. Placing the limbs further away from the body allows the dog to cool off by exposing them to the cooler air.