![\"young](\"https:\/\/bettersleep.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/young-woman-on-bed-cuddling-jack-russell-dog-love-2022-02-09-16-12-48-utc.jpg\")
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If you’re a dog mom or dad, you have probably asked yourself at some point: why does my dog sleep against me? Let us know if you relate – when you crawl into bed at night, ready to relax and get your valuable ZZZs, your four-legged child hops up into bed, blatantly ignoring all of the open real estate on your mattress, and snuggles right up to your legs, torso, even your head! If you\u2019re relating to this scenario, you are not alone. Canine sleep snuggling, it seems, is a thing, and today\u2019s post explores why dogs exhibit this behavior and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Unless you have many dogs in your household, it\u2019s easy to forget that your faithful furry companion was probably born in a pack. Therefore, by nature, dogs’ behaviors are often guided by this innate pack instinct – sleep security notwithstanding.<\/span><\/p>\n What do we mean by sleep security? It\u2019s when dogs seek comfort and security from their packmates during sleep, which is when they are highly vulnerable. Have you ever watched a litter of puppies sleep? You\u2019ll notice it\u2019s usually in one big, adorable furry heap. Wild dogs exhibit similar behaviors, opting to sleep in small, confined areas with pack members they trust to protect against predators.<\/span><\/p>\n When your dog sleeps right next to you, he is demonstrating trust in his \u201calpha\u201d human. Your immediate presence provides the security and comfort pack dogs instinctively seek during slumber.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Aside from sleeping next to you like velcro, there are quite a few other signs that your dog not only loves you intensely but also trusts you implicitly. The trust-building with your fur baby began the moment you met. However, it can take hours, days, or weeks for a dog to fully trust its two-legged pack members, especially if they are a rescue.<\/span><\/p>\n Following are other signs your dog trusts you:<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking of dog sleeping positions, let\u2019s sidetrack from your dog\u2019s adoration for a minute to learn what sleeping positions indicate your dog is feeling – because you know how much we like to talk about sleep! Have you ever wondered why your dog sleeps in certain positions? Here\u2019s the scoop:<\/span><\/p>\n Right, back to your dog\u2019s loving behavior. Let\u2019s talk about imprinting. Although imprinting may trigger shirtless Jacob Black memories, werewolves aren\u2019t real, so just forget about that particular piece of literature for the sake of this discussion. Imprinting, however, is real; however, it\u2019s exclusive to some bird species, and the technical term is \u201cfilial imprinting.\u201d For example, ducks imprint on whoever they see first once hatched, which is usually the momma duck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, dogs exhibit similar behavior, but bonding is a better description of the process, as it happens over time rather than immediately. Also, it can happen with more than one human, unlike filial imprinting. The behaviors we bulleted earlier are all sure signs your dog imprinted on you, and you are their family and protector.<\/span><\/p>\n The love between a dog and its human is pure and built on trust. Although you aren\u2019t a dog like them, you are the alpha, so your dog will look to you for guidance and reassurance. You are a team, a pack, and you provide each other with comfort and security, both physically and emotionally.<\/span><\/p>\n So, the next time your dog crawls into bed and unabashedly invades your space, let it happen for a few minutes. It’s one of the many signs your dog trusts you! So, although it may not be the most comfortable for you, by allowing your dog to snuggle and cuddle before gently redirecting them, you’re demonstrating your love and trust in return.<\/span><\/p>\n Cheers to better sleep and the love of our four-legged companions, friends!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you’re a dog mom or dad, you have probably asked yourself at some point: why does my dog sleep against me? Let us know if you relate – when you crawl into bed at night, ready to relax and get your valuable ZZZs, your four-legged child hops up into bed, blatantly ignoring all of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5911,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe pack mentality.<\/span><\/h2>\n
How do I know my dog loves me?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Do dogs imprint? Is that why my dog sleeps against me? <\/span><\/h2>\n