What's the Deal With My Dog Sleeping on Their Back?

Dogs have been known to sleep in some unusual poses. However, your dog's sleeping pattern isn't merely a matter of taste. Sleeping habits indicate a lot about your dog's health and personality. Find out what it means when your dog sleeps on his back and whether (or when) you should be concerned.

As a method of cooling off, they lay on their backs.

Only the paw pads of dogs have sweat glands. They are unable to control their body temperature by perspiration as humans do. During the hot, humid summer months, when dogs are prone to overheating, your dog will have to be creative with how he cools down. The hair covering on the abdomen of most dogs is thinner.

Your dog's blood will flow towards his skin where it is cooler and away from his inner body where it is warmer by laying on his back and exposing his sparsely furred abdomen, in combination with vasodilation (dilation of the blood vessels).

In hot, muggy weather, any dog can overheat, but some breeds and age groups are more vulnerable than others. Puppies and older dogs can't regulate their body temperatures as well as healthy adult dogs, putting them at risk of overheating. Furthermore, brachycephalic breeds, often known as flat-nosed or short-nosed breeds, are flat-nosed or short-nosed breeds (pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, boxers, Shih-Tzus, etc.)

Obese and overweight dogs are more likely to overheat as a result of their excess weight. Because fat tissue isn't particularly vascular, your dog won't be able to cool down as effectively using vasodilation if they have all that additional fluff in the way.

If you see your dog lying on their back more during the hotter months, or if your dog is inclined to overheat, gel-cooled beds can help them cool down. However, if your dog enjoys shredding and eating his bed, as with any bed, proceed with caution. The gel in these particularly designed mattresses has the potential to produce gastrointestinal discomfort as well as a foreign body obstruction.

Comfortable Expressions

Back resting lets your dog's muscles totally relax, preventing them from exerting any more tension or pressure on their muscles and joints. This allows patients to get a good night's sleep without irritating their arthritic joints. If your dog is getting on in years or has early onset arthritis as a result of an orthopedic injury or surgery, an orthopedic, memory foam bed may be beneficial. These unique mattresses allow your dog to sleep comfortably without putting strain on their aching joints or forcing them to sleep on their backs all of the time.

When your dog sleeps on his back, he's letting you know that he's perfectly safe and secure in his environment. Because the abdominal organs are not as well protected as the lungs and heart, lying on one's back might be a dangerous position. Because of how open and defenseless it is, back sleeping is rarely seen in wild dogs or 'outside' dogs. The vulnerability of a dog resting on his back also makes it a submissive position. In social circumstances, dogs often roll over to signal that they are not a threat.

Read next: How does your health suffers when you are not sleeping well?