5 Reasons Why Your Dog Sleeps Next To You
It is likely that you have ever wondered if you are doing right or wrong when your dog sleeps next to you. However, there are more benefits to letting your dog sleep with you than the possible negative consequences.
Regardless of what the owner thinks about it, the dog has his reasons for spending his rest time with the guardian. Next, we explain 5 reasons that make a dog sleep with you.
1. He shows you his love
Through this behavior, your dog seeks to convey the enormous affection he feels towards you. Your warmth and presence transmit security and love to the canine, and at the same time, he seeks to have you close to protect you from all threats. Canids are social animals by nature, so they tend to be in company.
When your dog sleeps next to you, the emotional bonds are reinforced. It has been observed that, even if a dog has a very uncomfortable bed, it will sleep in it if its owners do not convey affection, confidence or security.
2. He feels safe by your side
Another reason why your dog sleeps next to you is because he feels shelter. In general, dogs see their owners as an example to follow and as a protective figure, something even more marked in small breed dogs. For this reason, it is normal for your pet to follow you everywhere and stare at you to know how to act in specific cases.
In contrast, it is important to clarify that the dog will only sleep with the family member who generates the most confidence. This person is the one who interacts the most with the animal and who takes care of its care and feeding.
3. He wants to protect his master
Dogs are pack animals. Therefore, their instinct tells them that they must protect their own. In a domestic setting, it is common to observe that a dog sleeps next to you with the intention of protecting its masters and at the same time feeling protected. This situation has a clear biological basis: sleep is the stage in which man and dog are most vulnerable.
However, dogs are more sensitive and will be able to wake up more easily during sleep than their masters. In this way, they will be more attentive to protect their owners in case something happens or if a stranger approaches the bed where they rest.
4. Look for human warmth
Temperature is another factor that determines your dog’s need to sleep next to you. It is common to observe the desire of your dog to get under the covers or to snuggle very close to you in winter, because mammals are “walking stoves”. When they are placed at our feet under the blankets, they are often seeking to effectively regulate themselves.
Likewise, this behavior is also appreciated when the dog looks for the areas of the house where the sun’s rays fall directly. However, the search for sunlight also has other reasons, such as improved sleep, the absorption of vitamin D and the production of serotonin.
5. Your bed does not like
The level of sleep of dogs can determine their pleasure to sleep or not in a certain place. Similarly, the material and shape of your bed will determine your resting place. For this reason, it is common for your dog to decide to rest on your sofa or in your bed, especially if you are by his side.
In the event that you want to eradicate this situation, it is advisable to acquire a much more comfortable bed or pillow, so that the canine can get used to its new resting place. The change must be gradual, so it is important to put the new bed close to your bed or your sofa and add obstacles, so that the dog does not climb on them.
How good is sleeping with dogs?
Sleeping with your dog by your side does not lead to negative or dangerous situations, as long as some factors are taken into account. First of all, the dog’s state of health must be the best and it must not present pathologies, especially those related to fleas, ticks or skin diseases. Therefore, special care is recommended in the hygiene of the canine, especially after its walks.
In the case of young children, it is good that they sleep with their pet, especially if it is a puppy and your child is somewhat nervous or afraid of the dark. In this way, the child’s confidence and self-esteem will increase over time.
Although it may not sound so relevant, it is also important to consider the size of the bed where you will sleep with your pet. The space should be enough for the sleep to be comfortable and pleasant, without having to worry about someone falling out of bed. If you can’t sleep well with your dog, better let him get used to using his own bed.
As you observed, a dog has different sensations when sleeping next to you and most of them are positive. This act does not generate negative behaviors in the pet, but you have to be careful if the dog already presents certain emotional pictures. If all goes well, the dog will protect you from possible dangers and his affection for his family will be reaffirmed by resting with you.
