If you have a furry friend, you’ve likely seen them fall asleep in all sorts of ways all around your home. But did you know that their sleeping position can actually tell you about what they are thinking and feeling?

While dogs can’t communicate with us verbally, we can look for telltale signs in their behavior to ensure our pets are feeling safe and loved at home. Their sleeping positions are little hints that give us an idea on how they are doing. Keep reading to learn about sleeping behaviors of dogs, how much sleep your dog needs, and what their sleeping position says about them.

Dog Sleeping Behaviours

When your dog is in deep sleep, you may notice them snoring, twitching, or sometimes even barking. While it may seem surprising, it’s actually a normal occurrence that can clue you in to how well they are sleeping. For example, dogs twitch in their sleep as they move between stages of sleep, just like humans do.

Another common sleeping behaviour for dogs is to circle around their bed before lying down. This behaviour actually stems back to their ancestors, wolves, who circled around their sleeping area to clear the space of leaves, earth, snow, or any other natural habitation that may inhibit how comfortable their sleep is.

How Much Sleep Should My Dog Get?

Many dogs sleep around 12–14 hours per day, but this number can vary based on the individual dog. Some dogs require more sleep, while others can fare on less. Typically, after a busy day of exercise, your dog will need some recovery time and will sleep longer.

Understanding your dog’s sleep is a great way to stay clued in to how your pet is feeling. It’s important to be in tune with your dog to ensure that they are happy, healthy, and satisfied. To help give you an idea of what your dog’s sleeping position means, check out the graphic below on the 10 most common sleeping positions for dogs.