{"id":1947,"date":"2022-08-08T16:08:36","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T22:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/salt-lake-city-dog-training\/?p=1947"},"modified":"2025-05-03T11:03:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T17:03:45","slug":"why-does-my-dog-need-to-sleep-touching-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/salt-lake-city-dog-training\/why-does-my-dog-need-to-sleep-touching-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does My Dog Need to Sleep Touching Me"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you ever climb into your bed at night after a long and tiring day to find your dog follows you in to curl up next to you and snore loudly in your ear?<\/span><\/p>\n

Our pets love to follow us all day, so why not be close at night too?<\/p>\n

It might be because they are drawn to the body heat or warm comfort of their owner. Or it may just be their cute way of taking over your comfy bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Either way, some indescribable security is felt when your furry friend crawls up next to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may ask yourself, why do they insist on stretching out their paws all over your face and pillows?<\/span><\/p>\n

Other dogs latch onto their parents at night because they need to receive attention or to show affection. This article will dive into why our pets love to sleep touching their owners!<\/p>\n

Protective furry friends enjoy trotting along with pet owners as bodyguards whenever they can, but at night when sleeping, they need reassurance their human is okay.<\/p>\n

(See Why Well-Trained Dogs Are Closer With Their Owners<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Why Does My Dog Sleep So Close to Me?<\/span><\/h2>\n

So why is your dog so intent on sleeping in your room? Wouldn\u2019t they prefer to roam around the house freely or take up all the space on the couch while you\u2019re not looking?<\/span><\/p>\n

This may be explained by dogs’ natural instincts to shelter together, coming from what we know about wolves and wild dogs<\/span><\/a>. Cozying up in dens was a way to guarantee a certain level of protection, security, and warmth.<\/span><\/p>\n

It provides them with a reliable place to lay their head and sense safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

This desire to sleep with you is likely a natural instinct to stay close for safety and security. You are the head of the household or of certain authority to your dog; they feel the most secure in your presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protective Instincts<\/h3>\n

Dogs are naturally inclined to protect their owners, so they like being able to know we’re there and safe. Being able to have some sort of physical connection gives them a sense of reassurance. Dogs with protective instincts tend to sleep facing the door or window to monitor surroundings while keeping a paw or resting their head on you.<\/p>\n

Attachment<\/h3>\n

According to the AKC<\/a>, Dogs are highly sociable animals that prefer to be around others, so they might latch onto you for comfort and security. Pets also find sleeping much comfier and roomier in the human bed than in their dog beds. Dogs tend to use cuddling to show affection and adoration for their parent. Pets like to have their own special sleeping spot, which can cause issues if multiple dogs are in bed.<\/p>\n

Separation Anxiety<\/h3>\n

Many pets suffer from separation anxiety from being away from pet owners, causing them to act out when left alone. These pets have much stronger attachments to their parents and touch them while sleeping to ensure they don’t leave. Having your puppy sleep in your bed with you leads to the risk of separation anxiety because your pet can get overly attached to being around you.<\/p>\n

Why Does My Dog Sleep on Me and Not My Significant Other?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some dogs will choose one person to develop a deep and trusting relationship with that breeds comfortability. This means that they gravitate towards you because you\u2019re who they\u2019re familiar with.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that you\u2019ve developed such a relationship with your dog because:<\/span><\/p>\n