Why Do Dogs Lay On Their Back

One of the ways dogs communicate with other dogs is through body language.

Why do dogs lay on their back. Sleeping safely some dogs just like to sleep on their backs. When a wolf comes across an unusual or different smell it often will roll in it. In the wild dogs worry about predators and they sleep belly down in order to protect themselves and so they can get up quickly in case dangerous predators come to harass the pack. Their greater security concerns are likely responsible for an unwillingness to bare all.

There are several reasons why your dog is exhibiting this behavior including. Some dogs simply like to sleep on their backs and that usually means they are comfortable around their owners. Some dogs actually sleep on their backs with their legs sticking in the air and this shows that they are totally at ease in their environment and at their most comfortable. A safe secure feeling dog is not worried about being belly up to the world.

The primary reason they do it however has to do with their ancestry not as snakes but as wolves. You may see some dogs stretched out with their legs in front of their heads and kicked back behind their butts. Unlike the spot under your bed this one is extremely close to you which can mean that you and your dog. It has long been believed that the dog on his back is being submissive and this is his way of telling the other dog that he isn t a threat.

Attention getting scratching an itch showing their confidence regulating body temperature submissiveness luring in prey obsessive behavior. A dog who is lying on his back during play with another dog might be communicating a number of things. Iin the hot humid months of summer when dogs can easily overheat your dog has to get creative with how he cools down. However more recent research suggests there are other meanings to this behavior.

Again this is a sign of trust and confidence in you as their alpha as they re willing to sleep in their most vulnerable position with their muscles completely relaxed. Laying on their back as a cool down tactic dogs only have sweat glands in their paw pads. This is sometimes referred to as the superman position. In the wild dogs like all animals worry about predators and so protect their bellies by sleeping on them.

After all to offer up one s soft underbelly when you re already at your most defenseless is not exactly in a predator s best interest much less in his nature. It uses your dog s body heat to warm the bed a nice sleeping option for a cold night.