This pose might look adorably cute, but it actually means that your dog is not getting a good night’s sleep when it lies like this. We call this “the belly curl.” Pretty similar to the Superman pose, but this time around – the dog’s legs are completely straight – making it almost look like he is doing some planks.
The belly curl is when your dog sleeps on its belly with its paws underneath or out to the sides, and dogs can’t reach REM sleep because their muscles aren’t completely relaxed. Dogs with a more gentle and shy personality often sleep like this.
The 'Superman' Pose
This is one of the cutest poses a dog can be in; the superman pose. Surely your dog has sometimes come back from a long walk or a run or some very energetic playtime with other dog buddies and has completely crashed, lying on its belly, limbs sprawled out on the floor.
This basically means that your dog has finally reached the point of exhaustion. Puppies do this a lot since it makes it easier for them to quickly pop back up into a standing position and go back to playing for another 10 hours! Check out this guy - he looks so cute in his Superman pose!
The 'Passed Out' Pose
As opposed to the 'dead bug' pose, there is also another position that looks like your dog is passed out. But unlike the dead bug position, which means your dog is comfortable and on cloud nine, this pose may mean your dog is overheating and is quickly trying to cool off.
So, how do you recognize this pose? If a dog's paws are swung across its chest, it's better to just leave them alone and let them get their rest! They'll find a way to cool off alone! Don't worry, he's not passed out in the true sense of the word; he's just "uber-relaxed."
Curled Up Like a Fox
Another endearing position that dogs often assume is when they curl up into a compact ball, resembling a charming little fox. In this delightful posture, their paws tuck snugly beneath their body, and their tail wraps around, even reaching their face. Interestingly, this behavior is commonly associated with feeling cold.
Dogs instinctively adopt this curled-up stance as it aids in conserving their body heat. By compacting themselves tightly, they minimize the surface area exposed to the chilly air, allowing them to retain warmth more efficiently. If you spot your furry companion sleeping in this cozy position at home, a simple gesture of kindness would be to provide them with a soft blanket to further cocoon themselves in comfort and warmth.
Dogs Sleeping Back to Back
We've domesticated dogs so much that we often forget where they came from, and the fact that they're 'pack' animals. We're reminded of this every time we see two dogs getting along or exhibiting 'pack' behaviors around each other. For example, when they sleep back to back.
Apart from being incredibly cute, this is something a dog will only do with another member of what they consider to be their 'pack,' a dog they completely trust. At the end of the day, dogs look out for one another and will watch each other's back, and sleep against each other's back too.