Do Dogs Love Being Touched When Sleeping?

Do Dogs Love Being Touched When Sleeping?

We often have a difficult time trying to communicate with our dogs because dogs have different ways of expressing themselves. Other than barking and placing their paws on us, dogs have other different ways of communicating with us. Compared with other pets that we have in our homes, dogs love to be pet very much. All dogs love a good hand massage especially when they are sleeping. Wondering why dogs love being touched when they sleep? We will decipher the mystery today.

Whether it’s a young puppy or your favorite adult dog, they will want you to pet them and keep on touching them whenever they are asleep. If you are a new pet owner and you are trying to understand what your dog is trying to communicate to you, here are some of the main reasons why dogs love being touched when they sleep and what would make them more likely to be the reason why your dog has been doing it.

6 Reasons Why Dogs Love Being Touched When They Sleep

1. Protective Reasons

One of the reasons why dogs love being touched when they sleep is because it makes them feel protected. This is especially the case if the dog becomes overprotective whenever you are around other people or animals.

2. Attention Seeking

Your dog will want you to massage him when sleeping as a way to attract your attention. You might be occupied with work and find that you have less time to spend and interact with your dog. Your dog will do everything to attract your attention. One thing he can do is to sleep next to you so you can feel the urge to touch him. This would be more likely if you tend to give him extra attention if you give in to his trick.

3. It Makes Him Feel Safer

Most dog breeds were bred to stay alongside their owners and feel more secure whenever they have good company. Your dog will therefore sleep next to you or lay on top of you he can feel safer. Doing so makes him feel that he’s got company so he will feel less vulnerable.

4. They Feel Comfortable

Just like we enjoy body massages, dogs also love it when we keep on touching them while they are asleep. When you notice that your dog keeps falling asleep on the couch or your bed, high chances are that he finds such spots more comfortable than his bed. Additionally, if he sleeps with his head placed on your laps, he finds the spot more comfortable.

5. He is Being Affectionate

Dogs have different methods of showing affection towards their owners. He wants you to touch or massage him could be one of the ways of being affectionate. This would be more likely if he tends to get you to rub his back and stomach before going to sleep.

6. He Has Separation Anxiety

Your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety and wants you to touch him as he sleeps so he will know when you are leaving. This would be more likely the case if your dog shows signs of being anxious when you are about to leave. Additionally, if you notice that your dog tends to sleep or lay while touching you during the day, only before you leave the house and not after you have come back home, he could be suffering from separation anxiety.

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Getting to the Root Cause

While it might be difficult to determine why dogs love being touched when they sleep, here is what you need to do to figure to determine the main reason behind his behavior.

• Determine what else happened after you first touched him while sleeping.

If your dog didn’t first touch you when sleeping, you should consider what else transpired after it first started doing it. If you started leaving him alone for longer periods, he could be suffering from separation anxiety. In such a case, you’ll notice that his sleeping touching behavior is a result of separation anxiety.

• Determine what happens if you don’t touch him while he starts to sleep.

If he tends to do it frequently at a specific time, it would also help to consider what the difference in the timing is. If he does it more before mealtime, it would be more likely that he wants you to wake him up when mealtime arrives. Additionally, if he does it more before you leave the house compared with when you come back to the house, he is having separation anxiety and doesn’t want to be left alone.

See Also: Dog Crates for Separation Anxiety

Discouraging the Behavior

Below are some of the techniques to use to train your dog to sleep or lay down in a specific area.

• Make the location you want him to sleep in more comfortable for him. His sleeping spot shouldn’t have moderate temperatures, not too bright at night, quiet and spacious enough for him to lie down snugly. During winter, keep the spot warm and snug.
• Get him to lay down there and reward him for it. Continue to reward him as he continues to lay down there.
• Repeat the process a few times a day until he learns to lay down there without you having to reward him.
• Avoid encouraging the behavior. By doing so, he gets to learn to sleep in his designated spot.
• Reduce separation anxiety. Your dog could be showing this behavior due to separation anxiety. You can help him reduce his anxiety by taking him out for walks in the park, engaging him in exercises and spending more time with him indoors. You can also get him a new dog to give him company whenever you are out of the house.

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Conclusion

Just like we love cuddling, dogs also love when their bodies touched and massaged. They will want you to touch them while sleeping because it makes them feel more comfortable and protected. Depending on your relationship with your dog, you can decide to encourage this behavior or not. If your dog doesn’t want you to touch him while sleeping, you should get him a snug and warm sleeping spot with minimal light and moderate temperatures.