Dog owners love it when their pet canines cuddle, snuggle, and get close to them as much as possible. If you’re one of these dog owners, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. However, if you’re a sensitive sleeper and your dog sleeps between your legs every night, it can be a problem.
If you want to stop your dog from sleeping between your legs, there are a few simple things you can do. But first, you need to understand why your pet might be sleeping between your legs in the first place.
Related: Why does my dog sleep on my pillow?
Possible Reasons Why Your Dog is Sleeping Between Your Legs
There are many possible reasons why your dog may be sleeping between your legs. Let’s try to see what could be causing this behavior:
1. Security
Dogs love being close to their primary caregiver, and that’s you. Your legs might provide a safe place for your dog to sleep in, as well as gives them a good indicator if you’re about to leave. They might feel the most comfortable when they’re in this position.
2. Protection
Dogs are protective of their owners and sleeping between your legs could be his way of being on guard for you as you’re asleep. Dogs are pack animals and the behavior could also mean they’re trying to protect their pack leader, which is you.
3. Fear
If there are other people or animals in the house, they could be fearful of them so your dog is sleeping between your legs to protect themselves. Or, they could also be fearful of their surroundings, such as when you recently moved into a new home or you’re on vacation and you’re staying in a hotel. Dogs can also be fearful when there is loud noise or fireworks, and so they sleep between your legs for comfort.
4. They’re Being Affectionate
Some dogs are naturally affectionate and love to cuddle. Sleeping between your legs could just mean they’re trying to be more affectionate with you, or want to cuddle with you more.
5. Natural Burrowing
Dogs naturally burrow, which is the act of staying in a safe, comfortable spot that resembles a den. After all, dogs are den animals and they love the feeling of being under the warmth of a blanket. Sleeping between your legs ensures your dog that will be sleeping under a blanket tonight.
6. Separation Anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety could also sleep under your legs to feel close to you. Their attachment and longing for you when you go to work or when you’re not home could give them the desire to stay as close to you as possible when you’re home.
7. You May Have Accidentally Trained Your Dog
If you rewarded your dogs with treats for sleeping between your legs, you may have inadvertently trained your furry friend to do the behavior.
How to Stop Your Dog From Sleeping Between Your Legs
If this behavior is bothering you or your sleeping habits are interrupted because your dog is all over your legs when you lie in bed, there are simple things that you can do to stop the behavior.
Here are some tips to try:
1. Buy a Dog Bed
If your dog doesn’t have a designated dog bed, then maybe it’s time you buy one. Giving your pet canine his very own comfortable spot to sleep in and feel safe may be the solution. Consider the award-winning memory foam dog bed manufacturer Paw, which has a patent-pending technology that provides a warm, cozy, and functional selection of dog beds.
2. Retrain Your Dog
If you’ve accidentally trained your dog to sleep between your legs, it’s time you avoid rewarding him when he cuddles between your legs. Give him a treat instead whenever your dog attempts to sleep in his dog bed. The more you train him with positive reinforcement, the more he will associate his spot to something positive.
3. Hire a Dog Trainer
If all else fails, it might be time to hire a dog trainer who can help develop a new behavior that will make your pet want to sleep in his own bed, rather than between your legs.
If the cause of the behavior is a recent move, a new addition of a family member, or the fear of fireworks and loud noises, don’t worry, they’ll eventually stop sleeping between your legs once they get to know the new member of the family or once they’ve adapted to your new home.
The Bottom Line
There are many reasons to explain why your dog may be sleeping between your legs. The key is to figure out what could be causing the behavior, and take the necessary steps to correct the behavior.
Related: Why does my dog sleep so much
