My sheltie Sleeps on her Back - normal or something wrong ?

[sheltiemom]

Dogs who sleep on their backs a dog sleeping on his back with his feet in the air isn't doing it just to be weird. Dogs have less fur on their tummies, so when they are hot, they tend to sleep upside-down, since it cools them off.

And here's one I always suspected. Dogs who lie back to back are bonding with one another. When they lie with their back resting on you, they are bonding with you. This contact shows a desire to be with the other dog or human. It's a way of showing affection.

 

[Jan244]

Spencer often sleeps on his back but he does it year-round. When I'm in the office, the other thing he does is sleep with his head under a piece of furniture. Also if there is an afghan or something similar on the couch, he'll pull it down and get comfy under it, not on top of it. Most of our cats will at times stretch out on their backs usually with their limbs stretched out as far as they'll go. The ones who don't mind always get a tummy rub when they do that.

 

[BarbV]

Romeo loooves to sleep displaying his crown jewels for all to see. It's not always a pretty sight to wake up to when it's right next to your head. He likes to curl up next to our legs, then roll onto his back. When he first started sleeping on the bed though, he must not have realised that the bed isn't boxed in and would roll off onto the floor. Thankfully I placed mattresses all around just in case that ever happened!

I'm glad to read that it's a sign of contentment and security. It makes me really happy that he's happy and feels safe with us.

I had to laugh at this....Bacca has rolled off the bed once or twice as well!

I love it when he sleeps on his back....it just makes me want to reach over and give him a good scratch....which then gets him squirming and wriggling all over!

Ever notice when they sleep on their backs, that their head is usually at a weird angle too! It's like they have to cock their heads at 90 degrees to avoid flop over!

 

[coopersmom]

My Randy is 8 and he sleeps on his back all the time. So cute to get up in the a.m. and see little feet sticking up in the air. Nothing unusual about this.

 

[Chris]

Layla, Annie Laurie and Beckon all like to sprawl. Annie will wake up, roll on her side and glance over her shoulder looking for all the world like the painting "Odalesque."

 

[emmygirl]

Keely does it as well. Legs right up in the air. Usaully she will do this in her crate when she is VERY tired! It is cute!!

 

[Phebe*DD]

Layla, Annie Laurie and Beckon all like to sprawl. Annie will wake up, roll on her side and glance over her shoulder looking for all the world like the painting "Odalesque."

Ah, yes -- the "I can't help it. I was born beautiful." look.

 

[BarbV]

Layla, Annie Laurie and Beckon all like to sprawl. Annie will wake up, roll on her side and glance over her shoulder looking for all the world like the painting "Odalesque."

Yes! The look on her face really is similar to a Sheltie, don't you think? That backward glance over the shoulder and the look in the eye...! It's the "come hither" look.....touch me, rub me, scritch my belly!

 

[terdonal]

Both Bailey and Panda will sleep on their backs when sleeping on the bed with us. Bailey's legs sticking straight up, Panda's legs flopped above her head and below her butt like an upside down stuffed dog.

 

[SuseeQ52]

shelties sleeping on backs

Don't worry, it's normal. 3 out of the 4 shelties we have had love(d) to sleep on their backs.