Dogs That Sleep Nose-to-Tail

The nose-to-tail sleeping position is an ideal napping state for dogs. Most dog owners will find that their canine companion has a favorite sleeping position. Some prefer sleeping stretched out, others prefer sleeping on their bellies or curled up nose-to-tail, and then there are the amusing paws-in-the-air back-sleepers. The curled position promotes warmth and safety and all breeds of dogs might use it while napping throughout the day.

  1. Staying Warm

    • Dogs curl up to conserve warmth and stay alert.

      Dogs that sleep in the nose-to-tail position will wake quickly and have not entered the deep sleep stage, according to the ̶0;Dog Lover̵7;s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog.̶1; Sleeping in a curled ball is the best position for conserving body heat. Northern breeds, including Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Huskies and Malamutes, can be seen curled in this position while sleeping in freezing temperatures, according to Dr. Sophia Yin̵7;s animal behavior blog. Their tails curl around and cover their noses, trapping heat against their bodies so the dog is comfortable enough to sleep lightly.

    Staying Safe

    • Guard dogs will use the curled position to stay alert.

      Because the nose-to-tail position requires tensing the muscles to stay curled, dogs that maintain this position will not experience a very restful sleep. Watch-dogs and farm-dogs that need to stay on guard throughout the night might use this position for safety as well as warmth. Since they have not entered a deep sleep, these dogs can remain alert even as they rest and are able to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger.

    Stages of Sleep

    • Dogs go through the same stages of sleep that humans do.

      Dogs go through the same five stage of sleep that humans do. The curled position falls into the first stage of sleep. This is the slow wave stage, where the dog first falls into slumber and lies completely still. The breathing and heart rate slows and blood pressure and body temperature lower during this stage. If the dog finds a more comfortable position in which to sleep, it will proceed through the stages and into the rapid eye movement -- or REM -- state, where it might whimper, paw the air and twitch as it dreams.

    Advice for Owners

    • Restful sleep makes a happy pooch.

      Although the curled position is not an ideal position for deep sleep, there is nothing wrong with your dog enjoying short naps in the nose-to-tail position. If your dog is an outdoor pet, provide it a warm, secure place to sleep so that it can relax into deep sleep when needed. A guard dog that works through the night should be allowed to enjoy some well-earned restful sleep during the day. Adequate sleep is important for dogs to function as happy pets and it is important for owners to provide sleeping conditions that promote healthy sleep.