Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Bums Facing You? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons for This Behavior
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View 1 More +Have you awoken in the morning to the jarring sight of your dog’s butt just inches away from your face? While this may seem like a disgusting occurrence, this behavior is pretty natural.
So, why is your canine companion putting their bum in your face when they sleep? Here’s everything you need to know!
Why Is My Dog Sleeping With Their Butt in My Face?
The number-one reason dogs face their bums toward their owners when they’re sleeping is that they love and trust you. This sleeping position also makes your pup feel safe because they know that you’ve got their back (literally). Moreover, some dogs will do this because they are trying to mark you with their scent.
Here are five possible reasons your dog is facing their bum toward you when they sleep.
The 5 Possible Reasons Why Dogs Sleep With Their Bums Facing You
1. Trust
Your pet will display their trust in you in many ways. One of these ways is to lie with their butt facing you as they sleep. In the wild, feral dogs that lie on their backs open themselves up to potential attacks. If your dog is exposing their vulnerable side when sleeping, they definitely trust you! However, they'll always keep their butt toward your face because they know you’ll protect them from possible threats.
2. Protection
Your pup might be protecting you if they sleep with their bottom toward you. It’s their way of paying you back for all the love and affection that you lavish on them.
By lying with their butt facing you, your pup can keep watch over the room.
3. Ventral Contact
Dogs aren’t huge fans of ventral contact (face-to-face or chest-to-chest). As such, your pet will curl up with their tush toward you. It’s just a more calming, comforting position for them.
4. Avoiding Eye Contact
If your dog is timid, they may sleep with their bum toward you simply to avoid eye contact. This isn’t always a negative behavior. Your pet still needs time to warm up to you. This is especially true if you rescued an abused or neglected dog from a shelter. Give your pet the space they need.
5. Comfort
A simpler explanation for your dog sleeping with their butt facing you is that this position is comfortable for them. They may lie on their side, tummy, or back with their bum facing you just because that's the most comfortable position for them to be in.
Signs to Watch Out For
One potential benefit of your dog facing their bum toward you as they sleep is being able to at least visually examine this part of their body you may not get to see that often. If you notice a foul odor coming from their anus or your pet biting at their rump or scooting it on the floor, something may be up. Take your dog to the vet if:
- They have a flea infestation. Fleas will typically gather on your dog’s rump and near their tail base. Signs of a flea infestation include excessive licking or biting, scratching, red and inflamed skin, hot/bald spots, the presence of live fleas, and dark specks on the fur.
- They may have intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms. Various intestinal parasites can grow to be 8 inches long. Signs may include a bloated stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, presence of parasites in the stool or around the anus, that may appear like small grains of rice or proper worms.
- Their bum area is swollen, red, or sore-looking. Your dog may have anal gland issues or could suffer from anal furunculosis or other health issues affecting this part of their anatomy.
Final Thoughts
Your pup will face their bum toward you when they sleep for a variety of possible reasons. For example, they feel comfy, trust you, or are protecting you. However, if your dog is excessively licking their rump or appears to be ill, take them to a vet right away.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: LarsZ, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
