Why is my dog laying on me all of a sudden

Pet Dog Owner is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Reasons why your dog suddenly wants to sleep with you
Things to consider
What to do about your dog sleeping on you
Understanding the Canine Pack Instincts
Are Certain Dog Breeds More Affectionate?

If your dog suddenly wants to sleep with you, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about it.

So, why does my dog suddenly want to sleep with me? Possible reasons why your dog suddenly wants to sleep with you are that it is anxious, there is an issue with the room it sleeps in, it is fearful of something or that you have inadvertently encouraged it to sleep with you.

Since there are a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become a lot easier to get it to stop doing it.

Reasons why your dog suddenly wants to sleep with you

Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.

Anxiety

The cause could be that something has been causing it to be anxious at night. This would be more likely if it has also been showing signs of being anxious such as pacing or crying at night. It could be the case that it has gotten some separation anxiety which would be more likely if it has started doing it since you have been leaving it alone for longer during the day.

Encouraging the behavior

It might also be the case that it has learned that it gets things that it wants when it sleeps with you. If you tend to give it rewards, when it sleeps with you, such as toys, treats or extra attention, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.

An issue with the room it sleeps in

The cause could also be that there is an issue with the room it sleeps in. The room might be too bright, too loud or too hot. An issue with the room it sleeps in would be more likely if your dog has suddenly started sleeping with you since there was a change with the room it normally sleeps in.

Fearfulness

The cause could also be that something has been causing it to be fearful at night. This would be more likely if your dog has been doing it since a change in its environment such as if you got another pet or if it has suddenly become noisy, at night, outside.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

What else happened when your dog first started sleeping on you

It would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started sleeping with you since there could have been an event that caused it to start doing it. For example, if it started doing it when you got another pet it could be the case that the other pet has been causing it to be anxious or fearful at night.

What is different when it does not do it

If it does not always try to sleep with you at night, it would also help to consider what is different when it does not do it. For example, if it only does it when there are noises such as thunder or fireworks outside, it could be the case that the noises are causing it to be fearful.

The body language it shows

It would also help to consider what sort of body language it shows when it does it. If it shows signs of being anxious such as crying, making itself appear small or hiding behind you, it would be more likely that it is doing it due to something causing it to be anxious or fearful. Whereas, if it is relaxed, when it sleeps with you, it would be more likely that it does it naturally because it feels more secure around you.

What to do about your dog sleeping on you

Below are some things you can do in order to get your dog to stop trying to sleep with you at night.

Avoid encouraging it

As mentioned above, it could be the case that it has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. Instead, it would help to reward it when it sleeps where you want it to sleep and to avoid giving it things such as extra attention when it tries to sleep with you.

Give it another place to sleep

It could also help to give it more options of where to sleep at night. It would also help to ensure that the room it sleeps in is not too hot, bright or loud.

Reduce reasons why it might be anxious

It might also be the case that it has been being anxious at night, it would help to try to limit possible reasons why it has been being anxious. Things you could do would include ensuring that it is able to pee before going to bed and that it can get fed and exercised adequately during the day.

Our favorite: The Dunbar Academy Training Program. If you want a happy and obedient dog, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link

I’ll frequently lie down for a quick nap on the floor, on the back deck, or even on the grass in the backyard, especially if there’s a bit of sunny warmth to enjoy. Inevitably, one of my two seventy-five pound Golden Retrievers lays down with me, wiggling and squirming and pressing until they are as close to me as they can get. For me, as for any real “dog person”, it’s a nice experience. Many others report having experienced the closeness of having their dog lie right against them, or perhaps even on top of them, and many report that their dog leans against them frequently.

Why do dogs lie so close to you? What drives them to want to be so close? All these I-want-to-be-close type behaviours can be explained by considering the real nature of our domesticated dogs, and the fact that all canines are pack animals.

Understanding the Canine Pack Instincts

Next time you have the opportunity, watch a litter of newly born puppies. You’ll notice that when they aren’t nursing or crawling around, they will likely be sleeping in a “dog pile” with their littermates. Right from birth, dogs have the instinct to seek and feel comfort and security by being close to their packmates.

The world can be a frightening, unpredictable place, and being part of a pack makes it all a lot easier.

When your dog cuddles up with you, they are acknowledging that you are a member of its pack. It’s a sign of affection, closeness, and connection, and your ‘furkid’ is saying that it feels safe to be with you. It’s a continuation of the bonding process that began when you and your dog first met each other. Your dog is reassured by your presence and it needs constant confirmation that you are there for him. To provide this reassurance and confirmation, allow your dog to remain close beside you for at least a few minutes, as pushing them away could cause your dog to wonder about your role in its life, especially if it happens repeatedly. Being close to you makes them happy, makes them feel safe, and gives them comfort. Never lose sight of the fact that to your dog, you’re not a human, but rather an odd, two legged member of his pack!

Are Certain Dog Breeds More Affectionate?

While on the subject of canine affection, we were wondering whether there is any evidence that certain dog breeds show more affection to their humans than others. A search of the internet yielded numerous lists, with titles such as “Top 10 Affectionate Dog Breeds”, “The 15 Most Affectionate Breeds”, and even “The 25 Dog Breeds Known to Be Affectionate”. This is no means scientific, but we had a bit of fun reviewing about ten such lists, and came up with the “Top Six”. Here they are, and let the arguments begin: