Your dog has an entire bed, several cushions, a patch of carpet warmed by the afternoon sun, and possibly a sofa they have claimed through sheer persistence. Yet bedtime arrives, and somehow your ribs become their preferred pillow. Dogs often sleep against their owners because physical contact offers warmth, security, familiarity, and companionship. The behavior can also reveal something about how a dog feels in its home.
That doesn’t mean every sleeping position carries a secret message about devotion. Sometimes a dog wants reassurance. Sometimes your body provides the perfect combination of heat and softness. And sometimes the expensive orthopedic bed you researched for three evenings simply loses to a pair of sweatpants.
