It’s been very common for a dog to lie between the owner’s legs. Sometimes it makes the dog feel good, and sometimes it becomes a reason to feel uncomfortable. So, is it a good habit or a bad one? Why does my dog lie between my legs? Read below to know!
Possible Explanations for Why Your Dog Lays Between Your Legs
There are so many different reasons that work on different dogs. Sometimes dogs do that to feel comfortable, and sometimes they do it when feeling fearful. Let’s see six reasons in detail:
1. For Your Protection
A dog usually lays between the owner’s legs to protect its owner from any type of danger. It’s totally normal. By doing that, they feel more comfortable knowing that their owner is with them and that he can instantly protect them from any type of occurrence. It also helps protective dogs sleep well.
2. Feels Comfortable
Another common reason for the sleeping dogs between the owners’ legs is that they feel more safe and comfortable. The dog feels assured that its owner is with him and won’t leave him.
3. Anxiety
When a dog feels anxiety, they prefer to stay close to their owner to reduce their stress. There are so many reasons for anxiety that can make a dog mute. So, if your dog is feeling anxious, they can lie between your legs and you have to let your dog do this to make him feel good. If you don’t like it, you still have to keep trying to make your dog normal first.
4. Feels Fear
When a dog feels fear for his owner or for himself/herself, they don’t want to be alone at that time. For that reason, a dog can sleep between your legs too. This is also a common thing. At this time, you must give support to your dog and also do not leave your dog alone. Otherwise, it can seriously impact the dog’s normal behavior.
5. Showing Love
Dogs are very faithful to their owners and love to appreciate everything they get from them. There are so many ways a dog can show affection to their mom or dad. And sleeping between legs can be one of them. So, if your dog is putting his head between your legs and staring at you, then he/she might want to show you that he/she loves you. So, accept it gently and let your dog sleep between your legs if you do not feel uncomfortable with it.
6. For Jealous
If you have more than one dog in your house, then you might be familiar with dog jealousy. As dogs love their dad or mom so much, they feel jealous when they see you are taking care of other dogs. To get more love, your dog prefers to stay with his/her owner. For that reason, a dog can lie between your legs too. So, if that’s the case, you must show your love to your dog in equal measure.
Is It a Good or Bad Habit?
Usually, most dog owners accept and love that moment when their dog lies between their legs. And it should be because it’s a sign of faithfulness and appreciation. Sleeping between your legs is totally OK and not a bad habit in most cases.
But if your dog sleeps between your legs continuously when they see you sitting or sleeping, then it might be a bad habit. Sometimes the dog owner feels it is difficult to sleep at night, and sometimes it can distract you while working.
In short, sleeping with a dog between your legs is totally OK if this is not regular.
How to Discourage Your Dog From Sleeping Between Your Legs?
As a continuous sleeping habit between your legs can ruin your sleep and it can hurt your dog too, sometimes it becomes important to discourage your dog from sleeping between your legs. Additionally, it can hamper your productivity while working.
If your dog does not sleep between your legs regularly, then it is OK. Your dog sometimes does this for mental support. But as a sleeping habit, you must discourage your dog from sleeping between your legs. Let’s see some steps to stop your dog from sleeping between your legs:
1. Gently Push Away
If your dog is sleeping between your legs, gently push him away and tell him “no.” It will make your dog understand that you don’t like it.
2. Move Around Frequently
Your dog will not be able to fall asleep as a result of this. By doing that a few times, your dog will change his sleeping place.
3. Block With a Pillow
When your dog persistently tries to sleep between your legs, try to block him off with a pillow or other object. Your dog won’t get his desired leg space for sleeping, and later he will have to choose another place for sleeping.
4. Use a Crate
Make your dog’s crate comfortable by decorating it as well as making it softer by using a pillow and practicing your dog sleeping inside the crate. If you manage to do that for a few weeks, your dog will feel more comfortable sleeping inside the crate instead of sleeping between your legs.
5. Establish a Routine
A bedtime routine is very helpful for a dog to sleep at the right time and in the right place. Not only the bedtime routine but sometimes walking and playing routines also affect sleep too. So, try to make a routine to have more control over your furry friend.
By following these five steps, you will be able to discourage your dog from sleeping between your legs within a couple of weeks. Sometimes it may take some time, but you have to be a bit consistent.
Frequently Asked Question
1. Do dogs choose to sleep between their loved ones’ legs?
Yes, they do! Some experts believe that dogs may sleep between their loved ones’ legs for comfort and security. It may also be a way for dogs to show their affection and bond with their owners.
2. Do dogs sleep between your legs to tell you that they trust you?
It can be! If a dog does not trust you then he/she won’t come close to you. As there are so many reasons to do that, trust can be one reason to do.
3. Why does my dog just lie between my legs and stare at me?
Appreciation and showing love could be the most possible reason for a dog lying between your leg. As every dog is different, sometime the reason could be different. So, if your dog is lying between your leg and staring at your then your dog may want to tell you that they are grateful for you.
4. Why shouldn’t you sleep with your dog?
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t sleep with your dog. One reason is that it can disrupt your sleep. Dogs are known to move around a lot during the night, which can make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep. Or, dogs can carry germs and parasites that can be harmful to your health. Additionally, if you have allergies, sleeping with your dog can make them worse.
The Bottom Line
It’s common to sleep a dog between your legs for a variety of reasons. Most of the time, this is good, but if this is a habit, then you have to discourage your dog from doing that. We hope your concern about “why does my dog lay between my legs?” is clear now after reading this blog. If you have further queries related to this, let us know in the comment section.