Why Does My Dog Kick Me When Lying Down? Your dog always looks happiest when she’s near you, within inches of your feet every hour of the day? Although it’s wonderful to know how much she loves you…sometimes we just need some space too.
One aspect of this shadow type behavior is when my pup lies down next to me and nudges at my shins? But what causes her to do that anyways? It turns out, there’s actually a pretty logical explanation for this dog behaviour – one I’m excited to share with all of you!
When my dog lays down, why does he kick me?
Your dog will often kick you with his hind legs when he is sprawled out on the floor or bed. It’s very frustrating, especially when it happens while doing dishes in the kitchen!
According to some animal experts, there are several reasons for this behavior – but one of the most significant causes (especially when dealing with dominant dogs) is that he wants his owner near him all the time, even if he’s asleep.
One reason dogs might kick us while we’re asleep is because they’re feeling insecure, so by keeping ourselves close, they’ll feel safe and won’t be likely to attack again. They also think of themselves as part of our family; so even if a dog sleeps curled up against us or on top of us (whatever), it’s best to stay near them for security purposes.
This can make sleeping difficult at times depending on what kind of sleeper your pet is – but whatever style he or she does prefer, it’s important not to leave them alone when we go off to sleep ourselves!
When dogs are asleep, why do they kick their back legs?
The sleep pattern of one of my two Golden Retrievers is exceptionally active . It’s especially noticeable after a long walk or jog, where she tends to kick violently in her sleep. As you can see in the video on the right, Sylvie kicks at full force immediately upon settling down for a nap.
For the video, I had to edge away from her a bit in order to get a clearer view . What’s also notable is that her dreams don’t only cause her to twitch with just her back legs- but also with all four of them: front paws included.
Occasionally though, we are graced with the sound of Sylvie’s deafening howls. They’re enough to scare anyone who isn’t expecting it – even someone who knows what exactly they’re coming from – given that when she’s awake, she seems like such a sweet pup.
Now though, let me share some more about why your dog kicks you while sleeping – and trust me there’s plenty more where this came from.
Why do dogs kick their back legs when they are awake?
Sylvie can kick me with her back legs about four other ways when she is lying down. She doesn’t seem to even care if she is asleep or not.
Part of a possession marking behaviour of me
And one instance of her being possessive is when she would come and lie next to me while sitting in the living room during the evenings.
She would come up and lie at my feet, turn onto her back and stretch out her legs backwards—a sign that she wanted all of my attention for herself. This behavior was most obvious around other people in the house; it seemed as though there were two distinct sides to Sylve…
Scratching her back
Occasionally Sylvie will kick me while she is lying on her back, but I’m fairly certain this is to help her scratch her back. Usually when it happens there isn’t anyone around so she’ll turn over and kick against my leg before wriggling around until she can find a good spot to scratch herself.
Attention seeking
This is a bit of an odd one because my lovely pup spends much of her time trying to get my attention! But I want to zoom in on one particular behavior in particular. Sylvie tends to play short games of fetch with a ball when we’re at home, and she will kick or nudge me with her back paw if I don’t throw it right away.
Expression of excitement
Sylvie also enjoys rolling around on her back when we’re getting ready for a walk. When I’m putting my shoes or boots on, she’ll run up to me and flop herself over onto her side so that she can get in some good kicks at me. She loves it so much sometimes that she’ll kick the shoe right off my foot!
Being submissive/ anxious
Another one of Sylvie’s quirks that I’ve come to love is how she kicks out with her back paws when she feels submissive towards me. Especially if I’m about to do something that she doesn’t approve of.
For example, ear cleaning – which Sylve absolutely loathes but needs it because once in awhile- and especially since we’re at the beach all summer long- her ears need to be cleaned for some reason or another; usually done by my wife.
As soon as Sylve sees my wife go for the drawer containing all the stuff we use for grooming – sylvie bolts from sight.
Once found, My Wife holds on tight while Sylvie flips over on her back end – whichever leg she deems appropriate for accomplishing this task (either sticking a paw up in submission or kicking against my wifes legs).
Scratching their paws on the floor to mark territory
When out and about, my dog often communicates her need for space by stretching or kicking. One of these instances is when we sit down in public places such as parks – usually coinciding with a relaxing moment during our outing.
My pup typically lies nearby and rolls over to one side while lifting a hind leg high into the air in an effort to mark the spot.
Dogs leave scents on surfaces they’re frequently around so as not to intrude on other packs’ territory; thus, scratching dirt up with their paws after excreting waste is another way of marking turf—although it’s more common for them to use front legs instead of rear ones.
As I’ve focused mostly on why my pet sometimes kicks me while lying down, let’s take this opportunity to look at the many different positions dogs are known for taking throughout rest periods: from laying flat-backed (a favorite) or resting on one side, even curling up in half like cats do…
Dogs commonly lie in what positions?
She kicks while lying on her side or on her back with her belly up, the starring canine on today’s show. However, aside from these types of kicks there are other ways to determine what a dog may be trying to convey.
Ten different sleep positions are identified on this website, each revealing something about the mood of the individual dog.
Side sleeping is popular for animals that feel very content and relaxed whereas those in an upright position tend to make themselves as small as such due both pressure and feeling vulnerable; making Sylvie’s bedtime routine understandable considering it happens frequently during moments where she feels safe.
A common sign of an extremely anxious and high-strung pet is the adoption of what we call stretchy positions. Dogs who experience relocation often take these positions, including on their beds or couches.
I don’t think that this applies to Sylvia but I do wonder if she got this trait from her love for shrinking down inside tight spaces, such as high up on a chair or low down under something else. As a puppy, it’s great! But at age 5 and weighing 60 pounds, being so tightly wrapped up can cause problems – like breathing difficulties.
One position – called the Superman among other names – deserves mentioning here: when one lays oneself out flat with one set of legs extended forward while the opposite set are laid behind them.
Sylvia does not adopt this pose but my wife’s French bulldog does and there’s no denying how comfy he looks doing it.
When I lie down, why does my dog kick me?
It is possible for a dog to kick while laying down for many reasons . I’ve listed seven possible reasons below which may apply to my own dogs. Who doesn’t love an adorable pup dreamily kicking her back leg?
As cute as it is though, nothing matches how endearing it is when Sylvie prods me with her paw so politely to remind me there’s a ball nearby that she wants to play fetch with!
Conclusion
As a dog owner, we hope that this guide helps you understand why does my dog kick me when he lies down? It may occur because of many different factors such as digestion or excitement which are briefly discussed above. Along with the explanation for this behavior problem, there is also a step-by-step guide to solve it.