Many people have a strong opinion about why Border Collies sleep on their backs. One popular theory is that they are just too lazy to turn over, or they like the view of their paws while they snooze. Another idea is that it helps them cool down in hot weather. Or perhaps it’s because sheep prefer this position and the dogs want to be more comfortable with them? Whatever the reason, there are many theories as to why Border Collies sleep on their backs!
This blog post looks into the reasons why Border Collies tend to sleep on their backs.
5 reasons why Sleep is Important for Your Collie
There are many reasons why sleep is so important to dogs. As well as being a way for them to heal muscle, recover from illness and injury, and retain memory it also provides them with time for mental development. The first years of a dog’s life are spent playing and learning through play. The first few months that a puppy is at home with you they will spend a lot of time sleeping in short bursts. As they grow up and develop muscle memory, behaviour, and cognitive skills it is important for them to have enough shut-eye in order to make the most out of this development.
Muscle Repair
As a dog’s muscle heals through the night its body utilizes this time to build muscle back stronger and better than before. Just as you would need your beauty sleep, your collie will benefit from getting enough rest for muscle recovery too.
Improved Concentration
As you probably know already, concentration is crucial for a dog to be able to do its work. A well-rested dog’s concentration is improved allowing them to carry out tasks more efficiently and with better accuracy.
Border collies are very intelligent dogs that learn through experience. This means that they need time for mental development. Sleep allows them to process the events of the day and learn from their experiences so that they can apply this knowledge in future situations.
When a dog is asleep the brain triggers memories that are kept safe for future recollection. Learning during sleep strengthens memory retention, meaning that your collie will be able to recall things more easily.
Low Mood
A dog’s temperament is largely influenced by its sleeping habits. If they are not getting enough sleep they can become unhappy, dull, and grumpy. This will improve when you improve your dog’s sleeping habits.
Overall, it’s obvious that dogs need adequate time for resting in order to speed up the process of healing, improve concentration and memory retention and improve their mood.
Social Interactions
There are social benefits to sleep. When your collie sleeps they can learn social boundaries and behaviour too. When sleeping, your collie is able to process social interactions that they have had. This means that by the time they wake up they will be aware of social limits so you can avoid social awkwardness.
There are some social behaviours that dogs learn only while asleep. These important social cues are missed if your dog spends too long awake without sleep.
The social benefits of sleep have been observed in the animal kingdom by those studying social hierarchies. It has been observed that those animals which do not get enough sleep are more likely to experience social challenges as a result of social confusion. In other words, if your collie does not get enough sleep it will be less able to read social cues and social challenges in the home may become social conflicts.
Therefore, social interactions between your dog and you will be improved by sufficient sleep time for social development. Contrarily, social interactions with other dogs (and humans) could be compromised by lack of sleep, so it’s always a good idea to get your Border Collie to sleep early if you are seeing the above.
Improved Athletic Performance
You may have seen athletic dogs sleeping on their backs before. This is because they are taking advantage of the blood flow which helps them to heal muscles after athletic training sessions. The athletic benefits of sleep are not limited to injury recovery however, improved athletic performance can be achieved through getting enough shut-eye.
When you sleep, your body eliminates hormones that promote athletic development. These beneficial chemicals are released in response to the brain’s recalling past sports experiences. Since your Border Collie is an athletic dog, athletic activities will become more difficult if they do not get enough sleep to benefit from these crucial natural chemicals.
That’s why athletic performance is improved by sleeping, as well as athletic recovery after athletic activity.
How Much Do Border Collies Sleep?
What’s the average length of time that a Border Collie sleeps?
The average amount of time a border collie sleeps in a 24-hour period is between 12 and 15 hours. Border collies sleep more than average, due to their high energy levels.
How Long Before Border Collie Puppy Sleeps Through the Night?
How long before a puppy sleeps through the night varies. Some border collie puppies can sleep through the night after 1 month, while others need several months to reach this milestone.
Border collies are not nocturnal, because they aren’t active at night, but instead during the day. Many people believe that border collies are nocturnal because they have high energy levels during the night, but this is simply not true.
Border collies sleep more during the day than at night. Since they are most active during the day and require a lot of exercise throughout the day, it makes sense they would sleep more during the day than they do at night. Keeping them active may result in your Collie puppy sleeping more during the night, especially when a good night’s sleep is important for their health.
Where Should Border Collies Sleep?
Where a border collie sleeps depends on the owner and preferences. Some owners like to let their dogs sleep in bed with them, while others prefer to keep their dogs off of the furniture.
If you want your border collie to sleep on your bed, it’s best to introduce him or her slowly to the idea. This means letting them sniff your bed, allowing them to lay on it for very short periods of time before rewarding them with praise. Once the dog is comfortable with the idea, they will naturally want to sleep on your bed, because that’s where you’re sleeping.
It may take several nights before your border collie sleeps through the night in bed with you. They’re used to getting up at night and going outside, but if you want them to stop eventually, don’t let them out as they wake you up. Eventually, your Border Collie will understand that it’s bedtime when you go to sleep.
If your border collie sleeps on the couch or chair, it’s important that they not be allowed to sleep there all the time. If they’re allowed to sleep on the furniture, they may begin to see it as their space and will be more difficult to train them not to do so.
Instead, train your dog that sleeping on the couch or bed is only permitted when you want them there. This makes it easier for everyone involved because then they know that it’s a special time for them to get on the couch.
If you let your border collie sleep with you, make sure they don’t take up too much space on the bed. A large breed like this may be difficult to share a bed with comfortably. If your dog is taking up most of the bed, try either training them to sleep on their own bed instead or getting them a larger bed.
If you are wondering whether letting your Border Collie sleep in your bed is a good idea, the answer is that it depends on you. If you are able to let your border collie sleep in your bed, then there aren’t any negative consequences. However, if sharing your bed with a large breed will be too difficult for you, try allowing them to have their own bed instead. This way they can still spend time with you during the day but have their own space when they are sleeping at night.
Can Collies Sleep Outside?
Border collies are not outdoor dogs. They do not have the appropriate coat to be outside for extended periods of time, and it is bad for their health. This is regardless of whether they are a border collie puppy or border collie adults.
This is where many people misunderstand border collies’ behavior. They see them outside, running through the fields, and cannot comprehend why anyone would keep them inside. However, it is important that they sleep indoors.
Collie Puppy Sleeping Habits
Everyone loves pictures of cute puppies, but no one can deny that they seem to sleep so much. This is especially true for Border Collies, who are known as the “Genius” breed for how quickly they learn and their energy level. With all this learning and energy, it’s no wonder why the average collie puppy sleeps up to 15 hours a day. Border Collies love their sleep!
Even though they are sleeping, these puppies are learning so much every minute of the day. If you have ever wondered why do collie puppies sleep on their backs, it might have something to do with sleeping habits Collies pick up from their mother at a very young age.
When puppies are first born, they can not see or hear. Instead, they rely on their mother’s sleeping habits to learn how to behave themselves. For example, when puppies are sleeping alongside their mother, she might get up and move around the den. The puppies quickly learn that this means it’s time for them to wake up and feed from her. This continues until all of the pups have learned what sleeping and feeding schedules look like.
This sleeping pattern is called a “moving den.” In collie puppy sleeping habits, this means that puppies learn how to sleep with one eye open so they can be aware of their surroundings even when sleeping. This benefits the collie by making them more aware and better problem solvers as they grow older. Border Collies sleeping on their backs might be a sleeping habit from their mother sleeping with her belly up.
So the next time you look at a sleeping puppy, remember that they are not as innocent as they seem. They are learning and developing very quickly. In fact, collie puppies have been known to learn how to open doors within just a few days of birth.
It might be the sleeping position of the mother that causes a collie puppy to lay on its back when sleeping, but it is also a sleeping pattern they adapt from being around their littermates, especially where they sleep on their backs with their paws in the air. In fact, sleeping habits are developed within the first few weeks of life and will stick with them for as long as they live. In some cases, sleeping positions can last a lifetime.
This is why it’s important to be mindful of what sleeping positions your puppy is in, especially when they are sleeping around other people or animals. Once sleeping habits have been established, they will stick around unless you break them yourself. So the next time you see a sleeping Border Collie puppy on its back, you know why they are sleeping this way.
How To Help Your Collie Puppy Sleep
Follow these steps to help your collie sleep better, especially when you want them to enter into that deep sleep:
- Don’t allow your border collie puppy to play in the evening before going to bed. If you must play with them, try doing it an hour or more before they go to sleep when their energy levels are at their lowest.
- Create a sleep regimen. Collies are creatures of habit, so they appreciate having a routine to follow. Try establishing regular feeding and bedtime procedures with your puppy and assisting him or her in falling asleep more easily each night.
- Maintain a suitable temperature for the enclosure in which you are keeping them. If you want to help your border collie’s sleeping habits, make sure the sleeping area is at least 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
4 . Make sure there are no sources of stress or anxiety in their sleeping environment. When Collies are attempting to sleep, they prefer peace and quiet, so make certain that they have a peaceful environment free of outside noise.
- Make a cozy sleeping area for your collie to help them sleep better at night. When they are attempting to go asleep, make sure there are no draughts or other elements that might be causing them stress or discomfort.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reason that Border Collies sleep on their backs might have to do with sleeping habits they pick up from their mother when they are very young. Though they might look innocent in this position, they are actually learning and developing very quickly. It is important to be mindful of your puppy’s sleeping positions, especially when they are around people or other animals. If you follow these steps, they will be able to sleep better and their sleeping patterns will improve.
I hope this blog post has been helpful for you and that you’re now more knowledgeable about Border Collies sleeping on their backs!