Dog Sleeping With Leg Hovering In Air

[waterlocke22]

I have a staffy cross who is a year and a half old and over the last few months he's started sleeping on his side with his legs stretched out in front of him and one of his back legs hovered in the air, I know this sounds a bit creepy but everyone makes fun of him coz he has rather large balls, but could this actually be making him uncomfortable because I would rather have him done and nip it in the bud asap if this is causing him pain or discomfort. However I don't want to make him go through all that if that's just the way he likes to sleep!

[kh70]

My dog is a terrier but has a bit of staffy in him and he sleeps the same. He looks so uncomfy but has always done (over 10 years) this so must be fine. I think it is just the way they sometimes sleep also been told in the past that they like to feel the air on thier private parts.

Everybody i know who has a dog and had them castrated have regretted it and wish they had not bothered.

Hope that helps.

[woofgang]

I have had both entire and neutered dogs and bitches and the ones that I have had neutered I have never regretted having done. For one it was because he developed prostate trouble and for my current two it was because they started legging it after bitches regardless of if they were in season or not and by legging it, I mean over a mile or so and crossing roads in the process. As they are big active dogs who need to run, the solution was to neuter and once this was done, their training re asserted itself. You will know if his testicles are causing him a problem because he will show pain, and yes, some dogs do have bigger ones than their size will allow for. Is there a reason why you don't want him neutered?

[viv38]

I had my dog neutered, I had to, he was from the RSPCA and they insist on it, but I've never regretted it. He's always been happy and healthy.

[Baldric]

Our two, both Dobies, often sleep flat on their backs with their legs in the air, we just put it down to the fact that they feel relaxed and not threatened in any way, because it's not a natural position imo.
The rescue one (todays avatar) didn't do it when she first came home (2 and half yrs old) she slept screwed into a tight ball, took her best part of a year to fully relax.

[Octavius]

I think that if you are not going to use him for breeding then the "snip" is a very minor procedure which can benefit the dog, not least because it can lessen the chance of testicular cancer.

Maybe he is sleeping like that at the moment because it is cooler.

[woofgang]

octavius, it "removes" the chance of testicular cancer along with the testicles!!!

[ladybirder]

Well it would wouldn't it. PMSL:-)

[boxtops]

why would you not have him neutered, anyway, waterlocke - unless you are intending to breed from him?

[Brinjal]

I think you should have him snipped but believe me staffies sleep in the most weird positions. Stretched out on their backs sides with legs in air. They are very comical and lovable dogs

[shaneystar2]

Take him to the vet and ask their opinion about his bits .
If you're not going to breed from him then snipping is the best thing . My dear departed Shaney had the snip pronto after we rescued him .
He used to howl at the moon ,and run off at any sniff of a female ...and boy could he run!
Having said that he used to lay on his back with his legs in the air sometimes when asleep and one leg would twitch and hover up and down .Just dreaming ..chasing squirrels :)

[waterlocke22]

Boxtops it's not that I don't want him neutered to be honest I'd never even thought about it until I started worrying about this, it doesn't bother me either way i know i dont want to breed him but that doesn't mean to say i have to shed out for him to be neutured.