Why French Bulldogs Like to Sleep & Burrow Under the Covers


french bulldog sleeps under covers

If your Frenchie is anything like Claude, you will have experienced him or her trying to get under the covers of your bed. Just a small crack is enough to encourage them to burrow into the warmth… and your Frenchie can keep you warm too – like a furry hot water bottle!

Have you ever wondered why your French Bulldog likes to sleep under the covers though? I have, which is why I decided to research into the reasons; here’s what I found out.

Why your French Bulldog sleeps under covers

Burrowing is an instinctive thing for French Bulldogs to do. It’s all down to their heritage as wild wolves, as they cover themselves up for protection whilst sleeping. Behind under something and hidden is far more preferable than being exposed where a predator could easily get at them.

As well as this warm nest environment, French Bulldogs also consider us humans part of their pack. If you can imagine how wild wolves would all gather in a cave or den and sleep together to keep warm and safe… well, that’s just what your Frenchie is doing under the covers with you!

So, the next time your French Bulldog sleeps under the covers, take it as a compliment. It’s a sign that they see your bed covers as being a safe and protected place to be.

Plus, your warm bed and body is bound to be far too cosy to resist. What dog wouldn’t want to burrow under the bed covers for a well-earned sleep?

Why does my Frenchie sleep between my legs?

You might also have a French Bulldog who like to sleep under the covers and then get in between your legs. They are also inclined to do this above the covers too, but why?

Well, firstly, everyone knows how affectionate this breed is. They will love you unconditionally and also love to have cuddles… and this is extended with their love of sleeping between your legs.

And secondly it goes back to the pack behavior I mentioned earlier. Dogs are pack animals so seek comfort in others when they sleep. In fact, our Frenchie even sleeps with our cat as you can see in the photo below!

frenchie sleeping with cat
Our Frenchie will sleep with our cat when we don’t let him sleep under our bed covers!

This pack bonding starts when Frenchies are puppies and continues into adulthood – By sleeping between your legs, your French Bulldog is showing that he loves and trusts you.

Sleeping under the covers could mean anxiety

However, some dogs will seek to hide and burrow under bed covers or get between your legs when they are anxious or afraid. If you Frenchie is showing any other anxiety signs in addition to the burrowing, make sure you talk with a vet.

What does the circling and padding before sleep mean?

If you see your Frenchie padding the bed sheets and walking around in circles, then this is probably rooted again in their heritage.

Dogs walk around in circles before they go to sleep in order to makes things comfortable. When they were wild animals, they would pad and walk around grass to flatten it down, before bedding down for the night.

Is it ok for my Frenchie to sleep under the covers?

Some owners will be worried about their French Bulldog burrowing and sleeping under the covers. What with their breathing issues, it’s a concern that they might get too hot and restrict their airways… you might also risk sitting on them if they are really well hidden under the bed clothes!

But don’t be too concerned. It’s perfectly fine for a Frenchie to sleep under the covers, and the moment they get uncomfortable then will move into a better position where they can breathe; they aren’t stupid!

why does my Frenchie sleep under the covers
Our Frenchie loves to sleep under the covers, even if he doesn’t look too happy in this photo!

The only real risk I can think of is the not knowing your Frenchie is under a blanket, and possibly injuring them. There’s also a chance that Frenchie puppies might not be strong enough to escape from under a heavy blanket, so give them a lighter sheet instead.

Should I let my Frenchie sleep in the bed with me?

This is a common question, with people sitting on both sides of the fence, and usually being quite vocal about their preference!

The PetMD.com website say this about sharing beds with your dog. I think it’s great advice, and is something to consider if you are thinking about sleeping with your Frenchie in the same bed:

“Go ahead and sleep with your dog—it’s perfectly safe, as long as you are both healthy. In fact, sharing your bedroom with your canine companion—as long as he isn’t under the covers— may actually improve your sleep, according to recent research published by Mayo Clinic.”

They go on to say that the view that it can lead to disease and illness in humans is actually unfounded, with many vets believing this overstated or incorrect.

We don’t let Claude sleep in our bed with us. Our Frenchie sleeps down in the kitchen where he shares a bed with the cat. Yes, we let him on our bed in the evenings, but once it’s our time to sleep, we take him downstairs.

Our reasons for doing so is because he takes up so much room, make our legs really hot, and also snores so loudly! You can see a video of him below where I recorded him snoring at 63 decibels for our Frenchie YouTube channel!

Conclusion

The next time your Frenchie starts to burrow under the covers to go to sleep, you can now put it down to a number of factors including natural instincts, pack mentality, trust, and love.

Whether you let your French Bulldog sleep under the covers is entirely up to you. And actually, in the winter times, you might be really grateful for the warmth he or she will offer you!

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Marc Aaron

I am one of Claude the French Bulldog's human parents. I write about all the things we've learned about owning a Frenchie, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips I've picked up along the way. Read more about Marc Aaron.

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