Your dog is not a big fan of showers.
Yet, the most common place you see them in is the bathroom.
They’re not there to get their fur wet. Instead, they choose it as their personal bedroom.
“What gives, doggo? What about your dog bed?”
Of all the cozy places they could pick, they settle for this one…
But why?
Read on to learn:
- 9 reasons why your dog sleeps in the bathroom.
- Actions that can encourage your dog to sleep in the bathroom.
- If you should be worried once your dog starts to sleep in the bathroom.
- Warning: Your dog might sleep in the bathroom because they’re sick (check out reason #7 for more info).
- And many more…
Why does my dog sleep in the bathroom?
Your dog sleeps in the bathroom because the floor is cold or they like the bathroom’s scent. Sometimes, they’re avoiding conflict or seeking silence, confinement, validation, or protection. Other times, your dog could be old or sick and they choose to isolate themselves in the bathroom.
Why does my dog sleep in the bathroom – 9 reasons
#1: The bathroom’s scent
As you’re strongly bonded with your dog, they’re attracted to your scent.
The bathroom is the place where you relieve yourself. It’s the area in which, for your dog, you ‘mark your territory.
Another explanation could lie in the soap you use.
As your dog recognizes you by your scent, they’re familiar with your soap.
Maybe when you’re not around, sleeping in the bathroom isn’t the only thing they do.
Let’s say your daily body soap is on the bathroom counter. Or the corner of your bathtub.
Regardless of its position, your pup could be trying to reach it.
Fido does that to comfort themselves with your smell. To make them feel like you’re around.
Some dog parents report that their dogs roll around their soap.
It’s said to relax your dog and make them feel like you’re there.
And maybe they relax too much, they get sleepy in the bathroom.
#2: The floor’s cold
Picture this:
You’re finally getting sleepy and comfortable. It’s as if anytime you’re going off to dreamland.
However, you suddenly feel that you have to pee.
At first, you’re reluctant. But after a bit of stirring, you decided to relieve yourself.
As soon as you step into your bathroom tiles, your spirit is yet again awakened.
You were shocked because the tiles felt so cold against your feet!
Well, for your dog who may have followed you, it’s only fitting.
When you catch your dog sleeping in the bathroom, it’s because of the cold floor.
They enjoy spreading their bellies into the tiles. They like to feel that coldness against their stomachs.
This is especially ideal during summer.
They would rather lie down on the hard floor.
For them, it’s better than to endure the warmth of the cushions.
#3: Isolation
As your dog ages, they get weak. And for dogs, weakness attracts predators.
Since your pooch is not strong as they used to be, they just resort to hiding.
That might be why your senior dog sleeps in the bathroom.
There, they think they’re safe and sound. They could easily watch who goes in and out.
To be clear, seniority varies from one dog to another.
However, dogs can be recognized as seniors at 5 to 10 years of age in most cases.
To help you make sure, here are other signs of aging in dogs:
- Unusual sleeping patterns.
- Changes in appetite and weight.
- Infrequent or too much urination.
- Presence of lumps and bumps. If you notice one, take your dog to the vet. Just for you to be sure. Sometimes, these lumps need to be tested and removed.
If you’ve confirmed that your dog is finally a senior, it may be time to make a few changes.
Aging is not some type of disease.
But, aging creates changes in your dog’s body. These changes need to be given attention. It’s inevitable that one might cause a disease or disorder.
Here are ways to care for your senior dog:
Maintain your dog’s ideal body weight.
Regularly book a schedule with your dog’s veterinarian.
Keep on exercising them regularly. However, don’t overdo it.
Ask your dog’s vet about your dog’s general body condition. You should do this for every visit.
Cater to your dog’s particular needs. Like creating a ramp for them. It will make it easier for their sore joints or arthritis.
Check out also: Why Does My Dog Sleep In Another Room? 13 Surprising Reasons
#4: The silence is comforting
Do you ever wonder about how relaxing it is in your bathroom?
Whether it’s big or small, the bathroom is such a quiet place.
Probably the quietest spot in a household.
Well, your pooch appreciates that fact, too.
Your dog can be sleeping in the bathroom to indulge in silence.
For them, there are too many disturbing sounds outside.
Maybe you’re near a construction zone. And all those excavation sounds scare your dog.
Or someone from your neighborhood won’t turn their car alarm off.
For some dogs, it’s not just outside noises. Your pooch can be bothered by the sounds inside your home, too.
They could be upset by the sound of the blender or vacuum.
Even the sound the television makes can torment your dog.
In some cases, your pup may be overly sensitive as well.
Research tells us that the more quickly a dog is bothered by loud noises, the longer they need to calm down.
And so, as they’re overwhelmed with all the commotion, your pooch seeks peace.
And Fido can find that peace inside the four walls of your bathroom.
#5: The behavior is encouraged
You might be thinking:
“How could I have possibly encouraged them to sleep in the bathroom?”
I know, it sounds odd at first.
Dogs learn through rewards and even unintentional attention.
For a dog, a behavior that grants them your recognition is a worthy one.
That’s why you should be careful about what ideas you give to your dog.
Here’s our first example:
You got up from your bed to head to the bathroom.
As you walk, you notice that your dog’s following you.
And so you stop by your track and level with them.
You pet your pup and tell them you’re just going to the restroom.
And because it’s a moment of weakness, you might’ve even invited them to watch over you.
Another example would be:
You decided to watch a horror movie today. And for you, it was really spooky.
Fast forward to the middle of the night. You wake up feeling that you have to pee.
But the horror movie memory is fresh in you.
You see your dog sleeping soundly on their bed. That made you think of something.
You got up, picked your dog up, and went to the bathroom.
While you sit on the toilet, you pet your confused dog.
After that, you even thanked them as you placed them back in their bed.
#6: There’s something that frightens them in your room
Your dog chooses to sleep in the bathroom because they’re frightened. It can be due to something in your room.
Don’t worry, your dog’s not scared of a ghost. There’s nothing supernatural that’s going on.
In fact, the bandit might be something that you can see.
The Merck Veterinary Manual tells us about fear-related anxiety in dogs. It can be caused by the following:
- Loud and sudden noises.
- Unfamiliar people or new things.
- Visual stimulus, like a mirror, hat, or even what’s on the TV. That’s true. Based on research, a dog’s behavior can be influenced by visual stimuli.
By the presence of these objects, your dog feels fear. And it can escalate to anxiety.
With that, Fido decides to extract themselves from your room. And so, they choose to sleep in the bathroom.
You might also be interested in: 17 reasons why your dog is clingy all of a sudden
#7: They’re sick
Who knew dogs can be instinctively stoic?
What I mean by that is how dogs isolate themselves when they feel sick.
It’s their instinct to hide the pain and avoid showing you they’re weak.
And as I mentioned in reason #3, showing weakness can attract predators.
Since your doggo’s body is not feeling well, they know they can’t fight back.
That may be why they’re sleeping in the bathroom.
Your pooch feels that that is the safest spot in your home.
And if they have a tummy ache, the cold floor can relieve their stomach, too.
In that case, your dogs found the perfect place to hide and regain their energy.
Reading recommendation: 13 Effective Tips To Get A Sick Dog To Drink Water (Fast)
#8: It’s the smallest room
As wild animals, dogs need to be in a den.
They’re practically born in one.
Your dog’s momma might’ve birthed them in a confined and isolated space. That’s where they spent their first few weeks or months.
In the wild, your pooch’s ancestors made use of confined dens.
Their dens protect and make them feel comfortable.
Let’s say that the smallest room in your house is the bathroom.
With that, your dog is compelled to confine in it.
The space is just perfect for them. They might even consider it a sanctuary.
It’s both cozy and secure. It hits the right spot.
#9: Avoiding conflict
According to research, there are three ways that a dog reacts to conflict. The reactions slightly show a relationship with their sociability.
| Sociability | Reaction to conflict |
| More social dogs. | They tend to deflate conflict through interaction. |
| Less social dogs. | They are passive during the conflict. |
| Unidentified. Some dogs choose to avoid conflict. |
Despite the unidentified sociability, this study tells us something:
It shows us that dogs still tend to avoid disputes.
In the said study, 25.4% of the puppy subjects chose to move away from the experiment.
So when your dog sleeps in the bathroom, it could mean they’re avoiding conflict.
Before you noticed the behavior, you may have shown you’re upset with them.
“They can really tell?”
This study says yes.
Its findings tell us that dogs are sensitive to our emotional cues. Researchers were able to tell based on the dog’s cardiac activity.
Note: This doesn’t mean that your dog’s upset with you, too. So far, there are limited studies that tell us they’re capable of that.
BONUS: For your dog, the bathroom’s the perfect den (but it’s not)
Why is the bathroom the ideal den for your dog?
Here are all the things that your bathroom walls provide for your dog:
- Cold floor.
- Protection.
- Confinement.
- Fantastic and familiar scent.
See how it all checks all your dog’s requirements?
And there’s more!
There are ‘toys’ present for your dog.
“I don’t put their toys in the bathroom…”
Regardless, your dog might have their eyes on the toilet paper or trash can.
Your organic soaps and shampoos are not safe, too. Your pooch detects it smells nice, and it might taste good.
Your toilet supplies an unlimited amount of water, too.
Your fur baby thinks toilet water is excellent…but c’mon…it’s gross.
Warning: There is a real danger for your dog who drinks toilet water.
The cleaning substances that you use have chemicals. These chemicals may poison your dog.
One of the main examples is chlorine bleach.
After cleaning, there may still be leftover substances. These leftovers linger even after a number of flushes.
According to PetMD, here are the chemical contents that are harmful to your pooch:
- Sodium peroxide.
- Hypochlorite salts.
- Sodium perborate.
- Sodium hypochlorite.
- And the list goes on…
People also ask:
Should I let my dog sleep in the bathroom?
It depends on your judgment if you let your dog sleep in the bathroom. For the most part, it’s borne out of good intentions.
Your dog sleeps in the bathroom because they like the cold floor or love the scent. Other times, they prefer the confinement it offers them.
Your bathroom’s a safe hiding place for your dog, too.
However, ignoring this behavior can mean reinforcement.
If you don’t call it out, your dog might grow accustomed to sleeping in the bathroom.
If you wish to get rid of this behavior, limit your dog’s access to the place.
Make it a custom to close the bathroom door. That’s the easiest way to make sure.
Other things you can do for your dog include:
- Moving their dog bed to a cooler place. Maybe in front of a fan. Or near a window that gives a chill breeze.
- Change their dog bed. Your dog may have outgrown their old dog bed. That’s why it may be time for a new one.
- Buy your dog a cooling mat. If they love the cool bathroom tiles so much, this can be the alternative.
Here’s to save you a few minutes: The Green Pet Shop Dog Cooling Mat.
Why does my dog keep laying in the bathroom?
Your dog keeps laying in the bathroom because they enjoy the cold floor. Other times the bathroom smell can draw your dog to the room.
During a hot day, your pooch is compelled to look for the coolest spot.
As they see the bathroom door open, they walk in. And as soon as they stepped on the floor, they felt its coldness.
With that, your pooch decides to lay on the bathroom floor. They realize that it’s soothing and perfect against their warm belly.
Now every time that they feel warm, they know that the bathroom floor’s available.