Pet Dog Owner is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.
If your dog has been sleeping on your clothes, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you common reasons why dogs do it and what you can do to get your dog to stop doing it.
So, why does my dog sleep on my clothes? Possible reasons why your dog sleeps on your clothes are that it makes your dog feel safer, it likes the smell, separation anxiety, inadvertently rewarding the beahvior or that it simply finds it comfortable.
Since there are a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the cause, it should become easier to get it to stop.
Why does dog sleeps on your clothes
Below are some common reasons why dogs do it and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
It makes it feel safer
The reason why it does it might be that it makes it feel safer because your scent will be stronger in your clothes. This would be more likely to be the reason why it does it if it tends to do it when you are away and if it tends to sleep where you are when you are home.
It likes the smell
The cause might also be that it likes the smell of the clothes. This would be more likely if it tends to sleep there at random times and if it also sleeps on things with your scent on such as your bed or the area you tend to sit in.
It finds it more comfortable
The cause could also be that it simply finds the spot comfortable. This would be more likely if it tends to sleep there at random times and it does not seem to be looking for attention when it does it.
Separation anxiety
It might be a sign that it has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if it tends to sleep there during the day and if it stops when you arrive home. It would also be more likely if it tends to show signs of anxiety when you are leaving.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that you have encouraged it to do it by giving it rewards when it does it. If you tend to give it things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when it does it, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, it would help to train it to sleep elsewhere, to try to redirect its focus when it is about to sleep there and to avoid rewarding it when it does do it.
Things to consider
Below are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason why it has been doing it.
What else happened when your dog started sleeping on your clothes
If it did not always sleep there, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as learning that it gets rewards when it does it, or separation anxiety if it coincided with you being away for more hours.
What is different when your dog sleeps on your clothes
It could also help to consider the timing of when it does it since the timing could also have something to do with it. For example, if it tends to do it only when you are around, it could be the case that it does it because it knows it will get a reaction out of you.
What to do about your dog sleeping on your clothes
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop doing it.
Positive reinforcement training
One option would be to use positive reinforcement training to get your dog to lay somewhere else. Positive reinforcement training is where you encourage it to behave in a certain way by rewarding it when it shows signs of behaving that way.
Give it another area to sleep
It would also help to give it another place to sleep. The area should be cool, quiet and there should be space for it to lay down. Another option would be to give it a crate to sleep in so that it can go there to feel secure.
Avoid encouraging it to sleep there
As mentioned above, it could be the case that you have been encouraging the behavior. Instead, it would help to reward it when it sleeps where you want it to, to try to redirect its focus when it is about to sleep on your clothes and to train it to sleep elsewhere.
Reduce its separation anxiety
Since it could be due to having some separation anxiety, it could help to take measures to reduce the possible reasons why it becomes anxious. Things to do would be to feed it, exercise it and let it pee before leaving.
Reduce its access to your clothes
It would also be an option to keep your clothes in different locations so that it is harder for it to sleep in your clothes. But, it would still help to try to consider what might be causing it to do it.
Our favorite: The Dunbar Academy Training Program. If you want a happy and obedient dog, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link
Have you ever walked into a room to spot your dog curled up in a perfect ball on your favorite hoodie?
If your pup’s done it once, she’ll probably do it a hundred more times. So you might ask yourself: Why does my dog lie on my clothes all the time?
We reached out to Kristi Benson, a certified dog trainer at Kristi Benson Dog Training, to find out why your pup chooses your dirty laundry to be her favorite sleeping spot.
Dodo Shows
Faith = Restored
Couple Meets A Beach Dog In Mexico Who Changes Their Life
Since dogs don't speak English, you can't actually ask yours why she’s choosing to snooze on your clothes! The best thing we can do is hypothesize on why she’s probably doing it.
They smell like you
One big reason why your dog’s probably sleeping on your clothes is that she finds your scent comforting — you’re her favorite person after all!
According to Benson, if you find your pup snoring on a pile of your clothes in the middle of the day, just know she really, really loves you.
If you’re leaving a super soft sweater on the floor, you’re just asking your pup to snuggle up in it.
You leave your clothes in spots your dog loves
If you toss your comfy sweatshirt on the couch and walk away, odds are your dog’s going to curl up on it — not only does it smell like you, but it’s also right where she usually takes a nap!
“Our clothes might also end up in piles in places where dogs like to make a bed for the night, [like] our bedrooms, as many dogs like to sleep in the same room as their human family,” Benson told The Dodo.
If you find your pup lying on your clothes, just know she’s never doing it out of spite, and it definitely doesn’t make sense to scold her for it.
“Dogs who sleep on our clothes are not behaving badly, they're just getting comfortable in the best way available to them,” Benson said.
How to break the habit
If your dog likes to sleep on your clothes and you'd prefer he'd sleep somewhere else (no matter how adorable it is), a very simple way to discourage it is to ensure your clothes don't end up on the floor or on a chair where your dog snoozes. “You can also provide enough quality, comfortable beds for your dog, to act as magnets and draw them away from any clothes left around,” Benson said.
If you find that dumping clothes on the floor is a habit that’s really hard to break, you can also close your bedroom door during the day (if that’s where you tend to toss yours).
Finally, if you love dog training, you can train your dog to pick up your clothes and put them in a laundry basket just for fun — why not?! “But since this will be a job for your dog, you have to be prepared to issue a paycheck (a nice treat) for their work,” Benson said.
So next time you see your dog lying on your clothes, just know she’s probably just missing you and wanting to be close to a piece of you — or she’s telling you to clean your room!