Asa, sit. We need to have a little talk. No! don’t sit there! That’s exactly why we’re having this conversation! It has become increasingly difficult for me to ignore your lack of spatial awareness. Now I take some of the blame here. I admit I’ve been remiss in my responsibilities homeschooling you in recent years. So let’s begin with the basics.

Spatial awareness is the ability to be aware of oneself in space. Stop rolling your eyes! No, I’m talking about out of space, I’m talking about right here on our dog beds. Spatial awareness is an organized knowledge of objects in relation to oneself in that given space. For example in this photo, does sleeping in this position look comfortable for both of us?

Spatial awareness also involves understanding the relationship of these objects when there is a change in position. To put this in more relatable terms, this means when you roll over do you ever find yourself in an awkward sleeping position? Spatial awareness just isn’t about the comfort of others, it is about your comfort as well.

Being aware of your surroundings also applies to when you’re awake. One way to understand this concept is when moving from point A to point B, are you aware of what is in between these two points? You may ask yourself, how you can relate to the area more effectively with physical elements, conceptual correlations and senses? For example, when going to Dad to get petted, before walking over me, and then sitting on my head perhaps you could ask the following questions: Where am I in this space? What do I see? How do I get around safely, efficiently, and effectively to reach my goal?

Now I do admit there are times when you exhibit good spatial awareness. Mom gets upset when there are muddy paws in the living room. So on this particular occasion after coming inside from playing in the yard, using me as a footrest to prevent your wet paws from touching the dog bed is a good use of spatial awareness.

However, in this next example, your paws are clearly mud-free, and therefore should not be resting on me. To avoid this awkwardness, before settling in for a nap, try to visualize what would be the ideal sleeping position for both of us. Perhaps make a mental map of where you should be on the bed? And while you’re at it, fast forward to when you’re sleeping. Try to imagine what possible directions you may roll, and try to position yourself prior to your nap to accommodate those scenarios.

I admit, I do recognize that tactile perception is important to you, and that you do feel more comfortable when in contact with me. But in this scenario is there a better solution than wedging yourself between me and the couch?

In conclusion, I understand that spatial awareness is a complex cognitive skill that comes more naturally to some dogs than others. However, with practice, you will find yourself getting better at judging where to place your body. Not only will you be surprised by how much more comfortable you are, you’ll also notice an improvement in how others relate to you.