Snowie sleeps with us in our bedroom. At bedtime, we entice him upstairs to bed with a treat because, well, we've always done this -- it started when he was young and we wanted to keep an eye on him. He got used to the treat at bedtime, and he won't budge until it comes out! (Yes, we've spoiled him...) But of late, he comes up with us, settles on the bed while we're getting ready for bed, and then a few minutes later wanders to the top of the stairs and looks at us, looks down, waits, and then goes downstairs. At first we thought he needed to go outside, so we'd go with him, take him outside. He often didn't want to go, would lie down when he got downstairs, but by this stage I was annoyed and he was going to go out and make a wee cos I was not going to get out of bed if he decided he needed a wee later (needed treats to get him outside, and once outside he'd make a couple of nice long wees). But after a few nights we decided to ignore him. If he really wants to go outside, he goes to the door and taps the key ring with his nose, which he wasn't doing when we ignored him. This is what he does: he goes downstairs for a short while, perhaps 5-10 minutes, lies on the cold kitchen floor, or his bed, or the rug. And then comes back up and goes to his bed and goes to sleep. It is so weird to us, that he is happy to come up to bed with us initially, very playful, then goes downstairs for a short while, and then comes back. Why does he do this? Oh, I need to add that we have to block off access to our lounge when we go to bed, because, when he went downstairs, he was also burrowing and digging in the sofa, we thought attention seeking. With the lounge blocked off, he simply goes downstairs to lie down for a short while, and then comes back up. Almost like he's saying: I like to come up to bed by myself, I'm a big boy!
Is it hot where you are at the moment? Willow prefers to stay downstairs in "her spot" on the cool kitchen tiles when it's hotter. She'll come up to say goodnight, and sometimes stays, but will often go back to where she's most comfortable. Maybe Snowie is battling with a desire to be with you vs being more comfortable?
Harley sleeps with us too. Because it has been so humid she has been starting off on our bed then within 10 mins goes to lie on the landing as its not carpeted. During the night she comes back in and gets on the bed. I've left her to come and go as she pleases as I think the humidity is difficult for her to cope with. We've been putting the ceiling fan on, but won't leave it on all night.
I should think he comes back down, in the hope that you'll give him another treat for coming back up. Charlie does the same.
I think you're right!!! Makes a lot of sense come to think of it. I thought, too, like @snowbunny and @Naya suggested, that it was the heat. But it's now a very cold winter and he's only recently started this behavior. I was getting a bit worried because, in the past, when he's acted strangely, we'd suspect a seizure was brewing. Mmm I shall now suspect he's just trying his luck!
That's such a sweet thought. And I'd say 90% of the time he'd rather suffer from heat than be away from us - he follows me around whenever I'm at home. In fact, sometimes I tell him "stay" if I'm just popping upstairs, otherwise he'd be jumping up from the deepest slumber.
I agree about the treat! When Tatze was a pup she charged into the house with a huge stick in her mouth and jarred her mouth on the door, it really hurt her. After that she needed coaxing in through that door with a treat (no other door, just that one). She then, a few months later, started the 'in and out' game for more treats! Now, more than two years later, she will come through the door - but only if I walk away. If we are anywhere near the door she waits for a treat! ...
