This is a moot point as both dogs, sadly, have died, but it still puzzles me from time to time and I wonder if more experienced dog owners might weigh in.
I fostered and then adopted two brothers, littermates, who were rescued I believe from a rural puppy mill. My first and only dogs. Got them at age 10-12 weeks. The tiny runt turned out to be the alpha dog; he was sweet and loving but very assertive and dominant. His brother was larger and more robust but passive or submissive; he ended up choosing beneath my bed as his lair while the little guy dominated the front room and had a command post on top the back of the sofa.
The little one would grab chews right out of the larger one's mouth with impunity; push him away to snuggle with me on the sofa, etc. I always strived to give them equal attention, treats, love, whatnot. I think they both were very happy and unfortunatley they died prematurely of congenital heart disease, despite aggressive treatment with medications. They didn't suffer much until their last hours. The little one made it to 9 and the larger to 12, just died this June.
So what's puzzled me is: By day, the little one always had to be near me, up against me, etc. He wasn't neurotic or anxious, but he liked to be congenial and snuggly. The larger held back more and liked his "me time" in another room, though if I lifted him to the sofa he would happily curl by my side.
(Side note: he was physically capable of jumping to the sofa but the little one made that HIS throne, and I think in some doggy way the larger one wouldn't breach that unspoken boundary unless I hoisted him up. The little one used a step stool to leap up.)
Oddly though, in bed, the little one invariably slept at the foot. It's a standard double size with antique headboard and footboard. In the morning he'd get up, wiggle and run to lick my face, but to sleep he always was at my feet. The larger one would snuggle against my back, sometimes with his snout up against my neck. This was nightly for nine years; sometimes if I had a guest or to give myself a break, they'd be in beds at or under my bed.
So, at age 9, sadly, my tiny boy succumbed to heart failure. He died at the emergency vet, but I think the larger one got the drift, watching his brother breathe heavily as I raced around for car keys and such in the middle of the night. He went over and licked his face before we left. It was a nightmare.
Finally getting to my question: As soon as little one was gone, larger one started sleeping at the foot of the bed. Insisted on it. Grumbled if I tried to pull him up to his old position. Maybe five times in the subsequent three years did he voluntarily come and press against my back, generally in cooler weather.
Does anyone have any insight here? I feel like the larger boy was like "finally! I get the good spot!" while all those years I had thought that the "good spot" was up next to me, and that the little one was uncharacteristically deferential by taking the foot of the bed. And then as soon as he was out of the picture, his more passive brother hotfooted it to the end of the bed and claimed it. And was annoyed if I tried to move him.
It was SO unwaveringly consistent I feel that there has to be a dog-psychology reason behind it all. Apologies for the length and thanks to anyone who read this far! Would be curious if anyone has any insight. Thanks!