It's called sleep startle reflex — and there are easy ways to deal with it. Many dogs will easily shake it off when woken suddenly. But some dogs may growl, snap, lunge, and bite when woken unexpectedly. For these dogs, a simple kiss on the head can trigger this reaction, and it can be momentarily terrifying.
Waking a sleeping dog is likely to result in the dog being startled and disoriented. To prevent bites, make sure that visitors and children know not to bother dogs who are sleeping. Waking a sleeping dog can lead to even well socialized and otherwise friendly dogs snapping or even biting.
Sleep startle is also sometimes known as sleep aggression and occurs when a dog is woken up suddenly or unexpectedly. If a dog has been woken up by their brain telling them they're in danger, it's understandable that they may react in a fearful and potentially negative way.
There's an old saying: “Never wake a sleeping dog.” There is actually a lot of truth to that. Be sure to remind children not to wake a sleeping dog, as they can startle and elicit an aggressive response. If you do need to wake your dog, tap them gently on the rear.
Generally, dogs dislike hugs, not being allowed to sniff, a lack of routine, and more. Even the most laid-back dog will hate some of the things we humans do—if they tolerate it, it's just because they love you or don't want to be dominant. Yes, certain things are unavoidable, like vet visits or grooming.
Labrador Retriever takes the crown
The Labrador Retriever earned the crown as the “naughtiest” breed. Traditionally, people know this popular dog for its friendly and outgoing nature. Yet, it seems that the breed's strength and energetic spirit could sometimes steer them into less desirable behaviors.
"Touching a dog when he is dreaming may startle him and cause him to bite or scratch involuntarily," the AKC says. If you do decide to wake up your dog from a nightmare, don't touch or shake her. "Consider gently rousing her by softly speaking her name. Don't touch a dog to rouse her from night terrors.
Dogs also stay alert for sounds, even when sleeping, which may make them lighter sleepers than their owners.
If the dog is barking but you have to enter to get ready for work, then it's essential to ignore the dog. He has to learn that barking earns a cold shoulder, and it's only when he's calm that he gets breakfast.
Any time you pay attention to them, it makes them happy. So to wake up because you want to pet them, or play, etc. you've just made them happy. Dogs tend to be very forgiving and loving, so any chance to spend more time with you they'll be excited, not mad.
Dogs Are Reading Us
They sense our moods, follow our pointing gestures, and read us for information about what's going to happen next. That means they stare at us a lot to gain knowledge about their environment. Essentially, they are waiting for us to do something that will impact them.
Because this is their nature, they may prefer to sleep so close to you as they seek the same warmth, security, and comfort that they would from their pack mates. In essence, they think of you as a pack member.
If your dog sleeps on your bed, you've probably woken up to find their bum facing you. There are several reasons why this happens, and most of them are pretty benign. These include comfort, ventral contact, trust, protection, eye contact, wanting to be left alone, territory marking, petting, and parasites.
Dogs stare at their owners when they sleep to check on them. When a dog watches its owner while sleeping, it's telling the owner that they're not going anywhere without letting the owner know. Also, dogs can't talk, so their body language, including their stares, serves as a way to talk to the owner.
Dogs and Time
We know through living with dogs that they know when it's time to go to bed and when it's time to eat. Certainly a part of this is based on circadian rhythms and past experiences. Many experts in the past have said that dogs don't have episodic memory but recently that has been debated.
Keep Their Sleeping Area Quiet and Dark: Mammals have circadian rhythms that are influenced by light. View Source , so it's easier for your dog to sleep at night if it's dark or dim. It's also easier for them to sleep if they aren't being interrupted by excessive noise.
Dogs process televisions and screens differently than humans do, but it turns out they do often recognize what they are seeing and hearing. Some dogs couldn't be bothered to watch TV, but, in other cases, pet parents report that their dogs are enthralled by screens.
While for others, they may love nothing more than being petted. Dogs benefit the most when touched in places they feel comfortable with and when approached in a 'non-threatening' way. For example, most dogs prefer being touched with long gentle strokes along the chest, shoulder and base of the tail.
Many dogs don't enjoy being held, some love it, many simply tolerate it. It is important to listen to what your dog likes and doesn't like. By forcing pets to tolerate or endure being picked up when they don't like it, we are essentially teaching them to not trust us – and the problem will get worse.
Experts in dog behavior believe that, in general, dogs do not like being embraced. However, every dog has a unique personality. Some may dislike hugs more strongly than others, and some may actually adore them. The closest thing our furry family members do to a hug is something referred to as 'standing over'.
Why is my dog putting his paws on me? In addition to a way to say "I love you," your dog might paw at you if it needs something like food or a potty break. Anxious dogs might also paw at you for comfort or to request some space. Other dogs may paw at you to signify they need some activity time.
Loving gazes
You can communicate back to them using the same language of eye contact. When a dog gives you long, lingering eye contact, it's a way of saying “I love you.” A recent study shows that oxytocin, the 'love chemical,' goes up in both dogs and humans when they share a kind gaze.