Evie Summers
The phrase let sleeping dogs lie is more than just a malaphor; it is advice that could save you from injury. Dogs can spend up to half of their day sleeping, and they go through similar sleep cycles as humans, including REM sleep, during which they dream. Waking a dog during REM sleep can startle them, causing them to jump, scratch, or even bite. In fact, the Veterinary Centers of America estimates that 60% of dog bites in children occur when they wake or attempt to wake a sleeping dog. Therefore, it is important to teach children and guests not to disturb a sleeping dog and to wake them gently if necessary, without touching them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep patterns | The amount of sleep a dog needs depends on their age, activity level, and breed. |
| Sleep environment | A noisy or bright sleeping environment, or being woken up by people or other animals, can cause dogs to develop unhealthy sleeping patterns. |
| Sleep positions | Dogs like to change their sleeping positions throughout the day, and they may sleep on their side, in a curled-up position, or with their legs outstretched on their belly. |
| Sleep disorders | Dogs can experience sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, breathing issues, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. |
| Sleep cycles | Dogs go through REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep cycles, dreaming during the REM cycle. They go through these cycles more quickly than humans, with up to 20 sleep cycles a night. |
| Waking a sleeping dog | It is generally recommended to avoid waking a sleeping dog, as it can cause disorientation, confusion, and even lashing out. If a dog needs to be woken, it is best to do so during their non-REM sleep cycle and to use gentle methods such as softly calling their name or waving a treat under their nose. |
| Biting risk | Waking a sleeping dog can increase the risk of biting, especially in children. It is important to teach children and guests not to disturb a sleeping dog. |
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What You'll Learn
- Dogs need a lot of sleep to restore their immunity and repair cells
- Abruptly waking a dog can cause an intense reaction and they may injure themselves
- Dogs experience REM sleep, during which they may twitch their ears, eyes, legs, or tail
- If your dog is startled easily when waking, consider having them sleep in their own bed
- If your dog is sleeping more during the day and less at night, this could be a sign of health problems
Dogs need a lot of sleep to restore their immunity and repair cells
Dogs, just like humans, need a lot of sleep. In fact, dogs can easily spend up to half of the day sleeping. Puppies, older dogs, and larger dog breeds tend to sleep more than other dogs. Sleep is essential for a dog's health and comfort. It is when the body produces and replenishes its store of immune cells and repairs its cells.
A good night's sleep strengthens the immune system by allowing the body to produce proteins called cytokines and T-cells, which target infection and inflammation, creating an immune response. Studies have shown that people who don't get enough sleep are at greater risk for both infectious and inflammatory diseases. Sleep helps the body fight off infection by improving the ability of immune cells to properly attach to their targets.
Additionally, sleep allows the body to replenish its T-cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a critical role in the body's immune response to infectious diseases. Research has shown that people with sleep disorders are at greater risk for developing autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Therefore, it is important to let sleeping dogs lie and give them the space they need to get their beauty sleep. Waking a sleeping dog can result in the dog being startled and disoriented, and in some cases, even friendly dogs may snap or bite. So, if you need to wake a sleeping dog, do so without touching them and be sure to teach children and guests not to disturb the dog while it is sleeping.
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Abruptly waking a dog can cause an intense reaction and they may injure themselves
Dogs sleep a lot—up to half of the day, in fact. They spend around 10% of their sleeping time in REM sleep, during which they may twitch their ears, eyes, legs, or tail. Once in deep sleep, they will appear more relaxed and will likely lie on their side.
Abruptly waking a dog during REM sleep can cause an intense reaction as they may be startled and disoriented. They may jump, scratch, or even bite involuntarily. This can be especially true for older dogs, who may get more startled when woken up due to confusion about their surroundings or a decrease in their senses. Additionally, there are medical conditions such as hearing loss, arthritis, and back injuries that can cause dogs to be more reactive when abruptly awakened. This intense reaction can result in them injuring themselves, or the sudden increased physical discomfort may cause them to instinctively snap or growl due to the flight-or-fight response.
The Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) estimates that 60% of dog bites in children occur when the child wakes or tries to wake a sleeping dog. It is important to teach children and anyone else in your home about how to engage with your dog, emphasizing that a sleeping dog should be left alone. If you do need to wake a sleeping dog, try to do so without touching them to prevent the risk of bites.
If you notice any changes in your dog's sleeping habits or are finding it particularly difficult to wake them, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
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Dogs experience REM sleep, during which they may twitch their ears, eyes, legs, or tail
Dogs spend approximately 10% of their sleeping time in REM sleep. During REM sleep, dogs may experience muscle twitching, which is completely normal and can be indicative of deep sleep. Twitching can also be a sign that your dog is dreaming. Their eyes may move behind closed eyelids, and they may whimper and whine.
During REM sleep, the brainstem suppresses the activity of large muscle groups, which prevents excessive movement when dreaming. However, small amounts of twitching can still occur, typically lasting less than 30 seconds. This may include involuntary movements of the ears, eyes, legs, or tail. While twitching is usually harmless, it can sometimes be a sign of a medical or neurological problem, such as muscle or nervous system disorders. Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish between normal twitching and abnormal neurological activity. If you are concerned about your dog's twitching, consider filming it to show to your veterinarian.
It is generally advised not to wake a sleeping dog, as doing so may startle them and lead to unintentional biting or scratching. Dogs can be easily startled when awoken, especially if they are older or have hearing difficulties. If you need to wake your dog, avoid touching them and instead try calling their name or making a noise, such as dropping an object on the floor. Teach children and guests not to disturb a sleeping dog and ensure your dog has a designated sleeping space where they are less likely to be disturbed.
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If your dog is startled easily when waking, consider having them sleep in their own bed
It is important for dogs to get a good night's sleep. Dogs and people go through similar sleep cycles, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. If they are woken during REM sleep, they may become disoriented and lash out in confusion, jumping, scratching, or even biting. This is especially true for older dogs, who may be confused about where they are, or who may not be able to see or hear you as well.
If your dog is easily startled when waking, it is a good idea to have them sleep in their own bed or designated space, such as a crate. This is because you may unintentionally startle them if they sleep in your bed. The Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) estimates that 60% of dog bites in children occur when the child wakes or tries to wake a sleeping dog. Make sure that children, guests, and anyone else in your home knows to leave the dog alone if they are sleeping and advise them on how to engage with the dog. If you do need to wake your dog, do so without touching them, by softly calling their name or wafting a treat under their nose.
If your dog is particularly difficult to wake, or you notice changes in their sleeping habits, this could indicate an underlying health issue, so take them to the vet as soon as possible. Dogs that are abruptly startled awake may be suffering from hearing loss, arthritis, or back injuries, and this intense reaction could cause them to injure themselves.
Additionally, certain breeds are more prone to sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which may cause them to fall asleep or wake up suddenly.
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If your dog is sleeping more during the day and less at night, this could be a sign of health problems
While it is normal for dogs to sleep a lot, any changes to their sleeping patterns could be a sign of health problems. Dogs tend to sleep more when they are relaxed and don't have a good reason to be active. Boredom is also a factor, especially if they are alone for long stretches of the day.
Generally, a dog that sleeps for around 12 hours a day is not a cause for concern. However, if your dog is sleeping more during the day and less at night, this could indicate a health problem. Excessive sleep can signal conditions such as canine depression, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and possible loss of hearing. It could also be a sign of age-related problems, such as arthritis or canine cognitive dysfunction, or other health issues like gastroenteritis, infections, or pain.
If you are concerned about your dog's sleeping habits, try to keep track of their sleep patterns and any other symptoms. Make sure they are a healthy weight and have plenty to do during the day to enrich their alone time. If they are still sleeping an unusual amount, it might be time to see a vet. Your vet can perform an examination and tests to look for any underlying health issues.
It is important to remember that waking a sleeping dog can result in the dog being startled and disoriented. This can lead to even well-socialized and friendly dogs snapping or biting. If you need to wake a sleeping dog, try to do so without touching them. Be sure to teach children, guests, and anyone else in your home about how to engage with your dog, and advise them to leave the dog alone if it is sleeping.
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Frequently asked questions
Dogs need a lot of sleep, and it is essential for their health and comfort. Waking a sleeping dog will likely result in the dog being startled and disoriented. This may cause them to jump, scratch, or even bite.
If you really need to wake your dog, try to do so during their non-REM sleep. Dogs in light, non-REM sleep are likely to wake up more easily. You can try making a quiet noise near your dog to gently rouse them. Avoid touching them, as this can increase the risk of bites.
Dogs sleep far more than humans, averaging between 8 and 20 hours of sleep per day depending on their age, breed, exercise, surroundings, and health.
Sleep helps restore dogs' immunity and repairs damaged cells in their bodies.
If your dog is having a bad dream, you can softly call their name or speak to them in a low voice to calm them. You can also try to gently pet them awake.
