There are several ways your dog may know you are awake. For the most part, this can be attributed to their observational skills, intuition, and the habits that you and they have built up. Dogs learn these habits by using their senses of:
Sight: If your dog sleeps in the room with you, they can see up close and personal whether you are awake or asleep. As your dog is most likely wanting you to wake up they will keep an eye on certain cues that tell them you are about to wake up. These cues could include your eyelids fluttering, your stomach and chest moving more as you come out of the deep breaths of sleeping, and that you move your limbs more often or start to roll over. Here an article I wrote which involves some discussion on how well dogs can see in the dark “Are Dogs Afraid Of The Dark”
Touch: If your dog sleeps right next to you, they will be able to feel when you are waking. Increased tension in the body as you come to alertness as well as an increased shifting and movement of the body will let them know that you are about to open your eyes. Dogs do similar things when you are sitting on the sofa. You may find your dog sleeps just at your feet, this is so that any movements you make they will be alerted to.
Sound: In some cases, your dog may choose to sleep in a different room. Take a look at our article on “Why Does My Dog Sleep In Another Room” for more information on this subject. Even if your dog isn’t in the same room as you, their superior sense of hearing means that they can tell when you wake up. You may think that rolling over in bed was quiet, but your dog can hear the sheets rustling and the springs on your bed creaking as you move. Also, if you have an alarm clock that goes off at the same time every day, they will eventually associate the alarm’s sound with your waking. It’s also possible that your dog will know by routine what time to wake up and insist that you wake up every morning at that time….even on weekends. Check out our article on “Why Does My Dog Wake Up So Early” if you’re having trouble with an early rising pooch.
Smell: Shortly before you wake up, your body releases more of the hormone cortisol. Your dog can smell this (among many other things), and if they connect that scent to the fact that you usually start moving around or get out of bed, it will also indicate to them that you are awake or will wake soon. Your dog’s sense of smell is incredible and is one of their main ways of understanding the world, have a look at some of these articles if you’re interested in learning more about your dog’s nose –
Why Do Dogs Wake You Up
Dogs have no qualms about waking up their humans if they think they need to be awake—even if it is the middle of the night. They are social creatures and pack animals and want their packs to experience what they experience. Furthermore, since they have identified that you are their provider, they will come to you when they need or want something. Some of the reasons why your dog may wake you are:
They need to use the bathroom: Just like humans, dogs sometimes need to go in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, and their bodies have woken up because they can’t hold it any longer. This situation can be particularly difficult when training puppies. As a rule, I would not have your dog sleep in the same room as you until they are fully toilet trained. It would also be a good idea to let your dog out for the toilet before going to bed, this should ensure they won’t need the loo.
They are sick: Your dog may have eaten something that disagreed with them or just isn’t feeling well and wants you nearby. This may also be linked to wanting to go outside, this is a good thing as your dog is understanding the rules of hygiene and will only be sick outside. This shouldn’t come up too often but be prepared for a tough night.
They are bored: Dogs have different sleeping patterns than humans. They don’t have to sleep as much in one stretch as we do, and as such, they may be ready to play and interact or go for a walk during a time when you are ready to sleep. Teaching your dog boundaries regarding playtime is important whether sleeping or not they should know when to act excited and when to calm down. Here’s an interesting article on ways to challenge your dogs mind.
They sense danger: If an intruder is trying to break in, or there are loud or dangerous weather occurrences, they may try to alert you. Dogs that are anxious around loud noises may wake you as well, such as during a late-night thunderstorm. If there are some more unusual noises such as late-night arrives home then your dog may react to this by barking. You may want to discourage barking when it is nonsensical, discouragement at the wrong times may lead to your dog not warning you when there is an actual break-in.
They are lonely: Dogs are social creatures. If they are the only dog in the house and sleep in a different room from you, they may wake up and just want to be with you. Giving them plenty of interaction and mental stimulation during the day can combat the effects of neediness, just be sure not to play too late.
You have made a pattern of playing with them during the night: If your dog wakes you up because they are bored and you play with them, then they will think it is okay and keep waking you around the same time. This also goes for food, don’t give in to early morning wake-ups, as soon as you feed them and go back to bed they will learn that this system works and they get food when they wake you up.
History of Dogs Sensing Night and Day
Historically, night and day have been around for as long as the world has. No matter your beliefs, as long as our planet has existed, it has turned around the sun, making both day and night. So, thats generally what humans have understood for… well, forever.
Measurement of time, however, has not been around quite that long, but still a very long time, nonetheless. As far back as 3500 BC, people were using the sun to tell time with sundials. Sundials were a big thing and helped people know what time of day it was based on shadows.
The first mechanical clock came about around 1510. The standard way of telling time came about around the 18th or 19th centuries. Now, humans have all kind of tools at their disposal to measure time including wrist watches, stopwatches, phones, and more. Really, the way humans tell time is merely a measurement, though.
In the wild, animals are governed by night and day in terms of what that translates to for hunting. Generally, most wild canines prefer late evening through to early morning to do their hunting. This means that historically, the night meant go-time for wild dogs.
Living with humans has changed the vast majority of the dogs habits – including when they sleep! Dogs no longer have to hunt, so instead, they base their schedules around when we feed them. This means they get up when we get up, as thats usually the first opportunity for them to be fed by us. Once we go to bed, there is no more chance of getting food, so generally, the dog will go to bed as well. It doesnt take long for this sequence of events to become routine, and many-a-owner has reported that their dog now tells them when its bed time!
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