How to Deal With Sleep-Startle Reflex in Dogs
Anyone with a dog who suffers from sleep-startle reflex must first accept that itâs just the way they are. It cannot be trained out, and it certainly cannot be resolved using any form of punishment.Â
Shouting, scolding, or physically reprimanding your dog will not cure this condition. It is more likely to create a fear of falling asleep; your dog worries whether they will be unexpectedly woken and punished. Your dog will not be able to associate the reaction to the punishment because it was not conscious or deliberate. They will associate sleeping with the punishment.
Finding a gentle way to rouse your dog without startling them is the key. Dogs will typically take naps throughout the day, but this sleep is not always deep.Related article
Step one: Never bend over a dog or put your face close to theirs.
Why Does My Dog Growl at Me When I Pet Him?
Growling is commonly misconceived as plain aggressive vocalization.
A growling dog is portrayed as a snarling erratic and potentially very dangerous animal.
But primarily, growling is just a form of vocal communication between species.
The low guttural, rumbling sound may sound terrifying but it’s just their way of telling you “I feel uncomfortable or threatened in this situation”.
It’s actually a good thing that your dog is growling because he is communicating to you that he is not okay with whatever you are doing.
A dog who has learned that growling is wrong or didn’t have the chance to learn about canine communication in the socialization phase is far more dangerous because he won’t warn you before he snaps.
But besides this, there are other possible causes for growling that you probably haven’t thought about.
Your dog growling at you when petted doesn’t necessarily mean that he is uncomfortable, it may even signal the opposite.
Photo by Kenan Kitchen on Unsplash
As I said, growling is merely a way of communicating one’s needs, either positive or negative.
Pleasure growling is characterized by a low, affectionate growl that may be paired with a moan and can continue on for a longer period of time.
You can compare it to a cat’s purr, meaning that your dog is emitting pure pleasure and happiness.
It is easy to tell from his body language that he is feeling comfortable.
Lowered tail, loose stance, and relaxed mouth are all signs of a dog that is enjoying being petted.
When you stop, he may start whining to demand even more scratches.
My Rottweiler really loves expressing herself and she growls a lot while playing tug of war or even with other dogs.
But just because your dog is vocalizing out of arousal doesn’t mean that he would never growl out of fear or anger.
Growling is still primarily a warning signal and every dog is different when it comes to the amount of play or pleasure vocalization.
A sudden change in behavior often comes from pain or severe discomfort.
Especially when you are touching an inflamed ear or an injured paw.
There are also several conditions that have aggression as a symptom like hypothyroidism.
Getting your dog thoroughly checked by the vet can rule out any underlying diseases and will keep you and your dog safe.
All dogs prefer to be scratched on their favorite area, whether that’s the belly, back, or chest.
But many dogs actually dislike being pet on the head or around the muzzle, ears, and paws especially if it wasn’t a part of their socialization training.
You can try desensitizing your dog to like being touched in those specific places.
Veterinarians routinely need to check the mouth and ears and groomers (or you) must be able to hold your dog’s paw while trimming nails.
How to fix it: If you want to work on the paws, simply teach your dog the trick “shake” which automatically involves his paws being touched without him really noticing it.
You can use plenty of treats when working on desensitization but be careful not to encourage undesired behavior which means removing the treat when your dog starts growling.
Getting your dog more accustomed to pats also involves you learning how to actually stroke your dog the right way.
Below is an awesome video with every dog’s favorite spots:
Calmly block your dog if he jumps up without permission.
If your dog jumps up without permission, you would calmly block him or say “no” and remove him. Don’t show anger or frustration, and don’t laugh either if you want to be taken seriously!
Calmly say “no” and remove your dog with no emotion. Repeat five or six times if he tries to test you. Some dogs will not take their owners seriously at first. If he jumps up more than that, just put him in a crate, close the bedroom door or use a leash to tether him somewhere else with a dog bed.
Then, a few minutes later (not seconds), invite your dog up when he’s calm.
Why Does My Dog Growl When I Pet Him (12 Reasons Explained)
To stop a dog from growling at you on the bed, I would simply remove the dog from your bed.
In some ways, growling is good because the dog is communicating his discomfort or disapproval. It’s a warning before a snap or a bite or more ferocious growling.
So it’s not that you want to “punish” the dog for growling. It’s more about preventing the situation where he feels the need to growl.
It’s pretty simple, really. If your dog growls at you on your own bed, stop allowing the dog on the bed (for now).
Some people can’t imagine booting little “Angel” off the bed, and if that’s how you feel about it then that’s your choice. Maybe you don’t really have a problem. But if you’re here because you truly want to stop your dog from growling at you on the bed, I’m going to share some ideas for you to try.
Either you want to stop your dog’s growling at you or you don’t really care. It’s your choice, but I know personally I will NOT tolerate a dog growling at me in my own bed! Haha.