Charlie snaps at me if I wake him up ..

[Nikki & Charlie]

Do any of your doods do this?

 

At night, while we are all relaxing on the couch, Charlie often falls asleep tucked away in a corner somewhere. If he's out cold and I go to wake him up for bed, he starts growling at me and will actually snap at me. He's bitten me once. He ONLY ever acts like that when I wake him up, and I don't ever startle him.. I do it very gently. Even if I'm just petting him and hes really really tired, he freaks.

 

Thoughts/suggestions?

[Susan and Bentley]

we had a similar issue when Bentley was younger.  I try to get him to bed prior to him falling that soundly asleep.  Or, my trainer said to keep a leash on him at night, this way you can gently pull on the leash to get him up, instead of trying to wake him from a dead sleep.  No one likes to be woken up from a deep sleep.  Does he sleep with you or in a crate?

[Nikki & Charlie]

Lately we have been trying to get him to bed before he gets into a deep sleep. No, he sleeps in a crate. The other night he went into his crate by himself and laid down and I was so excited I went to pet him and he snapped at me lol.. guess he was exhausted and didn't want to be bothered.

[Susan and Bentley]

sounds like he gets a little cranky when tired.  how old is he?  Bentley did grow out of that.  It took a while but he now goes to his crate at night when I tell him to, with the help of some treats he knows he gets for going in.  It took a while to get to this point.  Of course I never really followed my trainer's instructions and kept the leash on him at night.  Lots of treats and lots of training over and over...

[Nikki & Charlie]

He's only 5 months so I know he's still young.. I've been starting to lure him in his crate with treats too so hopefully that works.

[Mari Bezanson]

I think is this completely normal.  I think the best thing to do, is gently wake him up before getting fingers too close.   Allow them to get their bearings and I think you will have a better outcome. 

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thank you!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I would try putting up the lights and stomp over to him, so he becomes aware that you are approaching. Plus all the leadership stuff. You don't want him thinking it is ok to bite, ever, in my opinion, so I wouldn't treat nor pet him during the process. All business. ;) good luck!!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I don't agree on this being completely normal. It is a behavior that needs to be curbed pronto. Growling and snapping/ biting is NEVER acceptable. How old is he?

[Nikki & Charlie]

He is 5 months. He doesn't do it often but it does happen..

[Mari Bezanson]

I remember a puppy in our classes had this same issue.  Our trainer said to imagine us in the dogs position.  Would you like to be grabbed or startled when you are in a dead sleep?   As we would appreciate as well, wake them gently and with respect. 

[Susan and Bentley]

exactly what Mari said.  My trainer said the same thing - how would you like to be woken up from a dead sleep.  And growling is a good thing - it's your dog's way of telling you he's uncomfortable, scared, stressed, etc.  See the link  - https://positively.com/dog-training/understanding-dogs/canine-vocal...

[Kristen and Chewbacca (Chewy)]

I agree that they shouldn't be startled out of sleep. However, snapping/biting is not a sign of respect, nor is it a good form of communication with his owner. I would find another way to get him to bed (waking him with his nose-wave a treat around his nose and he'll wake up, leading him to bed before he falls asleep on the couch), but I don't want to teach my dog that it is ever ok to snap at me or bite me. I think it's best to correct that behavior while he's still young. I do believe growling is communication/a warning and it's important for us as owners to listen and respond before it leads to snapping and biting.