Yelping In Sleep

[wagsalot]

Normally I wouldn't be concered about Riley yelping in his sleep if he's dreaming etc, but, this is happening alot more often than it used too.

He started whimpering in his sleep about 7 times last night, waking OH & me up. Id wake Riley up, he'd move around, go to sleep again then start whimpering/yelping again.

Some nights it will happen alot, others not at all. He seems fast asleep when he's doing it, and is completely fine when he wakes up.

Should I be concerned?

Eta - he's 10 in January and perfectly healthy

[Stolzseinrotts]

Sounds like he is dreaming to me.

All of our dogs it. Some bark, growl or howl, obviously it depends on what they are dreaming about.

[wagsalot]

Yeah I think it is dreaming, Im just not sure why he's suddenly started the yelping so many times a night.

My OH is complaing about lack of sleep - I told him its practice for when we have kids :rolleyes:

[persephone]

Our dogs yelp a lot when they are chasing things in their dreams- excitement, I guess :rolleyes:

[RR-Melbourne]

Hi Wagsalot

Our 18 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback used to do this. When he was 10 months old he was aggressively attacked by of all things a Golden at our local off leash park. For a few weeks after this he used to whimper in his sleep and give a little tremble. I thought of gently stroking him when this happened rather than abruptly waking him. After a few days he used to start with a whimper but then as I stroked him and gently spoke to him he started to slightly wag his tail while still sleeping and settles. I am not sure if it is just coincidence but this also helped with his confidence around dogs to the point where he happily plays, has no fear or shows aggression toward other dogs.

Give it a try.

[Kaz]

Could also simply be a change in sleep rhythms due to more or less exercise, stress, a difference in daily routines?

[rubiton]

Just be careful touching a sleeping dog - thought the dog was awake and touched her shoulder and she whipped her head round and then woke up. She was moritifed and immediately went into submissive dog mode but she had been asleep and had paniced when touched.

We usually just call her or snap fingers or something (with normal hearing dogs will wake up from dreaming most of the time).

[Dju]

Just be careful touching a sleeping dog - thought the dog was awake and touched her shoulder and she whipped her head round and then woke up. She was moritifed and immediately went into submissive dog mode but she had been asleep and had paniced when touched.

We usually just call her or snap fingers or something (with normal hearing dogs will wake up from dreaming most of the time).

Why would she be mortified from being awoken? Do dogs even feel embarrassment?

Hugo is a light sleeper so we never have problems with this. When we first got him though, he used to do his "chasing a bunny rabbit" while asleep routine nightly though, complete with growling noises and limbs flailing in the air.

[halfthewords]

Completely normal!

When I'm reading before bed, Carl starts snorting, growling, running, snoring... I just give him a poke when he gets too loud.

[Skruffy n Flea]

it sounds pretty normal to me too

both my dogs, curiously cuz they are so not related, squeak from their tummies! very hard to describe but, yeah, they 'pop' from their tummies when they make this sound and i know they're dreaming cuz of the bodily ticking and jerking

[Skruffy n Flea]

Completely normal!

When I'm reading before bed, Carl starts snorting, growling, running, snoring... I just give him a poke when he gets too loud.

byron's the snorer/snorter between the dogs and when he gets going, i just sit there, watch and smile --- i rarely hear it tho when i'm sleeping

neither of my dogs are that noisy tho; does that mean that they're uninspired!?!? that they're unexcited by the life i provide them!??!

oh dear! i don't need to feel any more inadequate