Here's Why You Should Never Wake a Sleeping Dog, According to a Vet

We've all heard the old proverb to "let sleeping dogs lie," but how true is it that you should never wake a sleeping dog?

To shed light on the age-old advice, animal wellbeing specialist at Animal Friends Pet Insurance Catrin George and Dr. Mondrian Contreras, veterinarian at Carol Stream Animal Hospital, in Illinois, offered their advice.

"You might have noticed that your dog tends to sleep whenever there isn't anything better to do," George told Newsweek. "In fact, dogs can average anything between eight and 20 hours of sleep each day, depending on their age, breed, exercise, surroundings, and health. Our canine friends need this amount of sleep because it helps restore their immunity and repairs damaged cells in their bodies."

Dogs share similar sleep cycles to humans, including having REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. George explained: "Dogs in REM sleep may twitch their ears, eyes, legs, or tail. Once in deep sleep, they'll appear more relaxed and will likely lie on their side. Never wake your dog during these stages of sleep."

Waking a dog during REM sleep, i.e. deep sleep, can have unintended consequences, potentially startling them and causing them to jump, scratch or even bite involuntarily.

Additionally, Dr. Mondrian Contreras told Newsweek: "There are also medical conditions such as hearing loss, arthritis, and back injuries that can cause dogs to be more reactive if abruptly startled awake. 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."

Where possible, both George and Contreras said it was best to avoid waking a dog during any of their sleep cycles.

"Stroking or patting a sleeping dog may scare them and cause them to react, especially if your pup is of a nervous disposition," George explained.

Other dogs will let you know in no uncertain terms that they'd rather not be woken—like rescue dog Ralph who was woken "too early" by his owner, or the American Bully dubbed "relatable" because he didn't want to get out of bed in the morning.

But if you really do need to get your sleeping dog up, George did have some advice.

"Try to do so while they're in their non-REM sleep. Dogs in light, non-REM sleep are likely to wake up more easily. Try making a quiet noise near your dog to gently rouse them," she said.

As well as letting your dog get the right amount of sleep to keep them in good health, it is also a good idea to keep an eye on their sleeping habits.

Changes in the amount of sleep dogs get or their sleeping position could indicate pain or discomfort. In older dogs if your pet starts sleeping more during the day and less at night it could be a sign of more serious health problems or cognitive decline.

"If you've noticed any change in their sleeping habits or are finding it particularly difficult to wake your dog, take them to the vet as soon as possible," said George.

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