Why does my dog growl during bad dreams and when I touch her?

It’s impossible to know without an exam if that episode was a bad dream or related to pain. Watch Orlando very closely for any repeated episodes, limping or reluctance to move. Once he wakes up, check his nails and make sure none are broken and that there aren’t any wounds on the feet. If you see anything questionable, have him seen by his veterinarian. It’s possible he got a toe nail stuck in the bed and it twisted and if the nails are long, get them trimmed. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Zoey! It is common for dogs to "dream" while asleep. It may appear as though it is a nightmare because they cry or bark or sound distressed. The good thing about dogs is that once they wake up they likely do not remember the dream and are not traumatized by it. When my dog has these vocal dreams I call out his name or gently wake him up. I wish you and Zoey the best!

It is not uncommon for dogs, especially puppies and younger dogs, to make noises or have movements (such as moving the feet/running/breathing rapidly for a moment) in their sleep. We assume they are dreaming, and most dogs don't seem to be negatively affected by this!

It's possible that Blue may have simply had a bad dream. However, there is a recognized sleep disorder in dogs that can cause them to wake up out of a sound sleep and aggressively attack other dogs or people who happen to be nearby - it's uncommon, but it does happen. If you want to be on the safe side, it may be best to have Blue sleep in a crate or in another enclosed space, such as in an exercise pen or behind a baby gate to make sure that everyone is safe if this happens again. This problem does not usually translate to any increased aggressive behavior when the dog is awake, so that's not likely to be a concern.

Yes, this sounds normal. Some dogs do not like to be bothered when they are sleeping and just need time away from other pets (or even other people!). I would recommend that you allow your older dog to have a space away from the puppy for sleeping - you may also try crate training both of them to keep them safe when you are away. Growling is a way for dogs to communicate, and hopefully the puppy will start to understand soon!

If this is new, try to think of anything in your normal household routine that may have changed. Chances are that Tinkerbell is reacting to something she finds upsetting or threatening. The other possibility is that she is sick, so I would have her checked by a vet just to rule out that factor. If she is healthy, then the cause is behavioral. You can click on the prompt to initiate a consult so we can discuss this in more depth and get to the bottom of it and what to do about it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Louie. If he is only whimpering and twitching in his sleep, he is likely dreaming. You can try to wake him up during the episodes to ensure that he is responsive. This is common in dogs and typically not indicative of a problem. I hope this information helps!