RaineysMom Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) ok. We've had Zeke for just over a year now. He sleeps on a dog bed in an Xpen in our bedroom because our other dog, Larry has sleep startle/aggression so it's the only way to keep Zeke safe for sure). Zeke has zero sleep/space aggression and we frequently snuggle/pet him when he's on his bed (and awake) with zero issues. Several months ago, on a weekend morning, we invited Zeke to come sleep in the bed with us (all of our other dogs slept with us every single night and I sure miss it ) After about 10 minutes, he started whining/yipping from having a dream (he had the jimmy legs too, so for sure dreaming) -- it was driving me nuts so I very gently spoke to him to wake him up and he did, but started growling at me. So, off the bed immediately. This morning, with it being so cold, he had a light jacket/warmer on but was also covered up with a light blanket. Right after Bruce left for work I noticed he was panting from being warm, so I got him out of the xpen, took off the warmer, and invited him on the bed again. He and I slept (luckily his butt was facing me and his head was down by my feet) for about an hour, then he woke me up to his growling and (mild) snarling and barking. He was wide awake and looking at me, and still laying on his side, but just with his head picked up a bit. I immediately got up and got him off the bed. what on earth would make him act so very differently when on our bed and NO OTHER place?? Zeke is normally the most sweetest and silliest boy ever, not the type at all that would be aggressive like that. Obviously, we'll not ever have him on the bed but I'm just clueless why he'd act like this. I realize our bed might be "high value" but he's jumped on it (when we've invited him) and we've never had any issues snuggling with him like that (but he doesn't go to sleep).... ?? Edited January 8, 2014 by RaineysMom Quote Kim and Bruce - with Rick (Rick Roufus 6/30/16) and missing my sweet greyhound Angels Rainey (LG's Rainey 10/4/2000 - 3/8/2011), Anubis (RJ's Saint Nick 12/25/2001 - 9/12/12) and Zeke (Hey Who Whiz It 4/6/2009 - 7/20/2020) and Larry (PTL Laroach 2/24/2007 - 8/2/2020) -- and Chester (Lab) (8/31/1990 - 5/3/2005), Captain (Schipperke) (10/12/1992 - 6/13/2005) and Remy (GSP) (?/?/1998 - 1/6/2005) at the bridge"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemmingway
NeylasMom Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 I'm confounded by this post. You admitted he has sleep aggression to the point that he has to sleep in an X-pen and that's what you're experiencing here. It has nothing to do with the value of the bed. It's sleep aggression, plain and simple. He's awake and looking at you when you look down because you've woken him up! Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong."
Guest MrsKuchta Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) I'm confounded by this post. You admitted he has sleep aggression to the point that he has to sleep in an X-pen and that's what you're experiencing here. It has nothing to do with the value of the bed. It's sleep aggression, plain and simple. He's awake and looking at you when you look down because you've woken him up!I think her other dog has sleep aggression, and Zeke sleeps in the xpen so he doesn't bother the other dog. ETA: sorry, I have no advice to offer, OP. Perhaps because it's a different place from where he normally sleeps and he wakes up differently? Not sure. Edited January 7, 2014 by MrsKuchta Quote
RaineysMom Posted January 7, 2014 Author Posted January 7, 2014 I think her other dog has sleep aggression, and Zeke sleeps in the xpen so he doesn't bother the other dog. ETA: sorry, I have no advice to offer, OP. Perhaps because it's a different place from where he normally sleeps and he wakes up differently? Not sure. thank you MrsKuchta, yes it's Larry that has the sleep aggression. We don't even walk near his bed much less let him in bed.... Quote Kim and Bruce - with Rick (Rick Roufus 6/30/16) and missing my sweet greyhound Angels Rainey (LG's Rainey 10/4/2000 - 3/8/2011), Anubis (RJ's Saint Nick 12/25/2001 - 9/12/12) and Zeke (Hey Who Whiz It 4/6/2009 - 7/20/2020) and Larry (PTL Laroach 2/24/2007 - 8/2/2020) -- and Chester (Lab) (8/31/1990 - 5/3/2005), Captain (Schipperke) (10/12/1992 - 6/13/2005) and Remy (GSP) (?/?/1998 - 1/6/2005) at the bridge"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemmingway
Opals_mom Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 I read it that he's in the pen because Larry has the sleep aggression. Quote Missing my bridge greys Opal and Eden and cat Bailey. Mom to Missy the Super Mutt and recent foster failure of Miley to mini-mutt.
NeylasMom Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 (edited) Ahhh, thanks for clarifying that, I was so lost. Anyway, my answer doesn't really change. Sounds like when you snuggle with Zeke on his bed when he's awake. In this case, on a nice warm comfy bed where you've both fallen into a deep sleep you're startling him awake with your movement, something he's not used to and he's reacting. Honestly, all of my greyhounds have done this and with some it just went away with time as they got used to it. With others, I had to do some counter-conditioning. What I would probably do if you want to continue letting him in bed is make sure he has a really sound VERBAL "off" cue and if he growls, you tell him to get off and go to his own bed. He will likely learn that to be in bed with you he has to not react, but don't physically move him or things may escalate. Edited January 8, 2014 by NeylasMom Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong."
Guest DeniseL Posted January 9, 2014 Posted January 9, 2014 I can relate to this....but the other way around. Miami has sleep aggression, but only in certain areas. When he is upstairs on his bed we don't go near him. He can explode. On the couch or anywhere downstairs he is fine. No problems whatsoever.. He has gotten so much better with it over the last year and he loves to sleep on our bed, of course when we are not on it. One time I got comfortable when he jumped up and I was napping, I let him lay with me. No bueno. He jumped up and mouthed my arm with a yelp. No harm done, but lesson learned. Anyhow, I guess what I'm trying to say, is that in certain situations/areas he has sleep aggression and in certain situations/areas he does not. It's weird. Maybe your boy is just not comfortable sleeping near a human....he doesn't have sleep startle per say, but waking up with a human sleeping next to him is unsettling and he startles... Quote
Brandiandwe Posted January 9, 2014 Posted January 9, 2014 Hermon had sleep startle and some space aggression/ resource guarding when we first got him. He actually bit DH wqhen we allowed him to sleep on our bed too soon. A couple of months after that, we were having bad storms and the only way we could get him to settle was on our bed, in between us. So we settled him down, and hoped for the best. No problems. I think it was him having to get used to sleeping with other beings so close to him. He's fine now.. Quote
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