Guest GoingGrey Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Anyone experienced anything like this? It’s specific, creepy kind of howl, usually during sleep, that starts low and long and soft, but quickly gets louder and higher in pitch right up on the scale until I interrupt him. It’s nothing like his rooing or like his howling when he's left alone; It’s one long continuous note that sounds like some kind of ghost siren or horror movie SFX. It doesn't sound canine or human or anything recognizable. And It can get unbelievably loud and high-pitched. The only way it stops is if I startle him or touch him. It’s eerie as heck!Mostly it happens in his sleep (or so it seems), but a couple times I’ve seen him do it with his eyes open (and not the half-open fluttering grey sleep) and once while lying right next to me on the couch, seemingly 100% awake. I'll go FLYING out of bed from a deep sleep when i hear it, cuz I'm both terrified of the sound and terrified the neighbors will wake up and call the police and/or Ghostbusters. lol It happens in clusters; He’ll go a year or two without doing it, I'll forget about it, then it starts happening again for a little while.Right after adopting him, I asked the adopters of one of his littermates if they experienced anything like this and they said yes, so I thought it was maybe normal (?) or genetic, but today I wonder if they weren’t just mistaking it for rooing, cuz i have yet to hear of anything similar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Greg does it occasionally and it usually scares the crap out of me until I realize it's him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GoingGrey Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 How do you get him to stop? Or does he stop on his own? Elvis doesn't stop until I stop him. A thrown pillow or a shaking and saying his name... Afterward he doesn't shake it off or even stand up. Just lies there like he wasn't just suddenly 100% possessed by some otherwordly being! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 We would just gently say his name when it first started. but now we just let him finish, it can go on for a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 All dogs do this--well, I don't mean every dog, but all TYPES of dogs do this. They're just "talking" in their sleep. I would not "startle" your dog out of this (good way go get accidentally nipped) but if you feel you must wake him, clap your hands and says his name loudly, or toss a pillow gently. Or let him enjoy his dream! We had a Lab once, and after 10 years of virtual silence, one night there was a siren on a TV show and without ever opening his eyes, he lifted his giant head and went "awwwwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" with the siren, and then slowly laid his head back down and continued his snooze. It was amazing! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claudiav Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 my Reese does this too, during sleep.... he's dreaming... i let him dream... he stops eventually... Quote Image removed, not within Signature Guidelines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 It's normal and very common. He's just dreaming. If it bothers you, gently wake him up from a distance in case he startles and snaps inadvertently. Our first greyhound sleep roo'd all the time - usually at 2 in the morning! It's very creepy and scary! Especially when you're all alone in the house! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest xengab Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 yes, and since he is right next to my bed, it startles me. Usually he just stops after a minute or too. Not the same as a roo or bark. I guess its due to them being asleep. Mine usually on his back when he does this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GoingGrey Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Hmmm. Interesting. May not be a greyhound thing, either. It's definitely not a roo, and i definitely have to stop him because it keeps increasing in volume and it's loud it's like a tornado siren or something. He never reacts or startles when i interrupt him, he's calm as can be. When he dreams, he's very active and vocal--doing the running man, growling and grumbling and muffled barks--the usual. He startles slightly sometimes if woken, or has that look of, what, where am I? for a second. But when i interrupt the siren howl, like I said; no reaction, he just opens his eyes, or if his eyes are *already* open, he just quits. Like i said, EERIE. ha He doesn't do it when hearing sirens (tho maybe he hears something else I can't?) He used to mimic sirens and that was different sound, one that very much amused people at the local dog park situated next to the fire station. ha. Oh well. May be one day I can catch him on tape...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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