Ollie has done this a couple of times, both when he was nudged by me while both laying on the couch. He was also sleeping really hard both times and immediately went back to his sweet expression and waggy tail. I was sort of stretching out and bumped him with my feet near his head...not hard just sleepily stretching. It looked to me like he was kind of shocked out of his sleep and then came to his senses.

I do allow him on the couch with me when watching late night TV like this, and since he graduated from his crate at night, I usually find him sleeping there in the morning. HE NEVER sleeps in the human beds. He also asks permission to get on the couch and is very quick to get off when told. He's always very obedient and rather soft. Before this, the only time I had EVER seen him growl was at night when someone was creeping around our house outside. (which I like)

This is SO not like him and the first time, I wrote it off as just waking him suddenly, but I don't want to ignore if it's something I should worry about. What do you think?

I don't know if it is an aging thing, or possibly just something that some dogs develop, but my girl started growling when being woken up in the middle of the night when she was about 4. We ended up having to separate her from the family during sleep time to prevent the half sleeping dog/half sleeping kids stumbling over her scenario. I don't think it's meant to be agressive, just involuntary during a semi-concious moment. I think it's fairly normal (may be wrong here though as I'm not an expert) But it is something to manage by possibly moving his sleep spot if it becomes a danger, being sure to call his name before touching, etc.

Thanks, Amy. That does make me feel better. I've never had a dog that did this. I'm going to put his dog bed in my room at night. I have kids too. They are older and dog savvy, but I think I'd feel more comfortable with him in my room. I just don't want him in my bed! I could always go back to the crate, but I'd rather not.

I think I'll also make a vet appointment today. It's a little early for his check up, but I want to cover all my bases.

Skipper is 11 years old and he growls when he gets nudged or otherwise inconvenienced when we are all sleeping on the day bed. I give him a small correction, sometimes I make him go to his own bed. I'm definitely concerned about anything escalating between him and Jethro. They are often asleep together now, on the day bed. Jethro seems unperturbed by it, Skipper growls when he is playing, too.

I don't like Skipper on my bed at night, and he does not like to be locked in his crate at all. I have fenced off our bed with xpen and Skipper's crate, with the door open, is tucked in the corner by the bed. I piled a sleeping bag in there and he climbs in and sleeps very nicely beside, not on, the bed.

My Cairn Terrier is like this...more so as she got older. She seems to be a very deep sleeper, at least she obviously dreams a lot! She doesn't like loud noises, so a bang or whatnot to wake her up would be upsetting to her. In the morning when I get her up to go out, I say her name loudly...VERY LOUDLY now that she is going deaf!