It is Sunday morning and you are awoken by a whining, scratching sound outside your door. You wonder ‘do dogs know when humans are sleeping?’ because you realize it is your furry friend at the door urging you to let it out.
We all want our dogs to understand us- particularly our emotions, and also when not ‘trouble us’ when we are resting.
Naturally, all pet parents wonder, at some point or another, whether their dog is intelligent and smart enough to understand when their humans are sleeping? Most of us wonder whether our pet knows human sleep schedule?
In this guide, we will try and find out the answers to the question – do dogs know when humans are sleeping.
Do Dogs Know When Humans Are Sleeping?
Yes. We believe that most dogs understand when their humans are sleeping.
Man domesticated dogs thousands of years ago. Since then, dogs have become indispensable parts of millions of households. It is little wonder that our canine companion has also adjusted to human sleeping habits and even become our bed partner.
For dogs, there is no sense of time. Most companion dogs will gladly nap all day and will be equally grateful to tuck into bed with their humans in the evening.
However, all dogs have a highly developed sense of smell which helps them ‘tell time’. Have you noticed how Fido will go and sit patiently by the door every day at 3 pm when your son/daughter returns from school?
They understand time when their nose indicates to them a ‘dilution’ of the smell of an individual. That is also how they know when that individual will return home.
Similarly, most dogs understand that their human is sleeping due to the peculiar chemicals we give off in our sleep. These, combined with our breathing and REM (eye movement), help our dogs understand that we are asleep.
Why and How Do Dogs Know When Humans Are Sleeping?
Here are some reasons why and how dogs know when humans are sleeping:
1. Dogs love to sleep next to their humans
It can seem such a no-brainer to us to understand when a human is sleeping, so why isn’t it the same for our dogs? The answer is that dogs are wired differently. They think differently than humans. So we cannot really expect a dog to perceive things as we perceive them.
Having said that; dogs can sense when their humans are sleeping. They themselves nap a lot and mostly they love napping and sleeping with their humans. So, the moment they see their humans sleeping, they might curl up next to them (if they’re allowed to).
2. Dogs inherently get more protective when their humans are asleep
When a dog senses that there is no activity from their human laying on the bed, their protective instincts kick in automatically. They become hyper-vigilant. At least most dog breeds do. These are the working dogs – guard dogs and watch dogs – that sleep during the day and become alert at night when their humans sleep.
Even lap dogs like Chihuahuas and Yorkies might get vigilant when their humans are lying on the bed. They are fiercely protective and territorial which is why they might get extra alert to changes in the environment.
3. Humans give off certain smells and chemicals which dogs can sniff
As explained earlier, one of the main reasons why do dogs know when humans are sleeping is due to the peculiar odor humans give off in their sleep. Dogs use their powerful olfactory sense to sniff at a human and immediately know when they are sleeping. That is why most dogs will sniff at their humans in the morning and wag their tails excitedly when they wake up.
4. Dogs also use their sight and hearing
In addition to using their sense of smell, a dog will also use its sight and hearing to determine whether their human is asleep. They note the difference in breathing patterns (an asleep individual will breath more rhythmically and calmly) and also see their human not moving other than their breathing.
Moreover, humans have rapid blinking eye movement behind the eyelids during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Dogs can see this movement and that can also let them understand that their pet parent is sleeping.
What Are Some Reasons Why Dogs Wake Their Sleeping Humans?
It can be very annoying when a pet wakes us up in the middle of the night or early morning when it is a holiday or the weekend. However, most dogs understand that their human is sleeping and will only wake them up when it is urgent. Here are some possible reasons why dogs might awaken us:
1. For potty
Most dogs wake their humans up or potty. Dogs are conditioned to poop at a certain time. If your pet eats a meal later in the day, and it does not get a chance to defecate before bed, then chances are that it might awaken you to ‘go’.
Puppies have very high metabolisms and they also eat several meals through the day. They need more number of potty breaks compared to an adult dog.
That is why a young pup that is house trained might wake you up to relieve itself.
Also Read: How Many Times a Day Should a Dog Poop
2. For food
We domesticated dogs thousands of years ago. Naturally, it is our duty to feed them too. They no longer hunt like they did in the wild. That is why they count on us to provide them with nourishing meals.
The important thing here is to not encourage this behavior. You do not want this to become a routine where your pet wakes you up at odd hours to feed.
You could always leave food out for your pet but free feeding is very harmful as it could lead to obesity. So, the better option here is to train your pet not to wake you up for hunger and, instead, feed them on your own schedule. (Worry not, it isn’t cruel. You need not feel guilty. Dogs are equipped to go without food for long hours). Always make sure that your pet has access to fresh drinking water.
3. For playing and entertainment
This is another common reason why dogs – especially a puppy – might wake you up for. However, like hunger, you must train your dog to play on your terms – and not the dog’s terms.
That is also why it is important to schedule plenty of time for play and exercise for your dog. A well-exercised dog will be too tired and will sleep through the night. It won’t wake up in the middle of the night or even very early in the morning to play. You must provide your pet with plenty of brain activity during the day time so it calmer at night.
4. Sickness and health issues
An ill dog might regretfully wake you up to tell you it is sick. It might even get sick and vomit or have a bowel movement at night. Never ignore these signs and take your pet to the emergency as soon as you can.
Some senior dogs might have chronic aches and pains and might grunt and whimper in their sleep. This could disturb your sleep.
It is a good idea to keep your older dog in another part of the house and not let it sleep next to you. You can also provide the older dog with an orthopedic dog bed which is much more comfortable than human beds as it can relieve pressure on the joints. B00TQ47CPW
5. To alert you to danger
This is the best things a dog can do for its humans- alert them to smoke, fire, burglars, and even earthquakes. Many dogs can sense these calamities way before they strike. If your dog isn’t in the habit of waking you up, then pay attention – it might have an important message for you. It may even save your life!
6. You have unknowingly trained your dog to wake you
Some pet parents unknowingly ‘train’ their dogs to wake them up. They might have encouraged the first few times the dog woke them and even played with it or fed it. This leads your dog to think that it is okay to wake you up anytime it pleases. That is why it is important that the pet owner not give in to demands of food, entertainment, etc. from their pet.
How do Most Dogs Wake up Their Sleeping Humans?
Most dogs use the following methods to wake up their humans:
1. Barking/whining
Most dogs bark, whine, or make a whimpering sound to wake their pet parent up. If your dog is in a crate in another part of the house, it might bark loudly to wake you up.
2. Scratching the door
If your dog does not sleep in your room, it might scratch at your door. If it could open doors, it might even enter your room and jump on your bed.
3. Planting kisses
Most dogs also plant wet and slobbery kisses on your face to wake you up.
Do Dogs Sleep all Night Like Humans Do?
Ask any pet parent the above question and chances are that most will say their dog/s do not sleep all through the night. After all, the canine and human sleep cycle are rather different.
Dogs sleep through the day and unlike humans they catch their naps during the 24-hour cycle. Humans mostly get their sleep only at night. Most dogs wake up frequently to check on their surroundings. Some might wake up to check their humans.
My dog wakes up and jumps off or on the bed if she gets too hot or cold. She then searches for a warmer/cooler surface.
Dogs tend to get hot or cold and night and will frequently wake up to adjust and regulate their temperature for more comfort.
Should You Let Your Dog Sleep With You?
This is a rather grey area. Whether or not you co-sleep with your dog is entirely a personal matter. Here are the pros and cons of sleeping with your dog:
Pros of sleeping next to your pet
- Eases insomnia and other sleep disorders
- Provides a sense of comfort and security to both humans and dogs. It is especially beneficial for dogs that have separation anxiety.
- Reduces feelings of loneliness
- Decreases stress and could reduce depression.
Cons of sleeping next to your dog
- Not a good idea if you have allergies
- Many vets recommend not to sleep with the dog
- Your pet could have parasites like intestinal parasites as well as ticks and fleas
- Dogs can also transmit infections like bubonic plague, staph infections, and bacterial infections like meningitis
- They could track dirt, poop, grass, and other gross stuff in the bed.
- Dogs that are flatulent or have aches and pains might move about a lot and disturb your sleep quality. This is not conducive to productivity during the day.
Now that you are aware of the pros and cons of co-sleeping with your pet, you can decide for yourself if you should make your dog your bed partner.
FAQs on Do Dogs Know When Humans are Sleeping?
1. How long does it take for a dog to enter REM sleep?
Most dogs enter deep sleep or REM stage of sleep in 20 minutes.
2. How to change a dog’s circadian rhythm?
Start before you travel and change/adjust your dog’s walking and feeding routine a week before you fly.
3. Why does my dog keep waking at 3 or 4 am?
Most dogs will wake up early when they want to go potty or are hungry. Try adjusting your pet’s feeding and potty schedule.
Conclusion
Do dogs know when humans are sleeping?
Yes. Most dogs know when humans are sleeping because they observe their rapid eye movement as well as the peculiar salty odor humans give off in their sleep.
You can train your pet not to wake you up by giving it adequate exercise and brain activity during the day and also following feeding and potty schedules strictly. We hope this guide improves sleep efficiency for you and your dog.
