Aggression at bed time

[Robin_n_Jack]

Jack is crate trained, and sleeps in his crate at night. We have found that he won't really go to sleep unless he is in his crate, and if we have him up way past his bedtime, he usually starts running back and forth to his crate as if to say, "alright, it is bedtime, I want to go to sleep now."

Since my husband came home (he was gone for 8 weeks) we have been up later, and Jack gets to stay up late with his daddy, while I go to sleep early because of work, etc.

Last night, Jack had fallen asleep on the couch, after I had gone to bed. DH woke him to put him in his crate for the night, and Jack started snarling at him. Apparently, he snarled at DH, then ran over to the closed bedroom door, where I was sleeping like the dead. He came back, let DH take his collar off, then snarled and ran back over to the door. I guess he ran back again and DH kind of pushed him in the crate.

He has never done this before. DH is gone a lot- like 6-8 weeks, and he is usually only home for about 2 weeks in between, so I was always concerned about DH being able to show he was alpha to Jack. Jack definitely knows that I am in charge, but this is really the first time he has shown any aggression towards one of us.

So, is it just because DH woke him up from sleeping? Or is there some contest going on that we should nip in the bud?

[Ninabeana26]

Dallas very occasionally can be a bit snarky if you wake him up from a deep sleep. He won't bite or anything just kind of makes a light growling noise. I just say "cut that out!" & he snaps out of it, gets up, stretches & is back to the friendly pup we know/love.

[BasenjiDiva]

When Jayden falls asleep on the sofa in the eveniing we have to speak to him before we touch him or try to move him. But almost all of our dogs have been that way….even our sweet, sweet basset hound hated to be awakened out of a deep sleep by someone touching her. My husband might say that I'm pretty snarky if awakened suddenly out of a deep sleep.

Pat

[Robin_n_Jack]

That is actually what I told DH- that the pup gets his cranky wake-up mood from him! I was hoping that it was just the fact that he woke him from a deep sleep. I don't know what I would do if the two of them didn't get along- get rid of DH? Just kidding.

[lvoss]

@Robin_n_Jack:

Last night, Jack had fallen asleep on the couch, after I had gone to bed. DH woke him to put him in his crate for the night, and Jack started snarling at him. Apparently, he snarled at DH, then ran over to the closed bedroom door, where I was sleeping like the dead. He came back, let DH take his collar off, then snarled and ran back over to the door. I guess he ran back again and DH kind of pushed him in the crate.

Did he snarl or did he make a growly type sound? If he growled/snarled when he was woken up to be moved, I would suggest trying to wake him up using voice to call him off the sofa or where ever to get a treat and then put him in his crate.

Sometimes mine make what at first sounds almost like a growl but is actually a playful noise, it has a slightly different tone and rythym and they dart back and forth trying to start a game of "catch me".

@Robin_n_Jack:

He has never done this before. DH is gone a lot- like 6-8 weeks, and he is usually only home for about 2 weeks in between, so I was always concerned about DH being able to show he was alpha to Jack. Jack definitely knows that I am in charge, but this is really the first time he has shown any aggression towards one of us.

Since your husband is gone for such long periods of time, it might be helpful when he comes back from a long trip to have him hand feed Jack. Hand feeding is great for helping to build a bond between human and canine.

[Robin_n_Jack]

@lvoss:

Did he snarl or did he make a growly type sound? If he growled/snarled when he was woken up to be moved, I would suggest trying to wake him up using voice to call him off the sofa or where ever to get a treat and then put him in his crate.

Sometimes mine make what at first sounds almost like a growl but is actually a playful noise, it has a slightly different tone and rythym and they dart back and forth trying to start a game of "catch me".

Since your husband is gone for such long periods of time, it might be helpful when he comes back from a long trip to have him hand feed Jack. Hand feeding is great for helping to build a bond between human and canine.

He was definitely not playing. Apparently his hackles went up and he bared his teeth. We will just have to remember to call him to wake him, rather than touch or move him. The other thing is DH refuses to treat when he goes in the crate…..which I always do. I told DH that he needs to start doing that- it is positive reinforcement that the crate is a happy place to be.

I think you are right about hand feeding him, I think it will build a little more of a bond between the two. Jack definitely remembers him from trip to trip, and he loves him to death, but I think he sees him more as an equal than a leader in the pack.

Of course, everyone knows who is really the Alpha in this family. http://www.basenjiforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[lvoss]

It sounds like he was unhappy at being woken up. I would really suggest calling him off the sofa and definately work on your DH about giving a crate treat. It will make it a much more positive experience for Jack.

[Robin_n_Jack]

So, he wasn't snarly at bed time last night, and I told DH that he needs to give Jack a treat to go in his crate. I told him that "it is positive reinforcement, and it makes it so that Jack thinks his crate is a happy place to be"

He thinks that since Jack goes in by himself, usually, that he already knows it is a safe happy place, but I think we need to keep the idea up with treats and happy little things.

I think you are all right- he probably woke him up somewhat suddenly, and that is why he was snarly. It was 12:30, waaaaay past Jack's bedtime. He was probably deep in the REM sleep. Do dogs have REM sleep?

Anyway, it seems that harmony has been restored.

[BasenjiDiva]

@Robin_n_Jack:

He was probably deep in the REM sleep. Do dogs have REM sleep?

Anyway, it seems that harmony has been restored.

I don't know for sure but I always thought that was what they were having when they look like they are chasing rabbits in their sleep. When Jayden gets deep asleep, he snores…loudly.

Pat

[Ninabeana26]

Yes dogs experience REM sleep. That may be one of the few interesting things I learned while working towards my degree in Psych :p

[Robin_n_Jack]

@BasenjiDiva:

I don't know for sure but I always thought that was what they were having when they look like they are chasing rabbits in their sleep. When Jayden gets deep asleep, he snores…loudly.

Pat

Jack snores, too- its really funny, I'd never heard it before- we used to live in a bigger house, then we moved into the condo when we moved to Boston and everything was closer, and the first night there, I hear him snoring and I was looking all over to find out where the noise was coming from!

That's kind of a funny thought- the dogs having REM sleep, too! Jack never really squirms like he is dreaming- although I have heard about that from other dog owners. When he is sleeping, he goes "dog-atonic" lol!

[BasenjiDiva]

@Robin_n_Jack:

Jack never really squirms like he is dreaming- although I have heard about that from other dog owners. When he is sleeping, he goes "dog-atonic" lol!

Cory and Jayden don't get active when they sleep either. But almost all of our other breed dogs did - even our lazy basset hound chased bunnies in her sleep. Cory and Jayden either curl up or stick their legs out like sticks. Cory likes to tuck her head into or under something …..like a human armpit, between back cushions of the sofa, ....whatever is convenient. I've even seen Cory glare at Jayden for his snoring.

Pat

[gbroxon]

@BasenjiDiva:

…Cory and Jayden either curl up or stick their legs out like sticks....
Pat

LOL! We call that "stiffy legs"! I don't know how it can be comfortable having all the bones in your legs locked, but apparently it is!

[Ninabeana26]

Dallas sleeps "stiff-legged" too. It's funny because he can sleep with his legs stiff straight up in the air! I just don't see how that is comfortable but hey, to each his own :p & he snores almost every time he sleeps. Little cat naps he won't snore but if he is actually sleeping, he snores pretty loudly! I think it's cute when he moves his paws in his sleep like he's wakling. He doesn't run in his sleep, just walks. Hahaha. It's hilarious to watch.

[Quercus]

We call it 'pokey leg syndrome'

[Robin_n_Jack]

Jack does that when he is sunbathing. He finds the biggest patch of sun he can find, and lays down crossways with his legs poking straight out and his head thrown back.

He also likes to sleep with his head propped up on something, like a pillow….or my legs!