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Permalink Reply by Tauna and Kota on March 19, 2010 at 5:56am

Was wondering that too... I do stuff to Kota all the time while he's sleeping to see if he will move or just keep sleeping... It's interesting to see what he will not be bothered by...

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 19, 2010 at 7:11am

Many of them don't mind, most of the time. Til there is that time that you didn't realize they dozed off fitfully in high alert because right before they dropped off to sleep, a gang of teenagers threw a rock at the window and then someone walked by with a dominant-aggressive terrier who walked over your lawn as if he owned the place, and then that neighbor cat sat right outside the window and taunted him. Again. How dare he??? And after an hour of feeling like the place was under siege, your dog finally drifts off to sleep and then without realizing it, you reach over to pat him.....

My personal experience is most dogs are usually ok with it, some never are. Just like some people wake up cheerful and ready to take on the day and others are a bear til their first cup of coffee, and some will sleep through a hurricane and others wake up if a bird chirps, all dogs are different. But as I said even a wonderful, perfect, bomb-proof dog can have a bad day. If my dogs are lying next to me, relaxed and happy in my lap as I pet them and they drift off, I will continue to pet them and not really be concerned. But if they are lying on the couch sound asleep and I walk into the room and I need to approach them, I give them the courtesy of calling their name softly first to alert them of my presence.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on March 19, 2010 at 8:43am

Most of my dogs go to bed before I do and I pet each one when I get into the bedroom and occasionally if I get up at night. They too are fine with it. I do startle my rescue once in awhile but I think this is because of her past, she doesn't get mad she just jumps. Mine also sense when I am waking up(not necessarily ready) and my 2 females are then up on the bed trying to get attention and snuggle!

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Permalink Reply by christy fry on March 19, 2010 at 8:46am

I'll say that since Cody has gone deaf he sleeps like the dead I've never seen him sleep this soundly as a hearing dog. I feel kinda bad that we(humans) must be teribly loud and annoying to these creatures. I was the same way about petting or waking them up but now I see the term let sleeping dogs lie in a whole new light.

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Permalink Reply by Alice on March 19, 2010 at 12:37pm

Finnigan doesn't mind one bit. I think most behaviors have to do with how the dog was raised. We've messed with Finn in every possible way since he was 8 weeks old just to make sure he would not develop issues. We'd get in his face all the time, reach into his food while he's eating, take things from his mouth, touch his paws, hold him, roll him over, kiss his nose, pet him or kiss him while he's asleep, etc. and even now he will be asleep on my lap on the couch and when I get up he barely even opens his eyes so I end up having to pick him up and carry him to his crate while he tries to go back to sleep in my arms. You could do anything to him and he would not growl or snap. I'm glad to have such a tolerant dog.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 19, 2010 at 12:57pm

Sometimes I awake betimes, grab Al or Gwynn at the foot of the bed and drag them up for Teddy Bear Duty. They don't even wake up. It's fun to drape a hand across their face while they're sleeping; you can feel their eyes moving when they dream.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on March 29, 2010 at 3:54pm

Last night, I pulled Goldy up for Teddy Bear Duty and Bear was on the floor. I felt him jump onto the bed and curl up against my back. I was a corgi sandwich!

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