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Why Is My Dog Aggressive When Woken Suddenly?

By EMMA BOWDREY, ISCP
July 22, 2022
1 minute read
Why Is My Dog Aggressive When Woken Suddenly? - Whistle

It’s called sleep startle reflex — and there are easy ways to deal with it.

Stanislav/Adobe Stock

Many dogs will easily shake it off when woken suddenly. But some dogs may growl, snap, lunge, and bite when woken unexpectedly. For these dogs, a simple kiss on the head can trigger this reaction, and it can be momentarily terrifying. The good news is there are ways to deal with sleep startle reflex in dogs. Keep reading to learn how.

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