Howling in sleep - daft question!

Kat_Bath

Kat_Bath

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Harvey (nearly 10yo lab, been with us for 6 years) used to only howl in his sleep once, twice a year, max. In the last month or so, he has howled in his sleep about 5/6 times, once he did it two nights in a row! Do I worry?!
 
One of mine did it twice then I never heard it again. Hes a very quiet dog in real life but does howl if he's left too long. Not sure any of that is helpful but it bumps your post anyway.
 
He's very quiet when awake - only properly barking (which is v.loud) when a bit frustrated, which is increasing with age, I think. But he has always been quite vocal in his sleep. I wish he could tell me about his dreams!
 
Kat_Bath said:
Harvey (nearly 10yo lab, been with us for 6 years) used to only howl in his sleep once, twice a year, max. In the last month or so, he has howled in his sleep about 5/6 times, once he did it two nights in a row! Do I worry?!
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I was told by a doctor that elderly people talk in their sleep more because the (hormone? I can’t remember) that keeps the body from acting out dreams becomes less effective with age, leading to more sleep talking and sleep moving like running legs and twitching arms.

I don’t know if it’s true or not and if it would apply to dogs but certainly my nan went from occasional sleep talker to chatting away every night! Doctor wasn’t worried and said it was common.
 
We get the odd whimpers from all of the dogs at different times when they’re asleep. No howling though, and as 3 are huskies, that’s a blessing.

Toby gets very active with his legs when he’s asleep. First time it happened, I thought he was having a seizure.
 
Mine is a sleep howler too! Not often, maybe once every few months. Was quite disconcerting the first time he did it! He also sleeps growls, yaps, and "runs". Not sure about frequency, I couldn't work out whether it means distress... He quite likes a singalong if anyone's whistling or singing happy birthday or anything like that. And no he's not a husky, he's a Manchester Terrier 😂
 
I can tell when mines dreamin about hunting and whether its going well or not by the noises he makes. That one has never howled though. The other one seems to dream mainly about running and eating, he smacks his lips in his sleep and you can tell he's eating. He is a greedy bugger when he's awake mind!
 
My lurcher growls in her sleep.

My whippet has the occasional howl.

If they are actually asleep then it wouldn't concern me.
 
About 10 years ago, JD randomly howled in her sleep one night. Except it was less howl and more like the sort of roaring/wailing that came out of Linda Blair’s mouth in The Exorcist. She was sleeping on the floor by the bed so I woke up thinking the devil had come to take me. I’ve never heard anything like it before or since!
 
The first time it happened, I thought I was in some kind of weird, misty Hound of the Baskervilles scene!

There is also a chance he may not be chasing squirrels and that Clodagh's contribution to this thread is correct 🫣🤭
 
One of ours is a very noisy sleeper. All sorts of whiffles, grunts, yips, lip smacking, growling with the occasional howl. All accompanied by lots of tail wagging and twitches. The other sleeps like a log with barely a twitch or sound.
 
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