Dog nightmares

Wellyboots6

My dog has nightmares.
He jumps up barking in the middle of the night and looks panicked. He calms down and goes back to sleep the minute he gets his bearings and realises where he is.
He is a rescue and I have had him nearly three years now. It has calmed down a lot but he still does it.
Any ideas on anything that might help?

mellymoo74

both of mine do it Katy, and Froo wasnt a rescue. It can be distressing I know but the fact hes settling straight back down shows he feels safe with you.

Stevie_Palimo

I would not worry to much to be honest and my dog that is not a rescue one has what I can only describe as a epileptic fit when she dreams or has a nightmare, After waking up from this she seems very distressed and takes a minute or so to get her bearings before relaxing back into a stupor again.

Wellyboots6

The neighbours claim they can't hear him at night but I do worry that they will get annoyed eventually, or move and then new neighbours won't be so understanding.

And I'd quite like a night of unbroken sleep!

It's not nice to see him distressed. He sometimes wakes up mid-bark and looks so surprised when he realises he is barking!

We are getting a few nights a week now where he sleeps through, but when he does have a bad night it can happen 5 or 6 times.

mellymoo74

Katy try keeping a diary when its happening, you can see if anything is triggering it then.
x

Wellyboots6

Ooh good idea!

mellymoo74

the having to keep a diary recently to narrow down triggers has helped its now my first thought.

Hes a lovely dog so well done for taking him on.
xx

krlyr

Have you tried an Adaptil diffuser in the room he sleeps in?

Wellyboots6

We tried one a while ago for fireworks and he seemed to get really agitated with it. Hubby has suggested getting him a nightlight, as he doesn't seem to be bothered when he naps during the day.

Just don't tell anyone a big rufty tufty German shepherd is having to sleep with a nightlight, his street cred would be ruined!