Understanding sleep startling.
Greyhounds are typically raised in environments where they sleep alone from a young age, and would not be in a situation where they are woken from their sleep by touch. Think of it like this, if you go to sleep in your locked bedroom and are awoken by somebody touching you - you would be pretty startled. You would likely throw your hands up and yell. It is similar to your Greyhound, who is unaccustomed to sharing a sleeping space with anybody else.
The main difference here - is that Greyhounds don’t have hands to throw up so they are likely to snap or snarl.
This advice, as explained by Sue Waugh helps to identify sleep startling and avoid it from happening.
But firstly, we have to know - is it sleep startling or resource guarding?
Do they growl/bark/display hostility or general uneasiness when asleep and get bumped or woken by touch?
Do they have their eyes open and look awake, but a bump or touch while on their bed makes them growl/bark or display general uneasiness and hostility?
If you have answered yes to the above - your Greyhound is sleep startling.
To ensure sleep startling doesn't occur in your home - we humans have to change our behaviour. Simple changes can have a desensitization affect - allowing your Greyhound to start 'listening out' for your approach. Some Greyhounds however will sleep so soundly, that no matter how much noise you make - they wont wake!
You could:
Call their name, whistle, click your fingers, drag your feet or make a noise before approaching your sleeping Greyhound, and ensure their head comes up off the bed - eyes open may not be enough as some Greyhounds sleep with their eyes open.
Crates work well if there are young children in the home, as the crate creates a physical barrier where the Greyhound cannot be disturbed. Or try a separate room where the crate could be placed, this will provide your Greyhound with their own 'bedroom'. Ensure any guests visiting respect your Greyhounds 'safe space' and do not disturb them while they are sleeping.
If anybody wishes to pat your Greyhound, make sure you call them from their bed first, if they do not budge its best to let them be.
Most importantly, teach them a command or a cue to get them up or off what they are sleeping on, especially if it is on a sofa or your bed. Make it a game, reward them when they are invited on - and reward them again when you command them off. If you do not create these boundaries with your Greyhound, it will be difficult to manage their sleep startling. Remember - it is about changing our behaviours to help them.
If your Greyhound is growling at you any time while they are awake, it is likely that they are resource guarding.
If you walk towards their bed do they growl/bark/appear hostile or show general uneasiness?
Do they growl/bark and appear defensive if you go to touch/remove their belongings/food?
Have they jumped on the furniture and in your attempted to call them down and/or reach for their collar - have they barked or growled at you?
If you attempt to sit on the couch/bed where your Greyhound is - do they growl/appear hostile?
If you have answered yes to the above - your Greyhound is resource guarding.
If this is happening please contact us immediately so we can refer you to a professional behaviourist/dog trainer as this behaviour should not be ignored.