“Help! My dog growls at me if I try to get them off the sofa when they’re asleep”

Have you heard the phrase – let sleeping dogs lie? That does have some relevance.

I have never been physically removed from a sofa or bed when I am asleep or tired (and I hope you haven’t either!) but I know that if somebody did this to me, I would be unhappy, and it would probably startle me as well. If this happened to somebody, they may snap “leave me alone” at the person moving them in their sleepy state. The same goes for our dogs.

If your dog is asleep/tired on the sofa or bed and you need them to move, don’t reach down when they are asleep and do this physically. This may result in you being on the receiving end of a growl, or snap. It is important to note that a growl is a healthy communication for SPACE, and not to be punished (or they’ll stop growling and step up the ladder – do you want a dog to bite instead of growl?).

First, rouse your dog using your voice to alert them to the fact you are there and bring about their attention. Try to avoid startling them when you do this. Then, use an ‘off’ cue (this is something you will need to teach in advance). With your dog on the bed/sofa, encourage them on to the floor by throwing a reward down there, and as they get down, capture this with the word ‘off’. After lots of repetition, this can become a cue you use to ask your dog to get down, and you might include a hand signal of waving a hand towards the floor.

If you are thinking “but at 10pm I just want to get in the bed without having to do this”, prior to your bed time, you may need to manage the situation by preventing access to the bed, or encouraging your dog off of it ahead of time and shutting the bedroom door.

It is important to note that dogs that are experiencing pain or illness may be increasingly sensitive to being asked to move off of comfy areas or dislike being roused when they are tired. Other health conditions, or loss in hearing/vision, may result in dogs being startled more easily. If you notice a change in behaviour from your dog, or behaviour that is new or worsening, you should go for a check with your vet, referencing the behaviour you have seen. Dogs that have guarding tendencies (some consider this possessiveness) may also not like you asking them to move off of/away from areas that they value, so if this is the case, guarding should be explored with a qualified and experienced behaviourist for a tailored management and coaching plan.

Sally Lewis 2022