Although I LOVE my new BT, he has done something negative a few times. He did it first to DD when, as he was in a deep-sleep-curled-up-ball, she tried to move him to a more comfy position in her bed. He growled, she pushed him out of bed, with a "Bad dog!"

He did this to me last night when he was on my lap, and I was ooching him around. I did a "Hey!" at him, corrective voice.

Anyone else have this happen? What's the best response?

Ever heard the saying "Let sleeping dogs lie..."

As much your dog may love you, when they're asleep it's almost like they revert to 100% instinct. Our youngest, Chloe, reacts the same way when we wake her out of a deep sleep, but once she realizes it was us that stirred her, she usually settles down. :D

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Boston Terrier Forums

Actually, last night, he growled before he was sound asleep, when I tried to reposition him. Then he growled again, fully awake, as I was still trying to get him into a comfy position for both of us. Both times I scolded him firmly. He didn't do it again. I just want to make sure that I shouldn't put him off the sofa, or is a verbal correction enough?

My dog does exactly what you described (cookie_tyme). If Olli is comfy...he'll sometimes growl if we try to move him. He doesnt even have to be asleep. I used to get really mad at him for doing it because its just such a bratty thing to do, but now I'll growl at him back, not a serious growl, but kind of a mocking growl to show him how silly he is being, lol. I know how childish it sounds...but it works. When I yelled at him or pushed him off the couch, he would give me a look like I was the bad guy, but now when I growl at him...he just stops. Try it...its really funny. Ps, Im so glad someone elses dog does this

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Thanks, Nugget I will definately try that.

LOL When Kona was a puppy, he would get aggressive when he got a tasty new treat. Of course we wanted to break him of that habit so we had to work to get him out of it. We would grrrrowl at him too, in a playful way. It sort of just snap him out of him being naughty. LOL After a few weeks, he was excellent.

Our Boston does the same thing... She doesn't like to be disturbed, haha.

I've done similar things to what's been mentioned above, but she's doing it less and less these days.

Cosmo hasn't done it since I posted. He must know that I've been gossiping about him...

I will use that growling technique if need be...

One of my bostons does the same thing. He is deaf though so we figured that is why. To stop this, and to keep from scaring him, we pet him slowly and softly until he wakes up and sees that it's us. After he got used to that, I started using a small hug and a kiss (sounds silly, I know) to wake him up. It has worked for us!