Dutch Shepherd Forum

Just had to wonder if the rest of your pups also have the tendency to sleep lightly?? I swear Beta not only sleeps with one ear up, but one eye open. She hears every single noise, a door opening, someone going up or down the stairs, using the restroom, etc. Its nearly impossible for her to sleep downstairs with me because she always seems to be on "alert mode". My son has to bring her upstairs to a quieter, more secluded area to sleep. Otherwise, she will "charge" the door with a warning. I love having a built in security system, but it can be a little much sometimes.

She is also very alert to even subtle changes in the environment, not in an overly sensitive, anxiety mode, but obviously very aware. We walk and run in our neighborhood a couple times a day, and she will be the first to notice if a neighbor has a new statue, or a pink flamingo in their yard.....It seems she is always looking and listening to make sure things are "ok"....she has been known to "go after" a plastic bag out of place in someones bushes, until she realizes its a bag....or a boulder, or whatever. If its new or out of place, she knows.

Others so keenly alert to surroundings? This is just so different to me, as beagles will sleep, and snore through anything....except tornado sirens.

My GSD was, and my DS is the same way, tho I've really worked hard to explain to my DS about what's worth alerting us to, and what isn't .

It's just us two and her and the cats, tho, so it's not that difficult. When we had houseguests a while back, that was a real education for her . They were up at all hours of the night, walking to and from the kitchen to the front room, right past our bedroom door, of course...the first night was kind of rough, but she got it.

Then again, I don't let her get all excited when either of us gets up in the night, or the cats jump onto the dresser or bed, etc. It's all about training, as per usual...

I have a hard time sleeping with the windows open. My Malinois tends to be nervous and alerts me to any sound outside. I tell her "Thank you, Pumpkin, go back to sleep". If she's very persistent, then I have to get up and look out the window, both to satisfy her and to show her that I'm taking charge in some small way. Good thing I live in a quiet neighborhood, but the evening before trash day is the worst.

Trying to sleep with her in a hotel is nearly impossible.

Oh no, Sadie sleeps, LOL. She passes out all of the time. Thalie is the light sleeper but she will fall sound asleep at night.

Olaf sleeps 99% of the time in the house, but he sleeps very lightly. I.e. he is running and barking in sleep, and as soon as I start lifting from the chair to grab a camera to film him, he is wide awake, head up, looking at me:)

Mine sleep pretty well too. They do alert to noises but they're not unreasonable. I can have them in a hotel room and for the most part they will look at me when considering to bark to confirm that yes I know they heard it and I am giving them the death stare not to even think about it. The boy is a bit more impulsive though but he's in general far more protective of our space and a much more diligent watch dog.