Why do they say....???

Question

"...leave sleeping dogs lie?"

I'm serious!

Because, when my dogs cry or growl, as they're sleeping, it breaks my heart... thinking they maybe dreaming something that may be hurting them!

I just want to wake them to take them away from it... & let them know they are ok!!

Is this wrong??

Yes, I just pet them to gently stop them :) Sorry, didn't mead to mislead anyone! :)

Yeah, dogs (and cats) can be funny when they're sleeping... my Coleman will run often... we think he's trying to chase or herd! Sunny, she's funnier! because she snores almost as loud as my hubby! Also, her tail will start to wag!! Her legs don't "run" as often as Coleman's do!! :)

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about it! All dogs whine, cry, growl, bark, run, twitch, shake, sleep with their eyes half open, REM {eyes rolling back and forth}, kick, etc., when they are dreaming. What I usually do with my dogs, when they seem too distressed, is lightly pet them and it calms them down right away. Even if you don't pet them, if they get too distressed, they will wake up on their own, just like we do, when we are dreaming.

Answer 2

Don't worry about them while they're sleeping--out dog does it too, and she usually twitches her legs while she's doing it--I think she's dreaming about chasing something.

The phrase "Let sleeping dogs lie" just means that when there has been a problem, and it's been resolved, don't make it worse by continuing to bring it up. It has very little to do with real dogs, just that if you wake a sleeping dog, especially one that is unfamiliar, you might startle into attacking you (if they're family members, though, I wouldn't worry about it).

Answer 3

When I was a boy, we were told this simply to prevent getting "nipped". If a dog is startled while asleep it may be his instinct to bite. I can remember gently poking my dog with a pillow or something when I wanted to take him outside for a walk.

If you are comfortable with waking him it is ok, but if he tends to nip, you could rub him with a pillow. Your dog is just having a doggie dream and if crying it may be a bad dream. My dog's legs used to "run" while he was sleeping, so I guessed he was dreaming about chasing a squirrel or a rabbit.

Answer 4

The phrase actually has little to do with sleeping dogs. Although a sleeping dog might snap at someone who wakes it suddenly. Their dreams don't hurt them, so relax about that. The phrase is used to caution people to leave alone situations that they might not be able to control, and which could cause them some harm.

Answer 5

Most dogs do this when they sleep, and I don't think it means they are necessarily having bad dreams. I think they are just making random vocalizations. It's not like they can laugh if it's a good dream, right? Just leave them alone.

Answer 6

The analogy is more for "sleeping sound"

Leave sleeping dogs lie is to leave something that is doing fine happy healthy alone.

Answer 7

It's not necessarily just relate to dogs.. It's a general thing.. It means don't start trouble.. Leave well enough alone.. Don't poke at the fire.. It means if things are okay.. then LEAVE it, cause it's going to come around and bite you if you mess with it..

Answer 8

Much like dogs, my cats often whimper or whine in their sleep too. I always figure they must be having little kitty or doggy nightmares, so I alleviate their pain by simply petting them gently. This usually soothes them. Please don't grab your pet or pet them roughly, this usually equates to an increase in their whining, further aggravating them!

Answer 9

That saying does not mean dogs literally. I would interpret it to mean some things are best left alone as they are. Or something along those lines.

Answer 10

This saying has nothing to do with dogs. I am wakening my dogs up when they are crying in their sleep or making funny noises.