It can feel like you’re in the middle of some weird movie when you notice your dog sleeping with their eyes open.
My dog, Henry, caught me off guard the first time I saw him sleeping with his eyes open. I thought he was awake and just staring at me. Then he snored. He was sound asleep.
Thankfully, in most cases, it’s completely normal for dogs to sleep with their eyes open. In fact, many dog owners don’t even notice it until their pup starts snoring.
Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Sometimes a dog’s third eyelid (nictitating membrane) doesn’t close all the way when they sleep. A dog’s third eyelid functions to protect the eye and keep it moist.
During sleep, the muscles around your dog’s eyes relax, and their eyelids may not close completely. When this happens, you might notice part of the third eyelid, making it look like your dog is awake. For Henry, the giveaway is always the snoring.
As long as your dog seems comfortable and wakes up normally, this unusual-looking behavior usually isn’t anything to worry about.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Most of the time it’s completely normal.
Dogs can sleep with their eyes partially open, twitchy paws or legs, and even little woofs. Henry does all of this, and I always think he’s finally found the lizard to chase.
It can look a little spooky, but it’s usually just your dog enjoying a deep sleep and probably chasing squirrels, rabbits, or lizards in their dreams.
When Should You Be Concerned About Dogs Sleeping With Their Eyes Open?
Generally, when your dog sleeps with their eyes partially open, there is nothing to worry about. But you’ll want to consult your veterinarian if your dog has other symptoms, such as:
- Eye discharge
- Appears to have difficulty blinking
- Eyes appear irritated or red
- Pawing or rubbing their eyes
- One or both eyes never close
- Any unusual change in your dog’s typical behavior
In Henry’s case, I didn’t notice him sleeping with his eyes slightly open until after he was attacked by other dogs years ago and suffered a crushed tear duct. Since eye injuries can sometimes affect how the eyelids close, I suspect that’s the reason he does it today. I’m happy to say the vet isn’t concerned.
The Bottom Line on Why Dogs Sleep With Their Eyes Open
It can be a bit spooky seeing your dog sleep with their eyes open. But if your dog is otherwise behaving normally, there’s generally nothing to worry about.
Henry has even been known to sleep with his eyes open and snore in sync with others napping. It’s kind of weird but normal.
Sometimes dogs just do things that belong on Stupid Pet Tricks. Funny, weird, but perfectly normal. That’s dogs for you.
Fun Dog Fact: Puppies can sleep up to 20 hours a day, while healthy adult dogs generally sleep 12 to 16 hours daily. But a dog’s breed, age, health, and activity will play a role in how much they sleep during the day.
What’s Next:
- Why Dogs Remember Some People Forever (and Forget Others)
- The Truth About Why Dogs Do That Spin Before Lying Down
- What Does A Dog Side Eye Really Mean (Probably More Than You Think)
- How Do Dogs Learn Weird Behaviors?
- Does Your Pup Have Eerie Dog Senses?
Have you ever caught your dog sleeping with their eyes open?
