Most dogs show their excitement by wagging their tails, racing around the house, or bouncing toward whatever has caught their attention. Toast, an adorable Doodle, has a much sleepier reaction. Whenever happiness becomes a little too overwhelming, his body seems to decide that it is time for an immediate nap. One moment, he can be eagerly waiting for dinner or getting ready to play, and the next, he is gently drooping toward the floor. His unusual habit might look funny at first, but there is a real neurological condition behind those unexpected naps.
Toast has canine narcolepsy, a nervous system disorder that can cause dogs to suddenly fall asleep or lose muscle control. For Toast, excitement and happiness are among his biggest triggers. That means ordinary moments that other dogs enjoy without interruption can become spontaneous nap opportunities. Playing in fresh snow, seeing his dinner arrive, or wrestling with his canine sister Laney can sometimes be enough to send Toast straight to sleep.
His mom, Laura, told The Dodo that Toast can fall asleep at least 100 times on an average day. She has learned that when her Doodle becomes especially happy or excited, he may simply need a brief break before continuing whatever he was doing.
Sometimes that break arrives at a particularly inconvenient moment. Toast can be so excited about dinner that he barely manages a few bites before his head begins to droop toward his bowl.
Laura keeps a close eye on him and makes sure he remains safe during these episodes. If Toast falls asleep near his food, she may even reposition his face until he wakes up and is ready to continue eating.
Life With Canine Narcolepsy
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, narcolepsy is a nervous system disorder that can cause an animal to abruptly lose consciousness and become still, appearing to be deeply asleep. The dog’s muscles can become slack, and rapid eye movements associated with REM sleep may occur.
Dogs can suddenly emerge from an episode after hearing a sound or receiving physical stimulation. VCA notes that narcolepsy itself is not considered painful or life-threatening, but owners should recognize their dog’s episodes so they can help prevent injuries when the animal suddenly collapses.
For Toast, those precautions allow him to enjoy his days without his condition defining everything he does. His family understands his triggers and has adapted to his unusual rhythm of excitement, sleep, and then excitement all over again.
Perhaps nobody understands that rhythm quite as well as Laney. Toast absolutely adores his canine sister and wants to be wherever she is. Their play sessions can involve plenty of wrestling and enthusiasm until Toast suddenly needs one of his characteristic naps.
Instead of ending their fun, he simply sleeps for a little while before getting back up and continuing where they left off. Sometimes he even settles directly on top of Laney when he needs a rest.
Laney seems remarkably patient with her sleepy brother. Toast may lie across her, nibble gently on her ears, or stay pressed against her while she relaxes with a toy. Even when Laney is not particularly interested in playing, she often lets Toast work through his excitement in his own unusual way.
“Toast has to be wherever Laney is. He is obsessed with her,” Laura told The Dodo, explaining that Laney allows him to lie on her and chew on her ears while she rests or occupies herself with a toy.
That patience has given Toast something especially valuable. He can simply be himself around his best friend, whether he is wrestling enthusiastically or suddenly snoozing beside her.
Despite the countless interruptions throughout his day, Toast does not appear particularly bothered by his condition. He wakes up and returns to whatever made him happy in the first place, whether that means playing with Laney, exploring outside, or finally finishing dinner.
His family has also learned to work with his needs rather than allowing his condition to keep him from enjoying everyday experiences. They watch over him, recognize when an episode is happening, and make sure his spontaneous sleeping spots are safe.
Toast’s life may contain far more naps than the average dog’s, but it is also packed with playtime, good food, outdoor adventures, and plenty of affection from the people and dog he loves most. His narcolepsy may briefly interrupt those happy moments, but once he wakes up, Toast is ready to jump straight back into them.
The post Dog Gets So Excited About His Favorite Things He Immediately Falls Asleep appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.