Has anyone else experienced this or any suggestions to avoid it happening gratefully received!

In general my dogs all get on well but in the last month my youngest bitch ( 6 yrs and dam to our 2 yr old) has been waking in the evening suddenly as if startled and then either growls at or lunges at the other dogs. Last night the other two had had enough and so we had a bit of a set to. It is like she is deeply asleep possibly dreaming and something wakes her with a start and she's disorientated; it's always in the evening, they are fine overnight together.

Husband is normally there when it happens and he realised it was about to occur the other evening and I could hear him calmly speaking to her as if to bring her "to" and she woke with  a start but focussed on him talking to her.

Apologies in advance as i cant offer any advice apart from what your husband did makes sense,but i wanted to say,my old girl used to be a bit like this-she was making odd noises once,while asleep,and worried,i went and hung over her bed,listening-in an instant,she woke and lunged up and snapped at my face!I moved pretty sharp,i can tell you,and i was careful after that!

Thanks, to be honest I am not sure what advice could be offered anyway! I wondered if others had experienced it. It is always the evening sleep, we have tried making her sleep elsewhere in the room but it still happens, the only other thing is to put her in another room for this period of time. I wondered about taking her to the vets for a check up but she's fine in all other ways and I realise how daft I would sound!  

EPILEPSY!!! Sounds to me like she could behaving a minor fit and waking up aggressive. Fairly rare with epilepsy to have fits followed by aggression but totally possible, althogh hard to have fits whilst sleeping but not impossible, you need to see vet and neurologist. If your husband can see it coming then it certainly suggests to me that soemthing physical is happening whether it be epilepsy or not,takeher to vet for total overhaul.

Exactly what I was going to say Happyhoundgirl.... people I know that have dogs with epilepsy have reported very sevear disorientation when the dog comes out of it so much so that they can be aggressive to people or other animals they normally wouldnt. Would most definatly take her to the vets for a once over. Hope they get it sorted for you. xxx

I am taking her to the vets next week, I do hope it's not as extreme as has been suggested! She is a robust dog and very rarely sees the vet so a once over will be a starting point.

Sometimes vural infections cause fits, one of mine had 2 very bad fits and was terribly aggressive to everyone whilst comingout of the fit, to be honest more so to me and he's a mummy's boy. He had a very minor fit whilst out walking,in fact if it wasn't me don't reckon most people would have spotted it. But he's had none since as far as we aware and he's on no treatment, if he starts again then we'll treat. Personally think they were stress induced as we had a very busy house including a foreign excahnge student staying and he's an edgy collie boy. 

It's always worth checking any new behaviour but I have a dog who has always slept quite deeply and can be grumpy if woken.  It got worse when we had a puppy in house and was almost as if the older dog anticipated being woken up and would snap as a reflex.  He has relaxed a bit over time but he does sense if the other two are nearby and he grumbles whilst appearing to be fast asleep.

In his case it's definitely a personality issue not a medical one and I've always discouraged the other dogs from disturbing him

I have a dog that does this, but only if waking from a very deep sleep if other dogs are near or touching her (also asleep).  She is fine when just dozing.  I just make sure she is always kept apart if we are not there.

What your husband did seems the best in the circumstances