After over a decade of working in rescue and having the amazing experience of sharing life and learning from thousands of dogs.. one word that always ends up at the core of why dogs do what they do is "DISTANCE". Much of what dogs communicate to each other and to humans has to do with comfort and a sense of safety. Established intimacy founded on trust and predictable responses can shift a dogs comfort with closeness but not always .. & not all the time..

    This cute little poodle has been an affectionate, devoted and much beloved companion in his adoptive home for many years. He like a fair amount of other dogs tends to stall out in the phase between being asleep and awake. This is a potentially dangerous phase & could easily render a bite if his sense of space and security feel threatened. You can see the white of his eye.. sometimes referred to as "whale eye", lip licking, a growl, the growl growing in intensity, and although not in the clip he went on to bare his teeth.  He is unambiguously declaring "I will MESS YOU UP if you don't back off"

We would not place this otherwise super sweet playful and adorable doggie in a home with small children or anyone unfamiliar with or lacking understanding of this type of canine communication. Were the person who was inadvertently nudging the sleepy dog to react fearfully or harshly there most certainly would have been a bite! AND it would not have been due to anything but a lack of understanding and experience.
 
​We have noticed that most people soften at the sight of a dog, & tend to think of dogs as soft, friendly companions .. and assume, largely based on limited experience with dogs that most dogs are "friendly" and eager to have our approach, closeness and touch.

Closer is better

"I NEED more distance please"

Oh please go away! I wish to be invisible!!