Dogs can look so cute when they're resting or sleeping, it's hard to resist petting them.

If you have a dog, you’re probably well aware that nothing beats a good cuddle. Snuggling up to your pooch can boost your well-being, reduce your stress levels and even lower your blood pressure. And your dog gets just as much, if not more, out of it. Cuddling with their humans makes them feel safe and secure, strengthens their bond with you, and improves their mood.

That is, as long as you don’t sneak up on them when they’re dreaming about treats and squirrels.

Even though it can be tempting to cuddle your dog when they’re snoozing on your couch, approaching them when they’re asleep or off-guard can startle and upset them.

“They hate it! It’s not fair,” said Margaret M. Duxbury, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her advice: “If possible, let a sleeping dog lie.”

Nicole Skeehan, a dog trainer and owner of Philly Unleashed, recommended thinking about how you might react if someone encroached on your space when you were, say, napping or trying to focus on work. You might, understandably, be taken aback or even irritated.

“If we can understand this reaction in human terms, why are we surprised when our dogs react the same way?” she said.

Dogs can similarly become surprised or agitated when we sneak up on them, especially when they’re asleep, playing with their toys or........

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