Few things are cuter than a sleeping dog. The little snores, the dream boofs, the way their legs twitch like they’re mid-race in some imaginary chase—it’s downright adorable. Much like toddlers, sleeping dogs give you a rare moment to simply admire the furry little creature that has stolen your heart.
But not all naps are the same. A doodle named Toast takes sleeping to a whole new level—he doesn’t just nap when he’s tired; he conks out when he’s excited. And we’re not talking about a post-playtime stretch-and-yawn situation. No, Toast drops like a fainting goat at even the slightest thrill. This lovable pup has doggy narcolepsy, a condition that causes him to take sudden, impromptu snoozes whenever he gets too happy.
Something as simple as stepping outside to play in the snow or getting his dinner served can send him straight into nap mode. In fact, he barely gets a few bites in before his head starts drooping, and he’s out like a light.
“On any given day, Toast will fall asleep at least 100 times,” his mom, Laura, told The Dodo. “When he’s extra happy and excited, he just needs to take a little break or a nap.”
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, narcolepsy is a nervous system disorder that primarily affects young dogs. During an episode, a dog may suddenly lose consciousness, collapse, and appear to be deep in sleep—sometimes even experiencing rapid eye movement (REM). However, they remain somewhat aware of their surroundings and usually wake up quickly after hearing a noise or being touched.
The good news? Canine narcolepsy isn’t dangerous, painful, or life-threatening. But for pet owners, knowing the signs is important to make sure their pup is somewhere safe before an unexpected nap attack hits.
Toast’s mom is well aware of his triggers—and so is his sister, Laney. She’s completely unfazed by her brother’s tendency to crash mid-play and happily waits for him to wake up before they resume their wrestling matches. Sometimes, Toast doesn’t even move away from her before snoozing—he just flops on top of her or chews on her ears until sleep takes over. Laney, being the patient big sister, lets him do his thing, whether she’s in the mood to play or not.
“Toast has to be wherever Laney is. He is obsessed with her,” Laura said. “She just lets him lay on top of her, chew on her ears—sometimes she’ll play, sometimes she just rests and lets him do what he needs to do.”
Despite his frequent surprise naps, Toast is living his best life. His condition doesn’t slow him down, and his mom makes sure he’s always napping safely—even if that means moving his face out of his food bowl until he wakes up to finish his meal. Since narcolepsy doesn’t affect a dog’s lifespan, Toast is expected to live a long, happy life—just with a few extra naps along the way.