Clyde, the Big Red Bundle of Contradictions, woke me up about 4:00 this morning, nudging my shoulder and licking my face.  Seemed pretty agitated. I thought maybe he needed badly to go out, or that something was going on outside. (A neighbor's car had quietly caught fire in the early hours a year ago, and Clyde came and got me before anyone else in the area noticed it.) Nothing was going on, so I let him out for a few minutes but he just hung around near the door. I let him back in, but he still seemed agitated, actually more like excited, doing his happy dance. I went back to bed and he kept licking me, which is uncharacteristic of him at home. I eventually quieted him down and went back to sleep.

When I got up this morning, it struck me what had probably been going on. I have sleep apnea, and just forget to breathe during the night.  I normally wear a Bipap respirator to counteract that. Last night I was up late reading, and for the first time in a long time forgot to put on the machine. I think Clyde noticed that I wasn't breathing and got agitated, tried to wake me up. That would explain his excitement when I did get up, and his anxiety when I went back to sleep.  He's been especially affectionate today.  Kind of nice to know your dog has your back. He's a keeper, for sure.