Dogs, next to my bed

When I wake up sometimes at night, I see a dog. It is a German Shepherd. He is brown and sandy yellow with black. He is not attacking me, or hurting me. He is simply staring at me in my sleep. Sometimes I confuse him for my own dog, however he is gone in the blink of an eye. This happens even on nights my dog is not in my room. I have wondered what he is. I've been told its death, but the dog is not black. I've been told he's also my guardian but I've never heard about animals being angelic. I've thought he could be my spirit animal. I've even pondered on whether or not its astral projection. Does anyone know?

Maybe a pet from a previous incarnation...

You've never had a german shepherd, even as a child?