A couple of other things
A lot of good information that I'm reading. I'd like to add a couple of other thoughts.
We have a small but yappy dog. He sleeps with us in our bedroom with the doors closed.
1) When he wakes me up (happens with some frequency) I grab the amplified shooter's muffs that I keep by my bed. I'm hard of hearing, and it's quicker to put on muffs than to mess with a hearing aid at 3 AM. Also useful if somebody shoots at me or I have to shoot at somebody - they'll be temporarily deaf and I won't.
2) Next, I grab a high intensity flashlight and firearm. Also wake my wife (sound sleeper) and make sure that she will be able to grab the shotgun in the closet.
3) open bedroom door and let the dog go tearing out howling into the house, follow with flash etc. and go to hallway, check top of front and back stairs. Stay visible to wife who should have retrieved shotgun. Do not try and clear house. I must admit, wife is not always ready with shotgun, but it's still nice to know that it can be retrieved if needed.
4) If dog is still howling with no other sounds, recall dog, pet him, compliment him, go back to bedroom with him. If, after a few minutes, he doesn't start up again, we can stand down.
5) If dog suddenly stops howling or yelps or I hear other sounds, retreat to bedroom, close bedroom door, take cover behind bed (with wife already there), call 911 and give descriptions of us and what we wear and all the other things that have been mentioned before.