diff --git a/my-tools/show_blender_web_scheduler.py b/my-tools/show_blender_web_scheduler.py
index 928eb4a9c..200ac9ce6 100755
--- a/my-tools/show_blender_web_scheduler.py
+++ b/my-tools/show_blender_web_scheduler.py
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ def main() -> int:
             "watchdogStatus": read_json(CONTROL_ROOT / "my-tools-watchdog.json"),
             "schedulerWrapperStatus": read_json(CONTROL_ROOT / "my-tools-scheduler.json"),
         }
+        watchdog = status["myTools"]["watchdogStatus"]
+        watchdog_pid = watchdog.get("pid") if isinstance(watchdog, dict) else None
+        watchdog_alive = isinstance(watchdog_pid, int) and (Path("/proc") / str(watchdog_pid)).exists()
+        status["myTools"]["watchdogAlive"] = watchdog_alive
+        status["unattendedState"] = (
+            "PLANNING" if status.get("state") == "IDLE" and watchdog_alive and watchdog.get("status") == "waiting_for_source_batch"
+            else status.get("state", "UNKNOWN")
+        )
         status["progress"] = project_progress()
         status["fastPath"] = fast_path_status(status)
         if args.json:
@@ -53,7 +61,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         if args.watch:
             print("\x1b[2J\x1b[H", end="")
         print("Blender Web/WBV2 scheduler")
-        print(f"  state: {status.get('state', 'UNKNOWN')}")
+        print(f"  state: {status.get('unattendedState', status.get('state', 'UNKNOWN'))}")
         print(f"  phase: {status.get('phase', 'unknown')}")
         queue = status.get("queue", {})
         print(f"  current task: {queue.get('task') or 'none'}")
@@ -65,12 +73,15 @@ def main() -> int:
         print(f"  guardian: pid={guardian.get('pid') or 'none'} alive={guardian.get('alive', False)} state={guardian.get('state') or 'unknown'}")
         print(f"  supervisor: pid={supervisor.get('pid') or 'none'} alive={supervisor.get('alive', False)} state={supervisor.get('state') or 'unknown'}")
         watchdog = status.get("myTools", {}).get("watchdogStatus", {})
-        print(f"  watchdog: pid={watchdog.get('pid') or 'external'} status={watchdog.get('status') or 'unknown'} reason={watchdog.get('reason') or 'none'} task={watchdog.get('task') or 'none'}")
+        print(f"  watchdog: pid={watchdog.get('pid') or 'none'} alive={status.get('myTools', {}).get('watchdogAlive', False)} status={watchdog.get('status') or 'unknown'} reason={watchdog.get('reason') or 'none'} task={watchdog.get('task') or 'none'}")
         print(f"  latest handoff: {status.get('latestHandoff') or 'none'}")
         print(f"  local HEAD: {status.get('localHead') or 'unknown'}")
         for line in format_progress(status["progress"], status["fastPath"]):
             print(line)
-        print(f"  message: {status.get('message', '')}")
+        if status.get("unattendedState") == "PLANNING":
+            print("  message: PLANNING: watchdog heartbeat is active; exact source gaps are queued without false coverage.")
+        else:
+            print(f"  message: {status.get('message', '')}")
         if not args.watch:
             return 0
         try:
diff --git a/my-tools/watch_blender_web_scheduler.py b/my-tools/watch_blender_web_scheduler.py
index e1ead8182..5db527b64 100755
--- a/my-tools/watch_blender_web_scheduler.py
+++ b/my-tools/watch_blender_web_scheduler.py
@@ -32,14 +32,17 @@ def now() -> str:
 
 def write_json(path: Path, value: dict) -> None:
     path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    try:
-        current = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-        stable_current = {key: item for key, item in current.items() if key != "updatedAt"}
-        stable_next = {key: item for key, item in value.items() if key != "updatedAt"}
-        if stable_current == stable_next:
-            return
-    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError):
-        pass
+    if path == WATCHDOG_STATUS:
+        value = {**value, "pid": os.getpid()}
+    else:
+        try:
+            current = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            stable_current = {key: item for key, item in current.items() if key != "updatedAt"}
+            stable_next = {key: item for key, item in value.items() if key != "updatedAt"}
+            if stable_current == stable_next:
+                return
+        except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+            pass
     temporary = path.with_suffix(path.suffix + f".tmp-{os.getpid()}")
     temporary.write_text(json.dumps(value, ensure_ascii=False, indent=2) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
     temporary.replace(path)