Do Dogs Dream and If So, About What?
Do Dogs Dream?
My dog Fletcher routinely wakes me up at night because he’s dreaming! So, yes, they do dream!
When dogs enter into REM sleep (deep sleep), they visualize dream images just like humans do. Muscles are more relaxed during REM sleep, but the mind is more active. You may see rapid eye movements, whining, growling, barking, rapid breathing, or leg movement during this time.
How Often Do Dogs Dream?
Some dogs, like my dog Fletcher, dream more than others. My previous two dogs rarely had dreams, except when they were puppies. Research suggests that age, size, and the day’s activity level affect the frequency and length of a dog’s dreams. Here is what research shows:
- small dogs dream more than large dogs
- large dogs have longer dreams than small dogs
- large dogs who have been very active during the day dream more than those who are couch potatoes, and
- puppies dream more than older dogs since they have so many new experiences to process every day.
What Do They Dream About?
No one knows for sure what dogs dream about. Researchers believe that they dream about everyday activities and what they may have done during the day to process the day’s events. Often, we can figure out what dogs dream about based on their behavior while sleeping. For instance, a dog could be sleep barking if he is treeing a squirrel or his legs could be moving when thinking about chasing the neighborhood cat.
Do Dogs Have Nightmares?
While most dreams are not nightmares, dogs can have nightmares. Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinary health expert with Rover, says the nightmare could be about something traumatic that has happened or a fear they’ve experienced. Because they have long-term memories, researchers are fairly certain that dogs dream about certain events in their lives. Logically, it makes sense then that dogs who’ve been abused will tend to have more nightmares than those who have not.
What Can You Do to Help if Your Dog is Having a Nightmare?
If at all possible, don’t wake them up! A dog having a nightmare will be startled if woken up and may snap at you out of fear. If you need to wake them, call their name, but don’t touch them.
If you believe your dog has frequent nightmares, it’s time to schedule a visit with your veterinarian. There may be a medical reason causing the nightmares to occur.
If your dog has an occasional nightmare, don’t be concerned. We all have nightmares, but we wake up the following day and forget about it. Your dog will do the same.
