What Do Dogs Dream About?

Do you ever look at your dog while it’s sleeping and wonder what it could be dreaming about? Especially, when they’re twitching or whimpering. Is the dog being chased in their sleep? Are they having a nightmare? Well, this seems like a question that most dog owners have. This is why we will be exploring what dogs dream about.

Do Dogs Really Dream?

The truth to this is that we don’t know for certain! However, some studies suggest the possibility of animals dreaming in general. This is because when an animal like a dog for example, falls into a REM-like (rapid eye movement) sleep, it can have the same brain activity as when they are awake. this means that if they were hunting or chasing after prey, they could act it out while asleep [1].

It is also said that dog dreams could be similar to human dreams. Both humans and animals experience different sleep stages in the sleep cycle.

So, there is a huge chance that your dog does dream!

Signs Your Dog Is Dreaming

If you think that your dog is already in REM sleep or a deep sleep, then it is highly likely that they would be dreaming. To be sure of it, here are some tell-tale signs:

• Barking, growling, whimpering, or whining while eyes are closed
• Eyes moving behind their eyelids
• Twitching or shuddering

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What Do Dogs Dream About?

Again, we can’t say for certain what a dog dreams about. This is because they are not able to communicate with us humans and describe their dreams.

We can probably make some guesses and say that they are likely to be dreaming about chasing another animal or someone. If they happen to be making barking or growling sounds, they could be on defense. If they are whimpering or whining, they may be in a distressful situation.

What Do Dogs Dream About When They Cry?

Expanding a little more on the previous section. If a dog cries or whimpers while asleep, it could mean that they are dreaming about something distressful. It is causing them a lot of fear or stress.

If you see that happening to your dog, it’s worth thinking about whether they have experienced any trauma or anything scary in the past.

What Do Dogs Dream About When They Bark?

If you hear your dog barking while it is asleep, it could suggest that they are dreaming about something threatening. Maybe there is an intruder in their dream, they could be trying to protect something or someone. It could even be that they are embroiled in a dogfight!

What Do Dogs Dream About When They Twitch?

If you notice your dog twitching while asleep, it probably means that the Pons or the part of the brain that stops them from acting out a dream, is working. They are probably running, chasing after something or jumping in their dreams. But to us, it appears as a twitch.

Can Dogs Have Nightmares?

Unfortunately for pet parents out there, our furry friends can have nightmares. Like humans, they are not immune to night terrors. You can tell that a dog is having a bad dream when they are vocalizing in their sleep (e.g. barking, growling). Startled dogs may briefly appear agitated or aggressive, lashing out at you, if they get woken up unexpectedly.

Fortunately, you can try to ease frequent nightmares by ensuring that they are in a soothing sleeping environment.

Conclusion

So, the next time that you notice your dog dreaming, you could at least put together what they are dreaming about, based on visual cues. If you see that they are having a nightmare, don’t try to jolt them awake. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew!

See also:

What Does It Mean If You Dream about Dog

Dreaming about Puppies Meaning

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