If you have ever noticed your dog twitch in their sleep, swish their tail or even bark, it’s highly possible they’re having a dream. Dreaming isn’t just unique to humans - in fact, many animals possess the ability to do so, including dogs.
Like humans, dogs sleep in cycles, moving from NREM or non-REM “slow wave” sleep (named due to the slower patterns of brain-waves) into deeper REM rapid eye-movement sleep, where the most vivid dreams tend to occur.
REM and Slow-Wave Sleep
Sleep cycles in dogs tend to last around 20 minutes, most of which is spent in slow-wave sleep. During this stage of sleep, your dog is “snoozing” rather than sleeping deeply, so while they are relaxed, their muscles are still active - and it may be easier to wake them.
Sleep pattern can actually affect the content of dreams: in humans, slow-wave dreams tend to be somewhat mundane recollections of the day - whereas REM dreams tend to be more surreal. While it’s not yet possible to know exactly what the dog experience of dreaming is like, there may be a few clues.
Is Your Dog Dreaming?
As dogs shift into rapid eye movement sleep, brain activity picks up, which can result in unusual physical movements. If their eyes are partially closed, you may be able to see them darting back and forth. Additionally, you might also see the following
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Whining other vocalisations
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Quick breathing
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Leg movements, as though running
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Tail movements
Seizures in Dogs
Other physical movements during REM sleep in dogs include paw or body twitching. While gentle twitching over shorter periods may simply show that your dog is dreaming, more violent and sudden twitching, drooling or foaming at the mouth could indicate a seizure.
Seizures and dreams present very differently in dogs - this can be especially noticeable if your pet is groggy and disoriented upon waking. If you see these symptoms in your pet, seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
The Role Of The Pons
Physical movements while sleeping are the result of the pons - part of the brain responsible for controlling and regulating deep sleep and preventing large muscle movements that might otherwise cause us to act out our dreams.
Because this part of the brain tends to be less well-developed in puppies and senior dogs, you may see more physical activity from these age groups during their REM phase of sleep.
What Do Dogs Dream Of?
Research from Stanley Coren at the University of British Columbia found that when the pons was temporarily disabled, large muscles were disinhibited, enabling dogs to act out their dreams.
In doing so, they found that dogs tended to act out typically canine behaviours, such as stalking or chasing. Besides these findings, there is the suggestion that dog dreams are similar to human dreams, in that they help to process the day's events.
According to clinical and evolutionary psychologist Dr Deirdre Barrett, dogs tend to dream about what they are interested in or emotionally attached to - suggesting that besides food and playtime, dog-owners may well play a starring role in their pet’s dreams.
Do Dogs Have Nightmares?
In addition to running or twitching, whimpering or growling could be a sign that your dog is having a bad dream. While this can be upsetting to observe, the best advice is to let sleeping dogs lie.
If suddenly woken from an unpleasant dream, dogs may behave aggressively (60% of dog bites in children result from having woken a sleeping dog). If their dream appears especially troublesome, a gentler way to rouse them is by placing a tasty treat within smelling distance.
Big Dogs, Big Dreams
Further research suggests that due to their size, large dogs tend to have fewer, but longer dreams. One reason for this may be the amount of energy that bigger dogs have to expend during the day to power their bodies, resulting in deeper sleep.
Small dogs tend to dream in short bursts - and puppies in particular tend to dream more than other age groups, due to the large amounts of new information they are continually processing. Similarly, human babies spend around 50% of their sleep in REM.
Whether your canine comparison is big, small or somewhere in-between, our range of dog beds will help ensure sweet dreams - and if you’re in the process of crate training, our selection of dog crates provides a cosy, peaceful den that’s just right for snoozing in.