You’ve seen it. Your furry companion lying peacefully on their bed, paws suddenly twitching like they’re running through a field, maybe a soft whimper escaping their lips, eyes fluttering beneath closed lids. It’s both endearing and curious, right?
You might wonder if all that movement is normal, or whether your dog is dreaming more than other dogs you’ve known. Here’s the thing, every dog dreams, just like we do. Yet some pups seem to be living entire adventures in their sleep while others barely stir. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of canine dreams and explore why your dog might be such an active sleeper.
The Science Behind Dog Dreams
Dreams are part of the normal sleep cycle, and dogs do indeed have them. Scientists have figured this out by studying the brain activity of sleeping dogs and comparing it to what happens in human brains during sleep. The sleep cycles of dogs and people are remarkably similar, and the pattern of electrical activity that occurs during REM sleep in people is also seen during REM sleep in dogs.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that animals have complex dreams. Through studies where they temporarily disabled the part of the brain that prevents physical movement during dreams, animals like cats have been observed acting out dream behaviors. Honestly, it’s pretty amazing to think our dogs have their own rich inner worlds playing out while they snooze.
What Happens During REM Sleep
A single sleep cycle usually lasts about 45 minutes, most of which is spent in the drowsy and slow wave sleep stages, during REM sleep periods, when most dreaming occurs. This is when things get interesting. During this stage of heightened mental activity, your dog may whine, breathe rapidly, and move his legs.
The pons is part of the brain that stops you from physically acting out your dreams, and like you, a dog may relive daytime experiences and “sleep run” while chasing a cat or fetching a ball. Think of it as a safety mechanism that mostly works but occasionally lets a little dream action leak through into the real world.
Size Really Does Matter
Let’s be real, one of the most fascinating things about dog dreams is how different they are based on size. Small dogs have more frequent dreams than large dogs, but those small dog dreams are shorter in duration, while large dogs have fewer, but longer dreams.
A toy poodle may dream every 10 minutes, while a Labrador Retriever may only dream once every 60 to 90 minutes, however, the poodle’s dreams may last only a minute, while the Labrador’s dreams may be 5 to 10 minutes long. So if you have a tiny dog who seems to be constantly twitching and moving during sleep, that’s completely normal. Their brains are just processing information in shorter, more frequent bursts.
Age Makes A Difference Too
The young, innocent minds of puppies experience more dreams than adult dogs because puppies acquire huge amounts of new information daily and have a lot to process at night. Picture a puppy’s day: everything is new, exciting, sometimes scary, and always overwhelming. Their brains are working overtime to make sense of this strange world.
Age may also play a factor in your dog acting out their dreams, as younger dogs have an underdeveloped pons and senior dogs have a pons that may not work as efficiently, which contributes to less control of muscle paralysis during sleep. This explains why both puppies and elderly dogs tend to be more physically active during their dreams compared to dogs in their prime years.
What Are They Actually Dreaming About
Information gathered during the day is processed and may be relived in dreams, and while sleeping, the brain also processes information and experiences that occurred during waking hours. Your dog is probably dreaming about the walk you took together, that squirrel they spotted, or maybe even you.
According to research by Harvard psychologists, your dog is likely to be dreaming about you too, their human, the most important thing in their life, and Dr. Deirdre Barrett concluded that dogs dream very much in the same way you do. It’s hard to say for sure, but sleeping dogs have been observed to act out breed-specific behaviors. Pointers pointed, retrievers fetched imaginary balls, and guard dogs displayed protective behavior.
When Dreams Turn Into Nightmares
Because a dog’s dreams usually have something to do with what occurred during their waking hours, bad dreams are certainly possible, and if your dog had an unpleasant encounter during their daily trip to the dog park, it seems likely they could have a bad dream related to it later, as negative emotions have a way of following us into our dreams.
The signs that your dog is having a bad dream are just like the signs that your dog is anxious, distressed, or annoyed when they are awake, and if your dog is simply paddling their legs and making noises of excitement they’re probably having a good dream, but if your dog is whining, crying or growling, then it’s possible they may be having a bad dream. Still, most dreams are harmless, and waking your dog can actually be more disruptive than helpful.
When To Be Concerned About Excessive Dreaming
Dreaming is a natural and beneficial part of a dog’s life, and frequent dreaming is often a sign that your pet is enjoying restful sleep and maintaining good emotional and cognitive health. However, there are rare times when very intense or excessive dream activity might signal something worth checking out. One condition that may bring on sudden nightmares is cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), a common, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects dogs, typically nine years old and older.
Causes might include arthritis or cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which can affect sleep quality, and pain, increased anxiety, or changes in sensory perception are also possibilities. If your dog’s sleep behavior suddenly changes dramatically or they seem distressed upon waking, that’s when you should reach out to your veterinarian.
Conclusion
Dreaming is a normal, healthy occurrence and is part of a regular 24 hour cycle of wakefulness and sleep, and it is important to note that dogs and humans need uninterrupted sleep for health of mind and body. Your dog’s active dreaming is usually just their brain doing exactly what it should be doing: processing the day’s adventures, consolidating memories, and maybe reliving that glorious moment when you tossed them their favorite toy.
Whether your pup is a frequent dreamer or a calm sleeper, they’re likely just fine. Create a cozy sleeping space for them, keep their days filled with positive experiences, and let them dream away. Those twitching paws and soft barks are signs of a healthy, happy dog living their best life, awake and asleep. What does your dog seem to dream about most often?
Andrew Alpin from India is the Brand Manager of Doggo digest. Andrew is an experienced content specialist and social media manager with a passion for writing. His forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, Andrew is obsessed with mountains and loves high-altitude trekking. He has been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
