Have you ever wondered if your dog has dreams? Most new dog owners probably have asked themselves a time or two. I’m sure you’ve looked at your dog while he’s sleeping. Is he just laying there peacefully or is he doing something that makes you wonder what’s going on in that brain of his?
Do Dogs Dream?
I’d like to think so. Dogs need sleep just like we do and they sleep for hours at a time. They have brains that function pretty much like ours for the most part. Dogs are pretty smart. They definitely have thoughts and sometimes act pretty human-like if you ask me. So why wouldn’t a dog dream? According to Psychology Today, some research was done on rats that prove animals do indeed have dreams. The researchers were able to see brain waves where the rat enters a stage of sleep that humans do. In that particular stage of sleep that the rats are in is the stage of sleep where humans dream. So yes, dogs do dream!
What Do Dogs Dream About?
When my dog is sleeping, I’ve noticed on several occasions that he is dreaming about something. The reason I think he is dreaming is because of what he is doing while he is sleeping. Sometimes, it’s like my dog is “talking” in his sleep. He will make soft little whimper sounds or very soft barks. I wonder if he’s “talking” to other dogs in his dreams or trying to get our attention in his dream.
Other times when my dog is dreaming, he’s actually moving his legs in his sleep! It’s the cutest and most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen my dog do. When I first saw him “running” in his sleep, I was kind of shocked. I had never seen a dog do that before. It was actually pretty cool! I wondered what he could possibly be dreaming about.
If I had to guess what my dog is dreaming about, I’d bet it was about eating all the food he possibly could. My dog loves to eat! Other than food, I think he’d just dream about following me around everywhere. When he’s barking in his sleep he is probably protecting me from something or someone.
Do Dogs Have Bad Dreams?
If a dog can dream, I would think a dog could dream about good things and bad things just like us. Most of the time, my dog seems like he’s pretty peaceful when he’s dreaming. There have been a few occasions where I think he may be having a bad dream or maybe it’s just an intense one. Sometimes the barking or growling in his sleep seems pretty intense and his “running” is too so maybe he is running away from something scary or trying to protect someone from something.
How to Tell if Your Dog is Dreaming
Haven’t noticed if your dog is dreaming but you want to see him dream? You can tell if your dog is dreaming a couple of different ways. First, pay attention to your dog while he is sleeping. Take a look at your dog’s eyelids. Are his eyes moving around while his eyes are closed? Is his body twitching a little while he’s sleeping? Does he make noises or bark, but he’s clearly sleeping? Is he moving his legs while he’s sleeping? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions then your dog is most likely dreaming!
What do you think your dog dreams about?
Kinley Westie says
Momma thinks I dream about squirrels since I “chase” sometimes in my sleep.
Kinley Westie recently posted..A Letter to da Easter Bunneh
Heather Jones says
I love this post! Reading this article made me smile. As a pet parent, I am curious as well whether my pooch dreams or not, especially when he whines in the middle of his sleep. Now, I finally know that they do dream as well and it makes me love them even more.
I had a great time reading this article and looking forward to reading more of your posts soon. Cheers!