What do dogs dream about?
by Anneke Oosthuizen - Canine Behaviour Advisor
by Anneke Oosthuizen - Canine Behaviour Advisor
The twitching foot, slight wag in a tail or a low whimpering; we’ve all seen these little (and sometimes less subtle) movements happening while your dog is sleeping. This is the body reacting to the movements in the dream.
Many people believe that animals are incapable of dreaming; however this is not the case when it comes to your beloved four-legged companion.
The brains of dogs are very similar to human brains. According to psychologist and dog behaviour expert Stanley Coren, our brain waves go through the same stages of activity while asleep. So, it is not unusual for your dog to be dreaming.
Just like us, dogs dream about memories and also to process the emotions they’ve experienced during each day. It is also very likely that dogs’ dreams are about common doggy activities, hence why we so often see our dog’s twitching legs imitating running, your dog is most likely dreaming of running and playing, or fetching a ball. Unlike their human companions, dogs do not have a developed imagination. Thus Fido cannot create its own images in its mind to dream about.
All of this sounds so normal, it’s just what dogs do.
But so many times at night I will wake up to a much more severe reaction from my dog. She is kicking (not the normal running effect) and crying. I’ve even heard a growl before which I found strange as I do not have a growling dog. Her dream will be so intense that I can actually feel the fear that she is experiencing in her mind. But is this still the happy ball chasing dream? You guessed it, dogs can have nightmares too!
Dogs have long term memories, and surely don’t forget those bad things like a bath or the visit to the vet. Researchers are pretty sure that dogs dream about specific events in their life. Research shows that rescue, abandoned and abused dogs are more likely to suffer from nightmares, than dogs that have always lived in a steady home.
How can we as humans help our dogs who have these terrible nightmares?
You cannot make a dog forget about its past, but you can give it a steady, loving home. Just like us having an occasional bad dream, your dog will wake up and forget all about it. If you feel you must wake your dog, call its name gently, waking them without touching. Don’t wake them with a startling response, for both your safety and your dog’s.
So next time you see your dog’s feet twitching or a whimper while sleeping, don’t stress. Just let sleeping dogs be and let them dream their happy dreams! And do your best to give them happier things to dream about!
Many people believe that animals are incapable of dreaming; however this is not the case when it comes to your beloved four-legged companion.
The brains of dogs are very similar to human brains. According to psychologist and dog behaviour expert Stanley Coren, our brain waves go through the same stages of activity while asleep. So, it is not unusual for your dog to be dreaming.
Just like us, dogs dream about memories and also to process the emotions they’ve experienced during each day. It is also very likely that dogs’ dreams are about common doggy activities, hence why we so often see our dog’s twitching legs imitating running, your dog is most likely dreaming of running and playing, or fetching a ball. Unlike their human companions, dogs do not have a developed imagination. Thus Fido cannot create its own images in its mind to dream about.
All of this sounds so normal, it’s just what dogs do.
But so many times at night I will wake up to a much more severe reaction from my dog. She is kicking (not the normal running effect) and crying. I’ve even heard a growl before which I found strange as I do not have a growling dog. Her dream will be so intense that I can actually feel the fear that she is experiencing in her mind. But is this still the happy ball chasing dream? You guessed it, dogs can have nightmares too!
Dogs have long term memories, and surely don’t forget those bad things like a bath or the visit to the vet. Researchers are pretty sure that dogs dream about specific events in their life. Research shows that rescue, abandoned and abused dogs are more likely to suffer from nightmares, than dogs that have always lived in a steady home.
How can we as humans help our dogs who have these terrible nightmares?
You cannot make a dog forget about its past, but you can give it a steady, loving home. Just like us having an occasional bad dream, your dog will wake up and forget all about it. If you feel you must wake your dog, call its name gently, waking them without touching. Don’t wake them with a startling response, for both your safety and your dog’s.
- Give your dog a safe and comfortable space to sleep in (whether it’s cuddled up in bed with you or even a comfy crate with a blanket over the top. If your dog wakes up from a bad dream, it will still have the feeling of safety and comfort.
- Give your dog daily exercise and provide both mental and physical stimulation for a good night’s sleep
- Determine if there are any current situations causing any stress and anxiety for your dog – consult with a behaviourist on modifications to assist your dog
- If the nightmares are more frequent, consult with your vet on any medical reasons behind the nightmares.
- Make use of TTouch, to release some tension.
- Spend quality time with your dog, giving it lots of love and happy moments
So next time you see your dog’s feet twitching or a whimper while sleeping, don’t stress. Just let sleeping dogs be and let them dream their happy dreams! And do your best to give them happier things to dream about!
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