Dreaming dogs? DO they or do they not?
- pizzaforpooches
- Jun 2, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 5, 2023
Dreaming dogs. Fact or fiction? We all dream. Pizza For Pooches came from a dream I had! So why wouldn't dogs dream? Any animal for that matter!
Anyone that has ever owned a dog has at some point seen them twitch and try to bark while they are sleeping. Is it just a nerve thing or are they actually dreaming? The little clip above shows exactly what I'm talking about. Cooper is clearly asleep, but his eyes and ears are twitching. He is trying to bark. Certainly interesting to see.
Let's delve a little into a doggo's dreamland.
Why is cooper's eyes twitching?
When we sleep, we are either in a REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep, or we are in a deep sleep. Deep sleep is when we are fully rested. When we wake from a deep sleep we generally feel so much better. well rested & ready for the day ahead. REM sleep is where the dreams appear. The mind is conjuring up things you have heard, seen, spoken about and putting them together in the form of a dream. Dogs are no different. Cooper is probably thinking of the plays in the park, the cat that keeps taunting him or that possum he almost got! The eye's ficker, the cheek twitches, the paws run and that funny bark. It's like when we try to scream while we're dreaming but nothing seems to come out!
What do Dreaming dogs dream about?
As I mentioned earlier, dreams are generally made up of things we have seen or heard. This is the same for dogs. If you think about all the things your dog hears in a day. Some things you may not even notice. Sounds from the television that don't register with us but to them may be unusual. They may have met up with an old play buddy in the park or a dog that they didn't resonate very well with. The trip to the beach.
It could be the smell of your dinner! Maybe the taste of their dinner! Maybe dreaming about a Chicken Supreme from Pizza For Pooches!
Should I wake my dog up if they look stressed while dreaming
What's that saying? That's it... 'Let sleeping dogs lie'. There is an old wives tale that says you should never wake a person having a nightmare, because their soul is travelling and if you wake them abruptly, their soul may not have time to re-enter their body. How much truth is there to that? Not a lot probably, but nevertheless, it is always better to just speak some soft, calming words to gently bring their body to calm. Do exactly the same with your pooch. I say things like 'it's ok Coops. What a good boy! Shhhhh...it's ok'.
Another reason to not wake your pup, it may startle them. They could bite or scratch without meaning to.
is my dog more relaxed sleeping close to me
In short...YES! Most dogs love to snuggle close. It just takes them back to when they were pups and the litter would snuggle in tight. close to each other. Close to their mum. The warmth makes them feel safe and loved.
I think we all feel the same snuggled in with our doggo's.
Don’t Forget!
ALWAYS wish your dog sweet dreams as you would anyone else in the family. The sweetest family member deserves the sweetest dreams!
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