More Secrets of Sleep: An Owner’s Guide to Doggy Dreams

Tail wags, paw twitches, and the occasional sleepy woof - they’re adorable moments every dog parent has witnessed countless times. But are they really signs that your fur baby is dreaming? And if so, what are they dreaming of? 

In this week’s blog, I’m taking a deep dive into the mysteries of our dogs’ sleeping patterns, exploring if and how dogs dream and what those cute nighttime moments really mean.

Do Dogs Dream? 

While it’s (unfortunately!) impossible to get a first-hand account of our dogs’ sleep, scientific evidence indicates that, like us, they do dream. In fact, studies on brain wave activity have revealed that dogs experience two key sleep cycles remarkably similar to ours:

• Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) - The light sleep stage when brain waves slow down, but the body is not fully relaxed.

  
  

• Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep - The deeper sleep stage where mental activity is heightened, but muscles are more relaxed. 

During REM sleep, the electrical activity in a dog’s brain mirrors that of a dreaming human, strongly indicating that this is when dogs experience dreams. 

It’s also during this stage that you’re likely to see the classic signs of doggy dreaming - twitching, tail wags, soft barks, and even “running” paws!

What Do Dogs Dream About?

Whether it’s a fun game of fetch, an adventure in the park, or even a reunion with their favourite human, research suggests that, just like us, dogs relive their daily experiences in their dreams.

In fact, Dr Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at Harvard Medical School, theorises that dogs often dream about their humans:

"Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell, and of pleasing or annoying you."

So, if your fur baby looks extra happy while dreaming, they might just be dreaming about you! 

And just like humans, dogs likely experience bad dreams. While we can’t be certain, scientists suggest that signs of distress - like whimpering or twitching - could indicate a bad dream.

How Often Do Dogs Dream?

Like us, some dogs dream more than others, and it’s believed that the frequency and length of dreams varies according to age and size. Since they’re constantly learning and processing new experiences, puppies, for example, are likely to dream more often to help store and make sense of their memories.

Similarly, smaller breed dogs are believed to have more dreams than larger breeds, with research by psychology professor, Stanley Coren, suggesting that frequency of dreams may be related to a dog’s size. 

So, while a small dog might display the signs of dreaming once every ten minutes, a larger dog may only dream once every 90 minutes. However, the dreams of the larger dog tend to last longer.

Should I Wake a Dreaming Dog?

It can be tempting to comfort your fur baby if they seem distressed in their sleep, but it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie (yes, the saying exists for a reason!).

Just like you may feel disoriented if woken unexpectedly, waking your sleeping dog can startle them, and even cause them to lash out instinctively before recognising that they’re safe.

Furthermore, sleep is essential for memory consolidation, helping dogs retain important information and form long-term memories. So, the best thing you can do is let them rest and wake up naturally.

Final Thoughts: Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie

While we may never know exactly what our fur babies dream about, the evidence strongly suggests that they experience dreams just like we do. From replaying happy memories to working through their emotions, sleep is a vital part of their memory and wellbeing.

So, next time you catch your dog twitching, wagging their tail, or softly woofing in their sleep, know that they’re likely off on an adventure - and perhaps even dreaming of you! 

For more insights into dogs’ sleeping habits, check out my previous blog: Secrets of Sleep: 8 Dog Sleeping Positions & What They Mean.