It can be incredibly endearing to watch a sleeping dog, especially if their paws are shaking as if they are running or if they are letting out a little bark. pet owners, we often imagine them dreaming of cuddling with us on the couch or frolicking in an open field with other dogs.
Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at Harvard Medical School, previously conducted a study to gain insight into dogs' dreams.
She suggests that dogs probably dream about their daily experiences, just as humans do, so it could very well be that they dream about their owners.
Speaking with Peopleshe said: “People dream about the same things they're interested in during the day, but they're more visual and less logical. There's no reason to think animals are any different. Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it's likely that your dog is dreaming about your face, your smell, and about pleasing or annoying you.”
While it’s impossible to know exactly what a dog dreams about, Dr. Barrett believes that if a dog’s paws or legs are shaking, they’re likely dreaming about running, and if they start barking, they may be interacting with another dog or human in their dream. She notes that most animals have similar sleep cycles to humans, cycling through light, deep, and REM sleep stages.
Humans dream during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, leading experts to believe that this is probably when other animals, including dogs, dream. In humans, REM sleep typically begins 90 minutes after the start of a nap and lasts between five and 15 minutes, with each cycle getting longer as the night progresses.
Dr. Barrett suggests that owners can improve their dog’s dreams by providing “happy daytime experiences” and ensuring they have a safe and comfortable environment for their nighttime sleep. However, when it comes to nightmares, the American Kennel Club advises owners to “let sleeping dogs lie down” due to the risk of an aggressive reaction if they are woken up abruptly.
One explanation reads: “Not all human dreams are good. We infer from this that dogs can have nightmares too. These nightmares are difficult to watch.”
It continues: “Like some people, dogs can react aggressively to the person who wakes them. This can be dangerous, especially for children.” The best course of action, they advise, is to wait until your dog wakes up on its own and then offer comfort.
When they talk about their dog's dreams, Reddit user said: “My dog is definitely chasing/chasing something in her sleep. Her legs are moving like she's running and she's barking softly with her mouth closed.”
Another user added: “One of my rescue dogs was shaking and whining while sleeping so I slowly woke her up because it broke my heart. She was a sweetheart. I hope all the other rescue dogs don't have nightmares anymore and only dream of bacon.”