When your dog is fast asleep does it twitch and peddle its legs as if running through air? Does it make cute snuffling and whining noises? If so, your dog may be dreaming just like we do. 

So, are they dreaming?

Well, it certainly looks that way. We know this from research that has been carried out by scientists using electroencephalograms (ECG) whilst dogs have been asleep. They found that the canine brain wave activity (slow wave and rapid eye movements) during sleep is similar to that found in humans albeit dogs had more cycles which were shorter in time. It is generally during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage about 20 minutes into the sleep pattern that we, and other animals including dogs, dream. 

What are they dreaming about?

By monitoring the brains of rats that spent all day running in a maze, scientists showed that the same areas lit up when they were both running in the mazes and when they were dreaming suggesting that they may be dreaming about maze running. Other studies in cats showed that if the areas of the brain that control the normal cessation of movement when sleeping were impaired the cats would perform the same normal activities when they were asleep as they did when they were awake. And more recently similar research on different breeds of dogs where this area of the brain was temporarily switched off also showed that the dogs that hunt such as Pointers would point in their dreams and those breeds that liked to chase ran.

So, it looks like dogs may be dreaming about the nice experiences they encounter during the day such as chasing a rabbit, going for a fun walk or playing ball. Research also suggests that smaller dogs dream more often but for shorter periods of time and larger dogs experience less dreams but for longer. 

Do they have nightmares?

Well dogs do sometimes growl in their sleep, show their teeth and some even wake up screaming. If this happens don’t try and wake them up as they might feel disorientated and go to snap. Allow them to wake normally and then once fully awake give them something fun to do. If this happens frequently it might be worth speaking to your vet who might refer you to a qualified behaviourist. 

It might also be worth giving your dog a choice of where it might like to sleep. We like to sleep on what we feel are comfy mattresses with large quilts or tight blankets. But we often get hot and throw off the quilts or we might get colder and add more. So, give your dog a choice of bed and access to somewhere cooler and also warmer. Think about where the bed is situated for instance away from draughts or direct heat. But more importantly give your dog something amazing during the day to dream about.