What Do Dogs Dream About?

Picture this – You’re lounging on your couch and watching Netflix (or Apple TV, whichever subscription your friend pays for). Your dog has just come home after a good game of fetch and where they didn’t miss a single throw of frisbee. He is now curled up beside you in their bed with eyes shut. That’s when you start thinking – Is my dog dreaming about getting a gold at the canine fetch Olympics? Or maybe getting featured in the newspaper tomorrow on the front page as the new athletic sensation of the canine world? Or probably just dreaming about sleeping on a couch made of treats with two beautiful female dogs feeding him treats? 

Okay, you can take this imagination far and get creative but the real question here is – Can dogs dream? And the answer to it is ‘Yes’. And this is not a speculation, but scientists have backed it. 

It started when scientists got curious about the brain wave patterns of rats during sleep and wake times. Astonishingly, they found the waves to be similar. This gave rise to the thought of dreams in rats and then extended it to all other mammals, including dogs. 

Dreams are usually said to occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycles. Researchers observed animals having REM sleep too. You can even tell when dogs are dreaming. “Typically, their eyelids may flicker, their legs may move, and their lips may move—they may even vocalize,” explains Dr. Liz Stelow (veterinary behaviorist and service chief at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine). ⁽¹⁾

What Do Dogs Dream About?

Human curiosity definitely didn’t stop at discovering that dogs dream. We went ahead to know what exactly dogs dream about. Maybe some of us wanted to know if every day at night they are just laughing at us in their dreams by thinking ‘How easy is it to manipulate us with those charming eyes’ or if they are planning world domination in their sleep. 

Experts claim that dogs dream about their lived experiences just like us. To prove this, scientists temporarily disable a part of the brain called the pons, which is responsible for paralyzing both dog and human muscles during sleep, so we don’t act out our dreams. 

They found that dogs were actually acting out their dreams during REM. Their paw and lip movements suggested that they might be reliving their experiences like running, playing, eating, etc. ⁽¹⁾

There are even some theories for explaining the twitching movement that dogs do during their sleep. Experts feel that they could be dreaming about retrieving a ball or licking their owners. If both sets of legs are twitching, they might be dreaming about something like chasing a cat or playing fetch. 

Do Dogs Have Bad Dreams? 

The dreams may not just be filled with a good game of fetch followed by some tasty treats. Because their living experiences also include fear, anxiety and aggression, dreams can be filled with these emotions as well. 

If you see your dog growl, bark, whine or whimper in their sleep, it may be a sign of a defensive or frightened stance. There could even be a possibility of your dog suddenly waking up from sleep in an aggressive mood or posture due to a bad dream.  ⁽¹⁾

Do Dogs Dream Like Humans? 

The sleep patterns observed in humans and dogs are quite similar. For both, the first stage is usually SWS or slow wave sleep. In this, the mental processes are quiet, but muscles are still active, so the body is not totally relaxed. It can appear as if the dog is asleep in this state but can be easily woken up. 

The second stage is the deeper one which is called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The brain waves get faster and more irregular here. The muscles are more relaxed, but the mind is more active. This can be seen by the rapid movements of the eyes beneath the eyelids. 

As these stages are common for both humans and dogs, we can conclude that dogs do dream like humans. ⁽³⁾

But if you’re wondering if your dog also dreams of winning a lottery and quitting the job and settling down in the mountains forever, then the answer…well, you never know (the mountains part can be true though).  

Do Dogs Dream of Their Owners? 

We’ll only come to know about this once one of our dogs starts talking to the therapist about their dreams. Until then, all we can say is, that if their happy experiences have you in them, then there’s a high chance that you’re getting all the licks and cuddles in their dreams as well. 

Talking about the caring and loving owner that you are, here’s an important tip for you – 

Do not wake your dog up even if you suspect they are going through a bad dream. Approximately 60% of dog bites in children occur when the child wakes a sleeping dog. This is because dogs are unaware of the place and people around them when woken up from a deep sleep and may tend to attack as a defensive move. ⁽³⁾

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Here’s something more about dogs and sleep. If your dog seems to have trouble sleeping or wakes up suddenly in an aggressive or fearful mood from sleep frequently, it may be a sign of a disrupted sleep schedule for them. And the reasons for it may range from a bad incident in the day to an underlying severe condition causing them severe pain or discomfort. 

It becomes very important for you to treat this for your dog as sometimes these can develop into serious behavioral problems and other severe medical conditions. But here’s the good news – With pet health insurance, you can save up to 90% of vet expenses. With Spot Pet, you can even save expenses made for treating behavioral problems in your dog. 

Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home, or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more. 

Learn more about dog insurance or get a free quote!