Do Dogs Dream? | What Do Dogs Dream About?

Written by Crystal Moore | Last updated 12/09/24

Watching your four-legged friend fall asleep can be very peaceful and quite laughable! The various positions and places where they fall asleep are an amusing sight to see. Whilst you take a peek at your furry friend fast asleep, you might wonder if they dream, and if so, do they dream of chasing a squirrel, digging a new hole in the garden or even dreaming of you?

There are scientific studies on the sleep cycles of dogs, and scientists are still researching this field. In this blog you will learn all you need to know about your four-legged friend's sleeping habits.

Signs your dog is dreaming

Whilst your dog is in REM sleep, there are a few signs that you might see to show they're dreaming. When they're in this stage of sleeping, you may see some twitching and barking. Here are all the signs your dog is dreaming:

Twitching (paws, legs and face)

Common places that you'll see your dog twitch are their paws, legs and face. This behaviour is completely normal and happens because during REM, the brain is highly active, and the muscles are relaxed. The twitching occurs in response to the brain's activity.

Barking

If you've heard your dog bark in their sleep, you most likely would've noticed that they sound different. The barking is typically softer and shorter due to the muscles being relaxed. Barking is common and harmless and may be linked to your dog's dream.

Whimpering

When a dog whimpers in their sleep, this might be a response to something distressing in their dream. On the other hand, whimpering doesn't always indicate that your dog is having a bad dream, it may simply be an emotional response.

Growling

Similarly to other vocalisations, if your dog growls in their sleep, it could either be an emotional response and/or having a bad dream. Dogs tend to growl when they're being defensive, agitated or protective.

Eye movements

Eye movements are one of the most common signs you'll notice when your dog is asleep. During this stage of sleep, the brain processes visual imagery which can cause rapid eye movements (just like humans!).

Change in breathing

If a dog is in a deep sleep, you may notice your dog's breathing change. They could be panting, taking deep breaths or having sudden pauses. Their breathing can change during REM sleep due to the brain's activity fluctuating.

Body movements

Your dog might appear to be running in their sleep and look as if they're running sideways! Don't worry, as occasional body movements are normal whilst your dog is asleep. Body movements can mimic what your dog might be dreaming about.

What do dogs dream about?

I'm sure most of you have witnessed your dog twitching or doing something that could indicate that they are dreaming and, perhaps, give you an idea of what your dog could be dreaming about. In my experience, when Theo is in REM sleep, he sometimes twitches his paws, and now and then, I hear a soft bark. My guess is that he is doing his usual activities in his waking hours (running around the garden chasing away birds or barking at things outside the window).

Although these are only guesses of what Theo is doing, there is a researcher called Professor Coren who is the author of "Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know", and when speaking about his research, Professor Coren expressed "What we've basically found is that dogs dream doggy things." He suggests that dogs can undertake breed-specific activities in their dream, "So, Pointers will point at dream birds, and Dobermans will chase dream burglars. The dream pattern in dogs seems to be very similar to the dream pattern in humans."

Although the research only theorises what a dog is dreaming about, researchers are confident that dogs dream of activities that happen in their waking hours, and this can mean your dog even dreams of you, all the delicious dog treats you give them and the adventurous dog walks you go on!

To further back up the statement that dogs dream, 2 researchers studied the activity in a rat's brain both asleep and awake. In their research, they got the rats to perform a behavioural task that produced distinct patterns. The brain activity of each rat was monitored, and an analysis was conducted to compare and determine if there were any similarities in sleep and awake activity. Out of 45 examined REM (sleep) episodes, 20 showed a "significant correlation to RUN activity". The results of their study suggest that the rats were dreaming of the events that were occurring during their behavioural task. Although this study was conducted on rats, the findings are significant as both rats and dogs exhibit similar brain activity during sleep (especially REM) to humans. This study strongly indicates that dreaming is a common experience across mammals.

Can I wake a dog that's dreaming?

It's best to leave your dog alone when they are sleeping, even in instances where your dog may appear to be having a bad dream. We understand the need to try and comfort them however, you could startle your dog if you wake them up, causing them to feel confused or anxious, resulting in unintentional harm, such as bites or scratches. If you must wake your dog, instead, gently say their name and restrain from touching them.

Do dogs have nightmares?

As you may have experienced yourself, humans can have both good dreams and bad dreams (nightmares). Research shows that dogs dream, and studies observing a dog's behaviour during REM sleep indicate that dogs are likely to dream based on their daily experiences. Therefore, if your dog appears to be having a nightmare, these nightmares are most likely events that your dog experienced that day or in the past. This may have been a scary, agitating or traumatic event for them, and they are essentially reliving that moment in their dream, just like humans can do. There are signs that can indicate your dog is having a nightmare such as, intense twitching of the leg, whimpers or growls. As much as it might pain you to see them in distress, it is crucial that you do not wake your dog as it can startle them or worse, they may unintentionally cause you harm.

How often do dogs dream?

The frequency at which a dog sleeps depends on the size of the dog. According to Professor Stanley Coren, small breeds have more frequent dreams that last a shorter amount of time in comparison to larger dog breeds. Professor Coren found that larger dogs experience a new dream every 90 minutes, whereas a small breed might get a new dream every 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my dog is dreaming?

You can easily spot when your dog is in REM by their eyes. Just like humans, their eyes will be moving behind their eyelids. Moreover, you may see body movements such as twitching, changes in breath and vocalisations.

How do I know if my dog is dreaming and not having a seizure?

The way to differentiate between a sleeping dog and a dog that is having a seizure is from the intensity of violent movements. A sleeping dog will be more relaxed, whereas a dog having a seizure will not. In addition, it will be near impossible to awaken a dog that is having a seizure, and their eyes are likely to be fully open and staring into space.