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Scientists say the average person dreams four to six times per night. Dogs dream, too.
Pet owners hear them whimper, see their paws twitch, their tails swish, acting out some canine experience in their sleep.
Why do they do it?
Nobody really knows for sure. After all, we don’t know exactly why humans dream. It may be a mechanism our brains use to sort memories. It could be how we deal with the dramas and traumas of life. It also could be that second Philly cheesesteak sandwich we shouldn’t have eaten. And let’s not rule out the spiritual aspect – many religions have dream-like encounters between humanity and the supernatural. (For example, the Bible has many references to dreams.)
Dogs dream through their entire life. We know they experience “rapid eye movement” sleep like we do, the phase of sleep when most dreams occur. Everybody talks about how their lazy cat sleeps all day, but dogs sleep a lot as well – around 50 percent of the day. That’s plenty of time to dream!
What do dogs dream about? Who knows? When their legs move as if running, it’s a reasonable bet they are prancing through a country field or chasing a ball at the dog park. You hear them whining, maybe they are begging for a treat. Generally, if you see your dog dreaming it’s best to do nothing. It’s natural. If your dog appears to be having a nightmare, it is recommended to wait until the dream appears to have subsided before gently waking your dog to avoid startling her to aggression. (After all, would you like if someone violently shook you awake while being chased by zombies in your sleep? Probably not.)
Dreams are just one of those mysteries of life – for us and our four-legged friends. Some mysteries don’t need to be solved.
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Sources and Links:
How Long Do Dreams Last? Research, Explanations, and More (healthline.com)
How Much Do Dogs Sleep? | PetMD
Why Do We Dream? The Role of Dreams and Nightmares (healthline.com)
Photo by Connor Home on Unsplash
