Dreams have been one of the great unknowns that human beings have had to solve. However, thanks to the knowledge we have today about the different functions that sleep has and what the sleep phases are like, we can explain why this phenomenon occurs.
It is not surprising then that our curiosity has gone beyond knowing ourselves and we want to know if dogs dream, as well as, if so, ask ourselves what dogs dream about. If you want to know the answer to this question, in this article, we reveal what we currently know about sleep in dogs.
The sleep cycle of dogs
Rest is vitally important for dogs, just as it is for us and many other species. During this state, the animal recharges its energies, releases tensions, as well as cognitively it has a very important role in the formation of memory.
You must, therefore, make sure that your dog enjoys quality rest periods in quiet environments, as an adult dog can sleep between 8 and 13 hours peacefully.
Various studies have placed the emphasis on discovering how dogs dream, and this is how they demonstrated that a dog’s sleep phases are not so different from those we humans have.
Specifically, studying brain waves (which measure the degree of activity) it was discovered that when your dog sleeps, it repeats a sleep cycle, in which the dog goes through two well-defined phases:
- Slow wave sleep: light sleep phase, in which the dog relaxes; your heart beats slower, your breathing becomes slow and regular, your muscle tone drops, etc. In this stage, the animal can wake up in case it perceives some external stimulus. It is common for the dog to be resting during the day, without reaching the next phase, as it instinctively needs to be alert to external stimuli that could pose a threat.
- Deep sleep or REM: this stage, called REM or Rapid Eyes Movement, is characterized by the fact that the animal is in a state of total relaxation, unperturbed by external stimuli, since the brain “disconnects” perception of external elements. During this phase, in addition, it is in which both dogs and people dream.
What do dogs dream of?
We cannot know for sure what dogs dream, because for obvious reasons, they cannot explain it to us. But, comparing with what we know about why humans dream and how dogs behave while they are sleeping, we can deduce what is the content of their dreams.
As we have commented, sleep has an important function in the formation of memory, that is, in this phase the experiences and learning carried out during the day are organized and accommodated in the mind. The explanation that science currently gives to the fact of dreaming is that while this entire cognitive process occurs, our mind manifests this phenomenon.
For this reason, we have reason to believe that when dogs dream, the content of these are scenarios and situations of what they have experienced in their day or their usual routines : they dream of playing, going for a walk, etc.
What do dogs dream when they cry?
Following the previous line, if for example you have ever wondered what dog’s dream of when they cry, this may be due to some experience that has made them cry and is remembering them: if you left home and cried for you to come back, yes has had a conflict with another dog during the walk…
Why does my dog have spasms when he sleeps?
It is completely natural for your dog to move while he is asleep, because during the REM phase of sleep, although the brain for safety limits the mobility of the body, this disconnection is not always complete and, for this reason, part of the movements or States in which the dog is while dreaming, are manifested physically.
This can be recognized, for example, if your dog moves his legs and tail while sleeping, emits a wide variety of sounds (moans, barks, grunts …), varies his breathing, and even something that can worry owners: jerky movements.
Therefore, in case your dog is dreaming of chasing the ball, you could see that it moves its legs as if it were running while asleep, wagging its tail happily or emitting the occasional bark. On the contrary, if your dog does not move despite being sound asleep, this does not mean that he is not dreaming, since not all dogs are equally moved when sleeping. Therefore, this may simply be because the disconnect between the brain and the body is greater or that you have a peaceful sleep.
However, if your dog has spasms when he sleeps, you should not worry, as it does not imply that he is suffering from any pathology or pain, unless he also has these spasms when he is awake. In this case, you should always take him to the vet.
