Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, only to see your dog whimpering, pawing at the air, or twitching as though he is chasing a dream? Like humans, dogs dream and go through REM sleep when they do. And like we do, they can have nightmares.
How do you tell the difference between a regular dream and a nightmare? Is your dog in a joyful memory or trapped in a vivid nightmare?
Today, we will talk about dogs’ nightmares, what you can do in such a situation, and how to help your pets have peaceful dreams.
How Do Dogs Dream?
When dog’s dream, there are certain areas of the brain that light up, just like humans!Dogs enterREM or (rapid eye movement) sleep the same as humans do, but they do it faster. For dogs, the REM sleep phase occurs within 15 to 20 minutes after falling asleep, and lasts for less than five minutes. For humans, the REM stage begins 90 minutes after the sleep state, and can last between 10 and 60 minutes.
Because dogs have similar patterns, they can experience positive and negative moments in their sleep. They can have beautiful dreams and not-so-friendly nightmares. They can dream about playing fetch, or an unpleasant encounter with another dog.
Difference Between Human Dreams and Dog Dreams
We mentioned that one of the big differences between human dreams and dog dreams is the REM state. During the REM state, we have beautiful dreams or scary nightmares.
But one of the biggest differences between how humans dream and how dogs dream is in the imagery. Dogs have a different brain structure and they do not experience visual imagery like humans. They can fall into a very deep sleep, but there is no scientific evidence that they see themselves in dreams.
Signs Your Dog Is Dreaming
Like humans, dogs experience REM or rapid eye movement sleep. There are plenty of signs that your dog is dreaming, including:
- Twitching: Involuntary muscle contractions also known as hypnic jerks.
- Quivering: Involuntary spasm that looks like your dog is acting out its dream.
- Snoring and disrupted breathing.
- Murmuring, barking, howling, and similar vocalizations.
- Horizontal sleepwalking or running, moving their paws back and forth.
Can Dogs Have Nightmares?
Yes, dogs can have nightmares but the causes of these canine nightmares are unclear. Yet, many experts point to memories of trauma, physical pain, and similar that can trigger them. Many of the potential causes of nightmares for dogs can be traced back to health and stress.
A common condition that can cause nightmares in dogs is cognitive dysfunction syndrome. This progressive neurodegenerative disorder affects older dogs, similar to how Alzheimer’s disease affects humans. Additionally, cognitive and physical issues such as fear, pain, illness, anxiety, stress, and medication side effects can cause nightmares in dogs.
While there is no cure for cognitive dysfunction syndrome, there are treatments that can help.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Nightmare and a Dream
For pet parents, telling the difference between a dream and a nightmare is a tricky and challenging task. Yet, if you observe your dog closely, you will notice subtle differences and pick up on the signs.
A dog that is having a pleasant dream will have his paws twitching and his ears flicking. There are no signs of stress. Nightmares, however, cause your pet to growl in sleep as well as twitching his paws and eyes. Sometimes, dogs can whine, howl, whimper, or bark for alarm. When the nightmare is too stressful, dogs may jerk awake like humans.
Should You Wake Up Your Dog?
Pet parents who suspect their furry friend is having a nightmare might be inclined to wake up their pet. Yet, that is not always the best choice. If you want to wake up a sleeping animal, do it slowly and use your voice to calmly call your dog. Another option is to place a tasty treat in front of your pet’s nose.
Leave your dog alone if he is showing signs of aggression, including raised hackles, growling, and bared teeth.
When the nightmare is intense, pet parents should be careful about touching their dog, especially around the mouth. You might awaken your dog in a panic state and cause him to bite you in response.
How to Improve Your Dog’s Sleep
If you want to help your dog have pleasant dreams, try to make his sleeping as comfortable as possible. Here are some ideas.
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- Keep the bed comfortable and place it in a dark and quiet room.
- Place your dog’s favorite toys nearby.
- Provide a soft and proper-sized bed for your pet to stretch out.
- Establish a bedtime routine.
Dogs that feel safe and comfortable will have a higher quality of life and a stronger bond with their owners. Additionally, dogs that get enough sleep are calmer, relaxed, and more comfortable in the environment.
Can You Prevent Nightmares?
While there is little that pet parents can do in the midst of a nightmare, they can help prevent it. Often, dogs have nightmares about things that cause them anxiety. For example, walking in environments that cause stress, going to the vet, going to the groomer, and similar scenarios.
Use desensitization and counterconditioning methods to help your dog feel more comfortable outside. The more you can minimize exposure to stressful environments, situations, and people, the higher quality of life your dog will have.
Desensitization is a technique for gradual exposure to stimuli that brings undesired behavior. For example, if your dog hates baths, you can gradually expose him to the bathroom and the sound of water to make the experience more comfortable.
Counterconditioning is a technique that changes a dog’s emotional response to stimuli. In the case of baths, you can give your dog treats while you are bathing them. This creates a positive experience. Another trick you can use is to add a lick mat to the bathroom and have your dog lick some peanut butter while you bathe them.
Final Thoughts
While we may never fully understand what is going through our dogs’ minds at night, one thing is certain: Like humans, emotional experiences are deeply connected to our dog’s dreams.Make life as safe, comfortable, and secure as possible for your furry friend and they will have more pleasant memories to think about while sleeping than negative ones.
And the next time your dog has a nightmare, be there as a soothing presence. Your presence will organically calm your dog, as they will know subconsciously their loving owner is nearby. This act alone will make all the difference!
