Do Dogs Dream? What Their Sleeping Habits Can—and Cannot—Tell Us
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The little movements we notice
Many dog owners have watched a sleeping pet twitch a paw, flick an ear, move their whiskers, or make a quiet sound. It is natural to wonder whether the dog is chasing something in a dream. Science cannot tell us exactly what an individual dog is experiencing while asleep, but research into canine sleep gives us some useful clues.
Dogs experience REM sleep
Dogs Sleeping
Like people, dogs move through different stages of sleep. One important stage is rapid eye movement sleep, usually shortened to REM. Researchers can identify sleep stages by recording patterns of brain activity and other physiological signals. In a 2018 study, scientists used non-invasive sleep recordings in family dogs to examine rapid eye movements during REM sleep. The study showed that REM features can be measured in dogs and that patterns varied with factors such as age and body size.
REM sleep is associated with dreaming in humans. Because dogs also experience REM sleep and show some similar sleep patterns, many scientists consider it likely that dogs dream. That is a reasonable interpretation, but it is important to separate evidence of REM sleep from proof of what a dog dreams about. We cannot ask a dog to describe a dream, and a paw movement does not reveal its exact content.
What might dogs dream about?
It is tempting to picture a dog dreaming about a favorite walk, a game of fetch, or a meal. Those are charming possibilities, but researchers cannot reliably identify the story in a dog’s dream from its movements. Studies in other animals have found links between waking experiences and patterns of brain activity during sleep. That research helps scientists develop questions about animal dreaming, but it does not let us translate a sleeping dog’s twitch into a specific scene.
A 2018 study of family dogs also examined how activity before bedtime, the time of day, and the location where dogs slept were associated with sleep patterns. The findings suggest that a dog’s day and sleeping environment can influence aspects of sleep. They do not establish a single ideal routine for every dog.
How much sleep does a dog need?
Sleep needs vary with age, health, activity, and the individual dog. Puppies often sleep for long periods as they grow, while adult dogs commonly alternate between periods of activity and rest. Older dogs may also spend more time resting, although a sudden or marked change in sleep habits deserves attention.
Rather than trying to force a particular number of hours, provide a comfortable, quiet place where your dog can rest without being disturbed. Keep a reasonably predictable daily routine, and make sure your dog has suitable opportunities for exercise, toileting, social contact, and mental activity while awake.
Should you wake a twitching dog?
Usually, it is best to let a peacefully sleeping dog continue to rest. A twitch or soft noise on its own is not a reason to wake them. If you need to rouse your dog, use your voice gently from a little distance instead of suddenly touching their face or paws; a startled dog may react defensively before fully waking.
Not every unusual movement is ordinary dreaming. Repeated episodes of stiffening, violent or prolonged movements, loss of bladder or bowel control, or difficulty waking can indicate a medical problem, including a possible seizure. If you see concerning episodes, record a video if it is safe to do so and contact your veterinarian. Seek urgent veterinary advice for a first suspected seizure, prolonged seizure activity, or repeated episodes close together.
Conclusion
Dogs clearly have complex sleep patterns, including REM sleep, and it is likely that they dream. The exact content of those dreams remains a mystery. The best thing owners can do is provide a safe, comfortable resting place and allow their dogs the uninterrupted sleep they need.
Research references:
Kovács et al. (2018), “Rapid eye movement density during REM sleep in dogs,” Learning & Behavior.
“Differences in pre-sleep activity and sleep location are associated with variability in daytime/nighttime sleep electrophysiology in the domestic dog” (2018).
PetMD, “Do Dogs Dream?” (reviewed by a veterinarian).