Mary Allen
Can dogs dream? And if so: from what? Scientists have now found something very cute: every race dreams of something different.
When it comes to sleeping, dogs are very similar to humans. Like us, they move in their sleep and sometimes carry out movements from everyday life. Instead of talking like us, stirring the pot, or gesturing as we do in a conversation, they growl, bark and growl to themselves. But why are they even doing this? Can dogs dream like us? And if so, from what?
In fact, studies have shown that dogs dream just like us. If they make noises, twitch their muscles or eyelids, and move, there’s a good chance they’re in a deep sleep phase.
This state is called the “REM phase” or “dream phase”. This phase of sleeping occurs in dogs as well as in humans. The REM phase is characterized by extremely intense dreams in both humans and dogs. When people talk during certain stages of sleep, it’s particularly common during this stage. And it’s no different with our furry roommates. They also have different sleep phases in which they experience more or fewer dreams.
The dog dreams and barks in its sleep
The movements and noises of the dogs while sleeping show that they too know the land of dreams. But what do dogs really dream of? Are things going on in the dog’s brain like chasing the neighbor’s cat? Or does the dog dream of how he romped freely across the meadow with other puppies and enjoyed life as a four-legged friend?
According to various studies, animal psychologists assume that dogs, like us humans, dream of everyday things like, for example, cats. These are situations that have happened to them or could happen to the dogs when they are awake. This explains why dogs bark in their sleep and make running movements – then they are probably just on the heels of the neighbor’s cat – or dog with their front paws.
What the dog dreams of depends on its breed
What is surprising is that not every dog dreams the same thing. Not everyone has cats on the Kieker. The scientists assume that there are breed-specific differences in the dreams of dogs. In his dreams, a hunting dog imagines the wild pursuit of a rabbit, while a beagle thinks more about eating, a Newfoundland dog about swimming, or a small puppy about drinking from its mother.
It is also very easy to determine whether a dog is dreaming or not if it is not barking or paddling its legs: after about 20 minutes of sleep, the first dream phase begins in dogs. The dog’s breathing is then shallower and more irregular.
Please don’t wake up!
Under no circumstances should you tear your dog out of the dream. Although some animals are immediately back in the here and now, there are also dogs (and puppies in particular) that do not switch gears as quickly and could then be prone to unexpected reactions.
However, if you have a dog like the one in the following video that has shown the behavior there several times (he is obviously not chasing just one cat, but all cats in the world), you should approach him carefully. Hold him gently and then gently wake him up (e.g. by petting him). In this way, you avoid injuries and unnecessary moments of stress for your animal.