Why Do Dogs Dream?

According to scientific research, dreaming is a response to daily activities, thoughts and actions, a metaphorical reflection of the events of our day that rarely make sense to us when we wake up. Studies show that dreams occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep and by preventing it; scientists have thus prevented candidates from dreaming. Results of the experiment suggested that those whose dreams were prevented were much more susceptible to anxiety and irritability, making dreaming a vital part of a stable mind.

But is this the same for dogs? Do dogs dream at all? Dog owners would probably say ‘yes’. Anyone who has ever had a dog can probably attest to having seen them twitch, flinch, wag their tails or ‘run’ in their sleep and maybe even bark, whine or whimper once or twice. Most people assume their dog is dreaming about chasing something, running or playing, but scientists have not yet proved they are seeing any images at all.

Similarly to us, dogs have a particular sleep pattern in which they go through several stages. The first stage is known as SWS/NREM (slow wave sleep or non rapid eye movement), a very light sleep that is easy to wake up from. The brain is resting, but the dog’s muscles are still prepared for use. The next stage, again similarly to us, is REM, which occurs during heavy sleep. Within this time, scientists can measure brain activity using an electroencephalogram. At the REM stage of sleep it records erratic activity at which point the dog may be moving, whimpering or barking.

This evidence suggests that dogs do indeed dream. In fact, all mammals are said to ‘dream’, though there are few theories about the reason why they do. It may even be for the same reason we do, but it is likely to be something we will never know for certain.

Interestingly, studies suggest that dogs don’t suffer from nightmares. In fact, dogs that have been victims of neglect and abuse purportedly don’t experience REM and therefore don’t dream at all or dream very rarely. This is based on the theory that people who have been seriously abused or have faced severe trauma have a much higher chance of suffering from nightmares.

Dr. Ernest Hartman, a leading expert in the field, suggests our dreams are shaped by our emotions. If this I the case, a dog is likely to have dreams about things they consider to be ‘important’, like family, food and fun. Puppies, just like children, have a higher dream rate than adult dogs.

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