How many times have you seen your dog sleeping, then start whimpering or even running while they are sleeping? It’s quite a sight to see, and they must be dreaming right? Of course, just like humans, dogs can also dream!
As crazy as it may seem, your dog does have a brain and memory… which allows them to dream just like humans. Dreaming is a necessary function that is normal for data processing and memory storage. Just like we have dreams when we are sleeping, when dogs are in a deep sleep, they may also be dreaming.
Dogs and humans are actually more alike then you might think. From the same genetics and physical aspects, all the way down to how our internal organs and brains work, we share a lot of common traits with dogs. Similar sleep patterns and brain activity can also been seen in dogs, allowing both humans and dogs to dream.
What are dogs dreaming about?
As much as we would like to know what dogs are dreaming about, that technology just isn’t possible right now. As humans, we actually dream almost every night, but can’t remember nearly have of our dreams.
What research can tell us, is that small dogs are more likely to dream than larger dogs, and dream frequency is also related to the age of the dog. Puppies tend to dream more than adult dogs. The best guest that researchers have had about dog dreams, is that they are quite similar to our dreams, and can vary heavily… anything from running around and chasing animals, to dreaming about their next big meal or bone!
Sometimes you may even come across your dog whimpering or running in their sleep. It’s best to leave a dreaming dog asleep, as it’s very important to get a good night of uninterupted sleep.