Can dogs dream? What research says
Any dog owners are convinced that their four-legged friends dream regularly. But what do scientific findings show? An overview
Every dog owner is surely familiar with this: Your dog is lying relaxed on the carpet, closes its eyes, and suddenly its paws twitch, it whines softly, or its eyes move rapidly beneath its half-closed eyelids. Some dogs even growl and bark in their sleep. Does this behavior mean that the four-legged friends are dreaming? And if so, what do dog dreams involve? Science has repeatedly asked this question in recent years and has provided fascinating answers.
Dogs go through similar sleep phases as humans.
When looking at brain structure, we find similarities between dogs and humans. Furthermore, studies show that dogs have sleep patterns similar to ours. Dogs and humans go through various sleep phases that repeat themselves over and over again – although dogs experience them much more frequently than humans: While humans only experience about five cycles, dogs have about 20
Dogs – just like humans – go through the so-called REM phase ("Rapid Eye Movement"), which is closely associated with dreaming. It occurs approximately 20 minutes after falling asleep. During this phase, dogs' brain waves are strikingly similar to those of humans and exhibit the same electrical activity. This suggests that dogs do indeed experience dreams while sleeping.
What do dogs dream?
Scientists believe that dogs process everyday experiences in their dreams. The research draws on the fact that the brainstem bridge, the pons, contains a special structure that prevents us from actively translating our dreams into action.
When researchers removed or deactivated this part of the brain in dogs in experiments, they observed that the four-legged friends began to wander, even though recordings of their electrical brain waves clearly showed they were still sound asleep. The dogs also only began to move when their brains entered the dream phase.
For example, the researchers observed how a dreaming hunting dog actually began searching for game and even assumed a pointing position, how a spaniel flushed out a bird in a dream, or how a family dog pursued a ball game.
Not all dogs dream the same.
A miniature poodle, for example, might dream something every ten minutes, while a Great Dane can have up to an hour between individual dream phases. On the other hand, individual dreams in large dogs last longer.
And just like with humans, our four-legged friends' dreams can be both pleasant and frightening. A dog that suddenly whines or growls in its sleep could be experiencing a nightmare. Experts therefore recommend not waking dogs abruptly during such moments to avoid frightening them. However, owners can gently place a hand on their pet's body and speak to it quietly. Ideally, the dog won't wake up but will calm down.
It's still unclear whether dogs can remember their dreams after waking up. And if so, whether the four-legged friends know that what they experienced is only a dream and not reality. One thing is certain: If you see your dog sleeping peacefully, you can assume that it's currently embarking on a little dream journey—perhaps an exciting exploration through the forest or to its favorite playground.