Note: This is a guest post by Dr. Susan Wright who writes for Dog Fence DIY. Dog Fence DIY offers a variety of dog fence systems including the Innotek IUC-5100 and provides a full-reference guide for putting in your system and teaching your dog how to use it.
We’ve all seen our dogs twitch, yelp and paddle their feet while they’re asleep. We usually have a chuckle and imagine them dreaming of chasing rabbits through the fields. Do dogs in fact have dreams? Do they have nightmares? And if so should you wake them up?
You may be interested to know that your dog’s sleeping patterns aren’t a lot different to your own.
Our dogs experience two types of sleep, and no doubt you’ve already heard of them: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Non-REM sleep occurs during most of your dog’s sleep time. This is the stage when his mind is relaxed, but his body still has muscle tone.
REM sleep is the deep sleep during which dreaming occurs. Even though your dog is deeply asleep, studies of brainwaves show his brain is just as active as when he is awake. His body is most relaxed (almost paralyzed) in REM sleep to prevent him from sleep walking or otherwise acting out his dreams.
Dogs only spend about 10 percent of their sleep time in REM sleep, which is about half the time that humans spend in REM sleep – but they also sleep a lot more time sleeping so we end up spending about the same amount of time in dream land.
Now, back to the topic of dreams. The REM stage of sleep is when you’ll see your dog’s eyelids flickering as his eyes move quickly back and forth. He may also wag his tail, move his feet and growl or yelp during this stage of sleep. Most veterinarians agree it is reasonable to think that your dog is dreaming while he’s doing this, because this is the same type of activity that occurs when people dream.
Can dogs have nightmares?
It’s also a fair assumption that if your dog can dream, he is also capable of having nightmares, especially after experiencing a fight or other scary event. If he is deeply asleep and you notice his eyes are twitching, what should you do?
The best advice is to leave him be. We do not recommend trying to wake him up! He is likely to be startled when he is woken from REM sleep and may snap at you. Let him come out of the dream gently, and don’t rush to console him. A quick reassuring pat is all he will need to realize that it was all just a dream.
Dog sleep disorders
Dogs can also suffer from the same sleep disorders that occur in people. They can have narcolepsy, where they are excessively sleepy during the day. As with people, the treatment for narcolepsy is hit and miss. Vets have been unable to find a reliable solution to the problem. There have also been documented cases of dogs suffering from sleep apnea. Bulldogs, pugs and other short-nosed breeds are more prone to this condition because of the shape of their faces. Obesity is also a risk factor for sleep apnea.
Older dogs often have the same sleep issues as older adults. Dementia, arthritis and other age-related health conditions may prevent your dog from getting all the sleep he needs. On the other hand, an under-active thyroid gland may cause your dog to sleep too much. You’ll need help from your veterinarian to properly manage these disorders.
How much sleep your dog needs depends his age, breed, activity level and even his owner. Puppies need about 16 to 18 hours of sleep a day (just like human babies!).
An adult dog’s requirements are higher than normal if his days are very active. Sometimes, dogs just don’t get enough sleep, and again, this is similar to us. Hunger, a noisy sleeping environment and an uncomfortable spot to sleep in will all affect how much sleep your dog gets. But, most adult dogs will sleep about 14 hours a day if you tally up all the little naps.
How much does your pup sleep, and do you notice him dreaming?
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September 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I’ve always wondered about this. Thanks for the fascinating post.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I’ve always wondered if dogs understand what dreams are. Do they get confused or do they wake up and realize they were just dreaming?
September 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
You won’t be surprised to hear that Gus is just as silly in his sleep as he is awake. He is either sound asleep and snoring VERY loudly or looking like he’s running through the fields. Now remember, this is a dog that will barely trot while awake. We joke that he runs wild in his dreams. Another funny thing he does is wake up with a start and look lost. He’ll be snoring soundly and then suddenly stand up and briskly walk a few steps and then stop. It’s like someone woke him up and said “come eat steak” and then he realizes there is no steak.
We never cease to be amused by our silly Gus.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
haha! oh, poor Gus! I can just picture it. Ace snores loudly as well and will whine and growl in his sleep. he never seems to wake up suddenly, though.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
HAHAHA, Gus sounds like such a character! Biggie only makes once in a while snorts/snores that sound like an adult making a silly, long drawn out snoring sound. When you’re not expecting it and Biggie is sleeping in the other room, it sounds like a person.
The other thing Biggie does is sleep with his eyes half open. It looks a little creepy sometimes. We think this is his guarding instinct, because when he’s sleeping like that he instantly pops awake and alert at the slightest sound or motion.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Ew, Ace sleeps with his eyes open too.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 am
Invisible Dog Fences have evolved over the past 25 years. The expensive and somewhat ugly chain link dog fences have fallen by the wayside in favor of the new electronic dog fences, which use invisible radio waves. Dogs have a habit of jumping over or digging under chain link dog fences or other solid barrier dog fences. An Invisible Fence is a good idea if you want to keep your dog safe. A wireless dog fence is great because you never have to worry about fixing broken wires. A Wireless Pet Fence is a good option for pet containment.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:57 am
my dog runs and grawols in his bed
January 8th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Ha! That’s funny when they do that.