Yes – dogs do dream. Scientists have found that the same areas of the brain that light up for humans when we dream, also light up in dogs. Just like us, dogs enter different cycles throughout their sleep. Dreaming is most likely to happen in the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleeping. This part of the sleep cycle is when your dog will begin to do one or more of the following: paw twitching, change in breathing, eye flickering, whimpering, barking, body twitching, tail swishing.
It’s likely that if your dog is happily barking or twitching, they are having a good dream. Whimpering may indicate they are having a bad dream. It’s best to leave them sleep and not wake them up if they are having a bad dream. You can always help your dog have pleasant dreams by giving them a great day – walks, games and ways to keep them mentally stimulated.
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