Dogs and humans have fairly similar brain structures and brain wave patterns while sleeping. Dogs, like humans, go through different stages of sleep. This could mean that, like humans, dogs are dreaming while asleep.
That may explain their behavior when they are sleeping. Some owners would report observing their dogs quiver, make leg twitches, or even growl or snap at some dream-created phantom they see while sleeping. It looks like they have intense dreams just as how humans could have too.
Although there are not enough studies on dreams, science has some fairly convincing explanation behind the dog's dreams. But what do they dream about?
Measuring the electrical activity of doggy brains while they are asleep
Dogs love to enjoy a good nap as it is not uncommon for them to sleep for 12-14 hours a day. Scientists have also recorded a dog's sleep cycles that seem to be similar to a human's sleeping cycle.
A dog's sleep also undergoes stages of wakefulness, the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, and the non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) stage.
According to ZME Science, the scientists found that dogs spent 44% of their time alert, 21% drowsy, and 12% in REM sleep. Also, they spend 23% of their time in the deepest stage of non-REM sleep.
Experts suggest that dreams are responsible for building memories and creating mental shortcuts, structuring, and cementing the information one has gathered during their waking hours. Therefore, it is not surprising when animals, like dogs, dream as well.
According to a 2001 study by MIT researchers, animals have more complex dreams ad they try to remember and replay long sequences of the events of their day. Besides, a 2016 study also confirmed that dogs are much happier if they sleep more.
Additionally, a recent study this year suggests that "sleep may contribute to dogs' memory consolidation." As to what the dogs dream about, some scientists have the answer to that question.
Read Also: Dogs Have Facial Expressions Just Like Humans Do, And Here's What They Mean
What do dogs dream about?
Studies suggest that animals' dreams are also associated with their activities during the day. However, the full range of what the dreams of dogs might be is impossible to assess right now.
But evidence exists wherein the dog's dreams mainly involve common dog activities. This study takes advantage of some parts of their brains, like the brainstem (pons) that keeps them and humans from acting out the context of their dreams.
Scientists said that when the brainstem is removed, dogs started acting out their dreams despite still being asleep based on the electrical recordings of their brains. They started moving when they reach the stage of dreaming and then execute the actions they are performing in their dreams, such as running.
Moreover, there are also some reports that dreams vary in some breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, smaller dogs have more frequent but shorter dreams. Meanwhile, larger dogs have lesser but longer dreams.
While experts are not yet sure of a dog's exact dreams, they said that Pointers point and Dobermans display guard behavior when asleep which implies a breed-specific type of dream. While Labrador Retrievers are more likely to dream about chasing a ball than is a pug, AKC reported.
But whatever dogs dream about, the fact that they too are dreaming while sleeping and experiences fears make them more alike with humans than different.
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