by Penne Cole

Created on: November 06, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2012

One minute your dog is sleeping quietly in the corner and the next, his legs are going a mile a minute like he's running the Kentucky Derby for dogs. Some dogs even make muffled barks or yelps in their sleep. What's going on?

Doggie Dreams

Is your dog chasing rabbits in his dream? Is it a good dream or a nightmare? Do dogs even dream?

According to pet experts,

Vetinfo.com, dogs have sleep cycles and doggie dreams, just like humans do. Sleep cycles are divided into non rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) stages. In the NREM stage, dogs are beginning to lose consciousness and control over their muscles. They are very calm and relaxed, and while your dog looks like it is in deep sleep, it is actually snoozing, and can be easily awakened.

Your dog will then slide into Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), where their brains are resting, producing elongated and even brain waves. The breathing is slow and regular, and the pulse and blood pressure are both decreased, although the muscles are still ready for action.

The REM stage is the reverse of the NREM stage. Dogs are in deep sleep, with relaxed bodies, but active minds. This stage is often characterized by twitching muscles, low barks, yelps, or whines, and even rolling eyes. While their bodies may look active, this is the deepest part of the sleep cycle, and it may be difficult to wake your dog at this point.

During the REM stage, the uneven and irregular brain waves produced are comparable to a human's during the same stage, suggesting that dogs do have dreams. Unfortunately, research has not been able to tell us what dogs dream about and whether those dreams are good or bad. REM cycles typically last for between 10 and 15 minutes.

Not All Dreams are Created Equal

While your pet pooch may dream just like you, their dreams often don't last as long as human ones. Dogs are also far more active in dreams than humans are. While humans tend to remain still when dreaming, dogs are known to run in their dreams and emit muffled barks.

Dreams also differ between dogs. Research has also shown that smaller dogs dream more often than larger ones, and puppies dream more than older dogs.

To Wake or Not to Wake

Dogs often wake up of their own accord, especially after a particularly active dream. They usually snap out of their dreams, good or bad, without any side effects. However, if you're worried that your dog is having a seizure and not a dream, The Providence Journal's Jan Gregory recommends calling out your dog's name to wake him. Shaking the dog awake is not advisable as the sudden awakening may frighten the dog, particularly if it is a high-action dream.

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