Why Do Dogs Kick in their Sleep?
Any dog parent has had that moment: You have your pup peacefully snoozing next to you, when suddenly their legs start twitching or kicking until they are practically running in place. It’s very cute to see, but it begs the question: Why do they do this? Is this my dog acting out their dreams or should I be worried that it’s a sign of a deeper issue?
Do Dogs Dream?
Most likely, if your dog is kicking or twitching in their sleep, they are dreaming! Like humans, dogs also have stages of sleep. About 10 minutes after your pup falls asleep, they will enter REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and this is when dreams occur.
What Do They Dream About?
When humans dream, what do we dream about? We dream about human things! So, what do dogs dream about? Doggy things! Researchers discovered that dog dreams come from what they experience in their lives so anything from car rides to playing fetch is all fair game for dream content. This means when your dog looks like they are running in their sleep, they might be dreaming about chasing squirrels or running around the yard. Since dogs dream about their lives and their life revolves around you, there is a pretty good chance your furry friend is dreaming about you! From your face to your smell, you might be the main character in many of your dogs’ dreams.
Do Dogs Have Nightmares?
Just like humans, dog dreams are not always good. Your dog’s nightmares are based on things in their life that they don’t really like or that increase their anxiety. Things that dogs typically don’t like such as going to the vet, getting groomed, or being alone are pretty common things for dogs to have bad dreams about. Also, if you rescued your dog, they could be having nightmares about their life before they met you.
Signs that your dog might be having a nightmare beyond just kicking their legs could be whimpering, growling, barking, or even howling. If their nightmare is scary enough, your pet might even jerk themselves awake.
Should I Wake Them Up?
Even though it can be sad to watch your furry friend having a scary dream, it’s usually not a good idea to try and wake them up. There is an old saying, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” and here’s why: When your dog is having a nightmare, they are pretty stressed out and on high alert in their dream. Trying to pet or shake them awake could result in them jerking awake and biting or scratching you, not realizing the dream is over.
If you must wake your dog up while they are having a bad dream, it’s better to try and call their name or make loud noises out of reach from your dog. They may still startle awake if you do this so be sure to give them some extra love.
Should I Worry?
While a dog twitching or moving in their sleep is often just a sign of a harmless dream, it can sometimes be indicative of a larger issue. Like humans, dogs can have seizures that cause them to twitch or jerk involuntarily. Fortunately, there are signs you can look for to see if your dog is having seizures or not.
When a dog moves in their sleep, the movements are usually fairly brief and relaxed. However, if your dog is seizing, their movements may be more violent and rigid. Also, while dreaming dogs are easy to wake up, seizing dogs are not easily woken and when they do wake up, they may seem disoriented. They also may drool, pant, or pee and poop on themselves.
If you believe your dog is seizing, watch them closely to make sure they don’t hurt themselves, comfort them when it’s over because they may be confused, and then contact your veterinarian immediately.
Seizing is not super common though and it’s safe to assume that when your dog is moving around in their sleep, there is no need to worry. Instead, you can just wonder what your pup might be dreaming about.