Can My Dog Have Nightmares?
There is hardly anything cuter than a sleeping puppy. Watching them move their paws or wag their tails in their slumber will have you thinking about what your pooch could possibly be dreaming about. But when they start to bark, whine, or whimper in their sleep, you may start wondering: Can my dog have nightmares?
Do Dogs Dream?
Yes! Just like humans, when dogs enter their most restful stage of sleep, REM, they will often have dreams. When we humans have dreams, they are often based on our lives or what has been occupying our thoughts during our waking hours. The same is true for our dogs! When they dream, they are dreaming about their own experiences. And since your dog’s life mainly revolves around you, there is a good chance you are the star of most of their dreams!
Do Dogs Have Nightmares?
If dogs can dream like humans, can they also have nightmares like us? Unfortunately, the answer is, yes your dog can and will have nightmares every once in a while. Dog nightmares often center around things that give them anxiety when they are awake, so if you are wondering what their bad dream may be about, think about the things they really don’t like. This could be things like being left alone, going to the vet, or having their nails trimmed. And, if your pup is a rescue, it is possible they are having nightmares about what their life was like before your brought them home.
How to Tell if Your Dog is Having a Nightmare
It can be hard to tell sometimes whether or not your dog is having a nightmare or just a very vivid dream. However, there are some things you may observe that will let you know what the situation may be. While moving their paws or wagging their tail are probably indicators of a perfectly good dream, bad dreams might include growling, whining, howling, or barking. Sometimes a nightmare might be so stressful your dog may jerk itself awake.
What to Do if Your Dog is Having a Nightmare
While it is so tempting to want to wake your dog up to end its horrible dream, that actually isn’t the best idea. Dogs are in a very heightened state of stress during a nightmare and if you wake them up in the middle of it, they may not be able to figure out what is real and what is a dream. This could lead to an accidental snap or bite. Instead, let them come out of the dream on their own, or if absolutely necessary, try waking them up by calling their name from distance or making loud noises out of their reach.
Watching your dog have a nightmare is no fun, but just remember that when they wake up, they will be delighted to have you there to comfort them and let them know everything is going to be just fine!