Do Dogs Dream
According to scientific research, dreaming is a response to daily activities, thoughts and actions, a metaphorical reflection of the events of our day that rarely make sense to us when we wake up. Studies show that dreams occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep and by preventing it; scientists have thus prevented candidates from dreaming. Results of the experiment suggested that those whose dreams were prevented were much more susceptible to anxiety and irritability, making dreaming a vital part of a stable mind.
But is this the same for dogs? Do dogs dream at all? Dog owners would probably say ‘yes’. Anyone who has ever had a dog can probably attest to having seen them twitch, flinch, wag their tails or ‘run’ in their sleep and maybe even bark, whine or whimper once or twice. Most people assume their dog is dreaming about chasing something, running or playing, but scientists have not yet proved they are seeing any images at all.
Similarly to us, dogs have a particular sleep pattern in which they go through several stages. The first stage is known as SWS/NREM (slow wave sleep or non rapid eye movement), a very light sleep that is easy to wake up from. The brain is resting, but the dog’s muscles are still prepared for use. The next stage, again similarly to us, is REM, which occurs during heavy sleep. Within this time, scientists can measure brain activity using an electroencephalogram. At the REM stage of sleep it records erratic activity at which point the dog may be moving, whimpering or barking.
In accordance with this evidence, dogs do in fact dream. They are not the animals that do, either. It has been suggested that all mammals can dream, though the reasoning behind it is unclear.
People who have faced abuse, be it mental or physical, or have experienced a traumatic event, have a high probability of suffering from nightmares. These still occur during the REM stage of sleep. However, dogs that have been abused or mistreated rarely experience REM sleep and this suggests they in fact neither have nightmares, nor dream.
According to leading expert Dr. Ernest Hartmann, dreams are shaped by the emotions of the dreamer, so it therefore stands to reason that a dog may well dream about their family, their favourite activities or their favourite treat. Also, just like children dream far more often than adults, puppies dream far more often than adult dogs. Dreaming dogs must always be left to dream.
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