Do Dogs Have Dreams?

Dog owners around the world are familiar with this scenario: Your pup has dozed off and is sleeping soundly, but all of a sudden, they start shaking their legs or wagging their tail midsleep.

Now, the most natural reaction to this is thinking that the dog is having a dream, and you might just be right about that. In this article, we’ll discuss some points that can determine once and for all whether dogs actually dream, and what they might be dreaming about.

Yes, They Do Dream

Research using modern neurological methods has confirmed the fact that dogs have dreams.

Much like us humans, dogs have a very active and complex brain that is great at making memories and learning new things. A dream is, in the words of science, the reflection of the activity of the brain as it processes the events of daily life or recalls events from the past. Mix that with the creative stream of the mammalian brain, and you get some exciting elements to dreams that we are all familiar with. Dogs have a similar brain to other mammals, and in this way, it serves up dreams in much the same manner.

What Are They Dreaming Of?

Researchers suggest that as dogs are very intuitive and clever animals, their dreams most likely revolve around the events of the day and reflect their interests in life. For example, if a dog has a favourite toy, they might be dreaming of playing with that toy. This is a natural way that the brain of a dog reacts to emotions. Other things that can show up in their dreams include some of the fears that the dog might have. This can consist of seeing something they are afraid of or vague situations where their loved ones are in danger.

Genetic Differences

There has also been some research regarding the extent to which dogs dream, how they react to dreams and which breeds may dream more than others. According to the latest research, it has been shown that there is a difference in the number of dreams depending on the size of the dogs. Larger dogs are known to dream less but react more evidently to their dreams in their sleep, like witching legs or wagging their tail. In contrast, smaller dogs dream a lot more but have lesser physical reactions to their dreams.

No matter what your dog may be dreaming of, keeping their mental and physical health in check is important to keep them healthy and provide them with a good quality of life. You can ensure that your pup gets a balanced diet and nutritious food by choosing a premium, highquality dog food such as HyproPremium for their dietary needs. Made with Australian meat combined with several fruits and vegetables, the HyproPremium dog food range is the choice for keeping your pup active and healthy.