The Dog Bowl Pet Supply and BARF Raw Food Blog
The Dog Bowl is an online storefront that offers quality pet products including: raw dog food, B.A.R.F., pet beds, dog dental care, pet first aid kits for travel, and every other luxury pet gift imaginable.Sunday, October 15, 2006
Do dogs dream?
Question: Do dogs dream?
Answer: Your dog lies asleep at your feet, and suddenly his legs begin to twitch and run. Is he dreaming? Yes, evidence supports that dogs do indeed dream.
Dogs are, in fact, similar to humans in many ways. We are 95% identical genetically and physically, right down our common blood pigment, hemoglobin. Our brains are similar, our neurochemistry is the same, and our reflexes and memory are similarly wired. We are also similar in sleep patterns, both progressing from light to deep sleep where brain wave activity is increased, breathing becomes irregular and actual dreaming takes place. Dogs experience the same REM stage as humans, loping in and out of several dreams times throughout the night.
The REM, or “rapid eye movement” stage, has this name because behind closed eyelids, a dog's eyes are moving rapidly back and forth, presumably watching images he is dreaming about. It is during this stage where he may also have involuntarily vocalizations and body movements. But avoid the temptation to awaken him, even if he appears to be having a bad dream. Dogs, like humans, need uninterrupted sleep for healthy mental activity.
Do all dogs dream alike? Research suggests that small dogs dream more than larger ones. Also, dream frequency seems to be related to age---puppies dream more than adult dogs. What do dogs dream about?Most likely canine fantasies and the everyday things that make up their existence like chasing, playing and eating.
Have you ever had a dream about your dog while he is dreaming next to you? Could that mean you are you dreaming WITH your dog? That would be, of course, impossible to prove. But all very interesting to ponder...
Answer: Your dog lies asleep at your feet, and suddenly his legs begin to twitch and run. Is he dreaming? Yes, evidence supports that dogs do indeed dream.
Dogs are, in fact, similar to humans in many ways. We are 95% identical genetically and physically, right down our common blood pigment, hemoglobin. Our brains are similar, our neurochemistry is the same, and our reflexes and memory are similarly wired. We are also similar in sleep patterns, both progressing from light to deep sleep where brain wave activity is increased, breathing becomes irregular and actual dreaming takes place. Dogs experience the same REM stage as humans, loping in and out of several dreams times throughout the night.
The REM, or “rapid eye movement” stage, has this name because behind closed eyelids, a dog's eyes are moving rapidly back and forth, presumably watching images he is dreaming about. It is during this stage where he may also have involuntarily vocalizations and body movements. But avoid the temptation to awaken him, even if he appears to be having a bad dream. Dogs, like humans, need uninterrupted sleep for healthy mental activity.
Do all dogs dream alike? Research suggests that small dogs dream more than larger ones. Also, dream frequency seems to be related to age---puppies dream more than adult dogs. What do dogs dream about?Most likely canine fantasies and the everyday things that make up their existence like chasing, playing and eating.
Have you ever had a dream about your dog while he is dreaming next to you? Could that mean you are you dreaming WITH your dog? That would be, of course, impossible to prove. But all very interesting to ponder...
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