Dogs Do Dream

We treat our dogs like family, like a daughter or a son, and for whom we want nothing but the best. We can't really help but treat them the same way a person should be treated. They're man's best friends after all. When our dogs go off to sleep I often wonder if they to dream in a similar way humans do.

The Experts View

From a scientific point of view, studies have shown that some animals when fast asleep are seen to have the same patterns of brain activity that we humans do. People generally are more likely to have vivid dreams revelant to whatever activities or situations they have been involved in and apparently, the same goes for our dogs.

The Pons

Did you know that a small part in our brainstem inhibits us from acting out our dreams in real time while in a state of dreaming? This special area is named the pons which dogs also have. Many studies about dog dreaming have been done with the aim of finding out if the removal or making 'the pons' inactive in the dog's brain will have any effect.

It was found out that when this part is removed, the dogs will actually run around or become active, even though their brain waves indicate that they are suppose to be asleep. Scientists have therefore deduced that the dogs are acting out their dreams which are then reflected in their movements even when asleep.

There are ways in which you can determine whether your dog is in a dream state.

• As the dog's breathing becomes more regular it means that he or she has probably fallen into a deep sleep and now the dreams will begin.
• When your dog's breathing become irregular it is a sure sign that the dreams have started. At this point muscle twitches that are considered to be out of the ordinary, begin. Your dog will probably be dreaming of jumping and running around.
• Notice the eyes that are moving even when closed. In humans, this is called the REM (rapid eye movement) state. This is the most significant evidence that your dog is dreaming.
• Sleep walking is also possible in dogs. This happens when feeling traumatized or scared about something, then if dreaming about it they have nightmares and also sleep walk.

There have been studies on rats, which have a lesser electrical activity than dogs, to prove that when asleep and put in a maze, the rats pattern of brain activity remains the same as if they were awake.This is taken to mean that many animals do dream, especially dogs.

Because your dog shares most its experiences with you, it's probable that it is dreaming about you.