{"id":31047,"date":"2023-11-22T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=31047"},"modified":"2023-11-13T20:07:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T20:07:51","slug":"do-dogs-cats-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/do-dogs-cats-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Dogs and Cats Dream?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a pet parent, then you\u2019ve likely seen your dog or cat adorably twitching\u2014or even running or howling\u2014in their sleep. That probably has made you curious about whether your dog or cat dreams at night<\/a> or while napping\u2014and if they dream of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead, we\u2019ll explore everything pet parents need to know about whether your furry friend dreams while they sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do dogs dream?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, do dogs have dreams? According to Candy Akers<\/a>, veterinarian, they most certainly do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyone who has watched a sleeping dog<\/a> twitch, move its paws as if running, or make soft whimpering sounds has likely seen evidence of a dog’s dreams,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The science behind this observation comes from understanding the structure and function of the brain during sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDogs, like humans, have a sleep cycle that includes periods of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep,\u201d explains Akers. \u201cREM sleep<\/a>\u00a0is the stage in which dreaming occurs in humans, and there is good evidence to believe it’s the same for dogs.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During REM sleep, you might notice your dog twitching or moving as if they’re reacting to something in a dream, she adds. Sometimes, this can be accompanied by barking or other vocalizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The duration of a dog’s dream can vary based on multiple factors, including the dog’s age, breed, size, and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, according to studies, on average, dogs spend about 10% to 12% of their total sleep time in the REM stage, which is when dreaming occurs,\u201d says Akers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do dogs dream about?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might be wondering, \u201cDo dogs have dreams about their owners? Do dogs have bad dreams?\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we cannot definitively know the content of a dog’s dreams, scientific understanding combined with observational evidence allows us to make educated guesses,\u201d says Akers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She notes that based on the principle that animals dream about familiar activities, it’s likely that dogs dream about \u201cdoggy daily life.\u201d According to Akers, these scenarios in their dreams may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n