Want to subscribe to our blog?

Do Dogs Dream? And How Much Do Dogs Sleep?

Written by Adaptil, published on April 18, 2023

Share on:

Have you ever wondered if your dog is dreaming when they suddenly start twitching and whimpering when they are asleep?

Professor Stanley Coren thinks so! Professor Cohen is a professor emeritus of psychology, at the University of British Columbia and states that dogs do dream, just like humans, and that their dreams reflect their day's activities.

How much do dogs sleep?

Dogs sleep, on average, for about 12-14hours a day which is important to their overall health. The majority of their sleep overnight, when humans are asleep, but they do like their naps during the day too!

A pooch's sleep cycles through 3 stages:

  • Light sleep phase: Although your pooch may look as if they are asleep, when in this phase, your dog will be alert and will be ready to jump up at the least bidding. This slumber period will, on average, last for about 20 minutes.
  • Rapid Eye Movement (REM): This is the phase when your dog will dream, much like humans, but interestingly, although your dog may be re-living playing with another dog in the park, or chasing a ball - there is a part of the brain, the pons, that stops him from physically doing so, but his paws might be twitching and his eyes will be moving behind closed eyelids. This REM phase will on average last for about 2-3minutes.
  • Non-REM sleep: This is the changeover phase from wakefulness to sleep when your dog is just drifting off to sleep and is associated with the brain restoring its energyand is a time when the body will repair itself.

You should not disturb your dog when they're asleep and it's particularly important that you teachyoung childrento 'let sleeping dogs lie'; you should never wake your dog up with a start.

Do Dogs Dream?

Research suggests that the frequency and duration of dogs' dreams vary depending on the age and size of the dog; and it also depends on the amount of activity they have had during the day!

For example, a small young puppy might dream more often because they are learning a lot of new things during the day and have a lot to process when they are asleep.

A larger dog, however, that has had a lot of exercise may sleep more soundly and have longer phases of REM sleep and the duration of their dreams will be longer.

You should not be alarmed if you see your dog moving, twitching or even whimpering during their dreams. This is a natural process of their sleep and most dreams are not nightmares, but much like the human sleep process when our minds are active and we are dreaming of activities or by something that happened during the day - they might even be dreaming about that fun game of fetch they played with you earlier!

It's important for your pooch to be able to have a snooze whenever they feel like it, and catch up with those important hours of sleep to enable healing and repair of their body. Ensure they have an area or doggy den where they can go for some relaxing, comfortable sleep and know they won't be disturbed. Consider plugging in ADAPTIL Calm Home Diffuserin the room where they spend most of their time to help them feel comforted and reassured.

However, if you have any concerns that your dog is sleeping more or less than usual, and this is not down to a change in routine you have implemented, you should get them checked out by a vet.

Your dog's dream could include anything that happened during their busy day, including their time with you and your family! Making sure your dog has a comfy bed, a loving home and fun daily doggy experiences will guarantee that all of their dreams are sweet ones!

Following our expert tips will help to ensure your bond with your dog goes from strength to strength.

Make sure to join our community for weekly advice from our dog behaviour experts as well as product offers and competitions.ย 

Related Posts

19 Ways to Comfort Your Dog in Stressful Situations

19 Ways to Comfort Your Dog in Stressful Situations

Helping your dog cope with stressful situations is key to forming a strong relationship...
Read More
Dog Anxiety โ€“ 4 Things Every Owner Should Know

Dog Anxiety โ€“ 4 Things Every Owner Should Know

New puppy owner or long-term pet parent? There are 4 things all owners should...
Read More
Happy Dog Expert: Help A Dog With Grief

Happy Dog Expert: Help A Dog With Grief

Dogs can grieve, though not always in the ways we expect. Here we explain...
Read More
Traveling With A Puppy In A Car

Traveling With A Puppy In A Car

At some point in their life, you're puppy will have to jump in your...
Read More

Sign up to get the latest news, expert tips and advice as well as promotions and competitions!

You consent to the processing of your personal data to receive our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time. To find out more about how your personal data is managed and to exercise your rights, please refer to the data privacy policy. Please visit this page.