If you've ever watched your dog twitching in their sleep and wondered what's going on in their head, research from Harvard Medical School might give you some insight.
According to Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at the prestigious university, dogs likely dream about their human companions, revisiting moments from their daily lives.
Dr. Barrett, who has spent years studying sleep behavior in humans, suggests that because dogs form strong bonds with their owners, their dreams are probably filled with images of familiar faces, scents, and experiences they share with them.
“Humans dream about the same things they’re interested in by day, though more visually and less logically,” Dr. Barrett explained to People. “There’s no reason to think animals are any different. Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell, and of pleasing or annoying you.”
While it’s difficult to say exactly what dogs experience in their dreams, Dr. Barrett notes that they likely have similar sleep cycles to humans, moving from a deep sleep phase into Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when dreams occur.
The fact that dogs exhibit physical movements during REM sleep, like twitching or pawing, strongly suggests they are acting out dreams. For example, if your dog’s legs move as if they’re running, it might be dreaming of chasing after you or playing a game together.
Interestingly, while dogs are often deeply attached to their owners and likely dream of their faces or scent, cats are a different story.
Dr. Barrett pointed out that, unlike dogs, cats show little interest in their owners while they sleep, just as they do when they’re awake. However, early sleep researcher Michel Jouvet’s work revealed that cats do dream - just not the way we might expect.
When a tiny area of their brain was damaged, cats exhibited full-body movements during REM sleep, such as pouncing, stalking, and even hissing, suggesting they were “hunting mice in their dreams".
The research suggests that creating a comfortable, safe environment and ensuring pets have a happy day can promote good dreams for animals, just as it does for humans.
Dr. Barrett advises pet owners to prioritize these factors for their pets’ well-being, as it’s likely the key to ensuring that their furry companions dream peacefully.
So next time you catch your pup mid-twitch or running in their sleep, remember - they might just be dreaming of you.