Can Dogs Have Nightmares?
Veterinarian Nicholas Dodman remembers a time when his rescue dog Rusty was having a particularly bad dream.
“He was making horrible moaning sounds and movements,” says Dr. Dodman, a professor emeritus at Tufts University and the chief scientific officer at the Center for Canine Behavior Studies. “My wife and I are both vets and we looked at him and said, ‘Oh my god, I think he’s dreaming about something awful.’ It was so obvious that we actually woke him up so he didn’t need to experience it.”
For Dr. Dodman, it’s logical that dogs dream, and research supports this assumption. But can dogs have nightmares? Here’s what you need to know about dog nightmares and how to calm your pet after a bad dream.
What Do Dogs Dream About?
Dogs can’t tell us whether they dream or what they dream about, but most experts believe dogs do dream.
Dogs oscillate between REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and deep sleep, just like people, Dr. Dodman says. While there are some differences in brain waves between humans and dogs, Dr. Dodman says everything else about canine sleep is “exactly the same as in people.”
For instance, one study found that dogs have similar sleep-wake cycles as humans, and also that medical conditions, such as chronic pain, can affect dogs’ sleep patterns in a comparable way [1]. Another study found that periods of sleep in dogs supported memory, learning, general intelligence and healthy aging, just like in humans [2].
If dogs can dream, it makes sense that dogs have nightmares. “I think they can have very bad dreams and they can have good dreams — just like us,” Dr. Dodman says. “They’re so much like us in so many respects. It’s almost like they’re canine carbon copies of us.”
But what might cause a dog to have a bad dream, as opposed to a good dream? Dr. Dodman says it’s likely that dogs dream of things they previously experienced.
For instance, Dr. Dodman says his rescue dog Rusty came from an abusive situation, and that his past experiences probably caused him to have occasional nightmares.
“If you have those memories stored up in your brain, all these traumatic incidents, it may [play out] in your sleep as an occurrence,” Dr. Dodman says.
Is My Dog Dreaming or Having a Nightmare?
If you see your dog twitching, whining, growling, or moving their limbs, they’re probably having a dream. If your dog is experiencing REM sleep, Dr. Dodman says you might even be able to see their eyelids moving. But how can you tell if your dog is having a nightmare?
Dr. Dodman says you can make an educated guess about what’s going on. “If it looks like they’re having a bad dream,” he says, “give them the benefit of the doubt.”
A dog who just had a nightmare will not necessarily act clingy or anxious afterward, Dr. Dodman says. “It depends on what [they’re] dreaming about, but I imagine if it’s something horrific, it’s a great relief to be suddenly conscious and to realize that it was a dream,” Dr. Dodman says.
There is a phenomenon that can be mistaken for dreaming called sundowner syndrome, which is associated with canine cognitive dysfunction. “At or after sunset, they start to run around and act crazy and terrified of something — but it’s something that isn’t there,” Dr. Dodman explains. “It’s almost like a bad dream that you’re actually living out consciously. It’s very much like night terrors.”
If you see a sudden change in your dog’s behavior or sleep patterns, consult your veterinarian.
What to Do About Dog Nightmares
Having a bad dream might be uncomfortable for your dog, but it doesn’t mean your dog is in danger. However, if you’re worried about your dog having a bad dream, Dr. Dodman says you can gently wake them up — just like he once did with Rusty.
“I would remain calm,” Dr. Dodman recalls. “I would sit next to Rusty. I wouldn’t be suddenly shaking him by the collar for him to get up — I would just stroke him gently across the head … to lightly pull him out of the sleep that he’s in.”
If nightmares seem like a frequent occurrence for your dog, talk to your veterinarian. Anxiety and medical conditions are common causes of sleep problems, so your veterinarian is likely to recommend a thorough workup (including a physical exam, neurologic exam, and blood tests). A video of your dog’s suspected nightmares can also provide your veterinarian with more information about your dog’s episodes. While uncommon, REM sleep disorders can occur in dogs and may look like nightmares.
In addition to working with your veterinarian, you can take steps to make your dog’s environment more conducive to sleep. “If a dog has trouble sleeping, you do want them in an optimal environment,” Dr. Dodman says. “You want them to have a very comfortable place to lie and get fully relaxed. You want a dark room. You want it to be as peaceful and quiet as possible.”
References
- Woods, Hope J et al. “A functional linear modeling approach to sleep-wake cycles in dogs.” Scientific reports vol. 10,1 22233. 17 Dec. 2020, doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79274-2
- Morell, Virginia. “Brain scans show dogs learn when sleeping—just like people.” Science. Oct. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.science.org/content/article/brain-scans-show-dogs-learn-when-sleeping-just-people
