What Does Your Dog Dream Of?

After a long day of work and running around, a good night’s rest full of dreams is the perfect way to end the day… but have you ever thought about what your dog dreams about? 


Did you know dogs spend more time sleeping every day than any other activity? In fact, the average dog sleeps between 12 to 18 hours per day! That’s a lot of potential dreams. The American Kennel Club shared that Stanley Coren, a neuropsychological researcher, has studied the sleep cycles of dogs and found that “At the structural level, the brains of dogs are similar to those of humans. Also, during sleep, the brain wave patterns of dogs are similar to that of humans and go through the same stages of electrical activity observed in humans — all consistent with the idea that dogs are dreaming.”


We asked our Big Barker community what they thought their dogs dreamed about and here are the top answers!


Chasing Animals

Perhaps one of the cutest dreams to catch a dog in is when they’re kicking their legs and running in their sleep. Our community members have seen such dreams and even have guesses for which animals they may be chasing. The most popular answers were rabbits, squirrels, birds, and other dogs. One of the most interesting dream guesses was that a retired K9 dog will chase criminals in his sleep.

Dog Thinking About Chasing Animals in Field

 

Food

Other than their pawents, dog’s lives revolve around their favorite thing: food! The Big Barker community definitely agreed with this being one of the most popular answers. Some answers included cheese, breakfast, dinner, chicken, treats, and peanut butter to name a few. Our community has also voted on their dog’s favorite treats for 2021, check it out here.

Dog Eating Food

 

Running and Going on Walks

The American Kennel Club described that most dogs are likely to dream of activities from their normal life such as going on walks and running. That would also explain why your dog may have little twitches while they sleep.

Dogs Running Together

 

Cuddling and Belly Rubs

With just a glance of puppy eyes, all dog owners know that their dogs want lots of love and pets. Did you know that cuddling dogs can come with lots of benefits? According to Mi Pet Insurance, cuddling a dog can not only strengthen the bond with your dog, but they can also improve your psychological health as it reduces the hormone that creates stress and depression.

Dog Cuddles

 

Playing

The Big Barker community guessed that their dogs also dreamed of playing. Some of the answers included playing with toys, causing mischief, or playing with other dogs. Some of the favorite toys mentioned included tennis balls and bones, but there are other toys that our community’s dogs love which you can check out here.

Dog Playing with Tennis Ball

 

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