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New York Post
What do dogs dream about? Research explores the mystery of canine sleep
By Brooke Kato,
6 hours ago
You could be the owner of your dog’s dreams.
If you’ve ever wondered why your dog might kick, twitch or whine while snoozing, experts believe it’s because they’re dreaming just like humans do.
One of the more notable studies about dog dreams came out of MIT more than 20 years ago, in which researchers studied the sleep cycle of rats, finding that the rodents were recalling real-life events and experiencing complex dreams.
If you’ve ever noticed your dog whimpering or kicking in their sleep, it’s probably because they’re dreaming just like humans. JustLife – stock.adobe.com
“(Dogs) probably dream about their owners and interacting with other dogs and with people that they enjoy,” veterinarian José Arce, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told USA Today .
A dog’s age and size also plays a role in the frequency of dreaming.
According to the American Kennel Club, smaller dogs are more likely to have increased dream frequency than larger pups, but they also have shorter dreams, whereas larger dogs have fewer dreams but for a longer duration.
“Puppies seem to dream more, and for some reason older dogs seem to dream a little bit more than the middle-aged dogs,” Arce added.
Research suggests that animals can recall real-life experiences when asleep, resulting in dreams. GarkushaArt – stock.adobe.com
But, just like humans have nightmares, your Fido might, too. Experts warn, though, not to wake a dog despite it growling or whimpering in its sleep, lest you face the consequences.
“When a dog is growling, that’s something I wouldn’t interfere with,” Arce explained. “You have to be very careful around their mouth because sometimes they will bite you, not on purpose, but … they don’t have any control.”
While little else is known about what happens when animals sleep, Arce believes artificial intelligence might factor into future research and help researchers “find more answers.”
“Because a lot of these technologies [are] just developing as we speak and it’s getting more sophisticated,” he said.
“(Dogs) probably dream about their owners and interacting with other dogs and with people that they enjoy,” said Arce. maxximmm – stock.adobe.com
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