Have you ever wondered what your dog dreams of when he closes his eyes? Chasing garbage trucks, perhaps? Sniffing their best dog buddy’s butt, maybe? Well, according to a Harvard psychologist, puppy dreams are even better than we imagined.
Dr. Deirdre Barrett has studied humans’ sleep behavior for years, and she’s concluded that human dreams and doggie dreams aren’t that different, in that dogs likely also dream about their everyday experiences. So what exactly do our dogs dream about then?
That’s right — the star of your dog’s dreams is you! And now you may weep because of the cuteness.
Dr. Barrett explained her reasoning behind this super-adorable assumption: “Humans dream about the same things they’re interested in by day, though more visually and less logically. 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.”
Obviously, our hearts can’t take this kind of adorability, so there’s nothing else to do but cry tears of happiness and love for our pooches. The internet has collectively lost its mind — and shed buckets of tears — over this heartwarming information.
But what about cats, you ask? Sorry cat owners, the answer is not as adorable.
Dr. Barrett described the findings of cat dream studies: “Cats lay quietly through the other stages of sleep, and when REM began, they leapt up, stalked, pounced, arched their backs and hissed. They looked like they were hunting mice in their dreams.”
Or planning how to attack their owners, probably.
So while dogs dream lovingly about their owners, cats remain detached about their owners even during their deepest state of sleep. Yet another win for dogs in the age-old dogs vs. cat debate.
Don’t you think it’s just the cutest when your puppy’s legs twitch and spin in their sleep as if they’re running? Dr. Barrett confirmed that these movements are probably due to your dog’s body attempt at acting out his dreams.
So the next time you see your pooch dozing off, just remember that he’s probably dreaming about you. Make sure that your tissues are close by.
Dr. Barrett also had some advice on how to ensure that your dog has a good dream: “The best way to give ourselves or our children better dreams is to have happy daytime experiences and to get plenty of sleep in a safe comfortable environment. It’s a good bet this is also best for pets’ dreams.”
So make sure that your puppy has the best dreams of you possible by taking him for a long walk, recognizing him when he’s a “good boy” and giving him extra cuddles. Aren't dogs just the best?