Pollywaffle Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Just a straightforward question...my little boy was attacked a few years ago by a larger dog...the physical wounds have long healed, but occasionally, at night, he appears to be whimpering...and troubled. I usually reach over (yep, he's on our bed) and soothe him with a bit of stroking...OH is usually sleeping (snoring) through all this...I was just wondering if my boy is having nightmares..as we know them..or is it something more basic? Anybody have any ideas? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I've always wondered this too as all my dogs have done this. I also reach over and soothe them. At other times it seems like they are dreaming rather than having a nightmare. But are we allocating dogs a human experience or do they really do this when they sleep as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 yes . Dogs dream, and most owners will have seen the feet paddling, eye twitching involved..also heard the whimpers/muffled barks of a dog dream. hamlet tends show a lot of dream activity after a rabbit chase .... ! Nighmares, I will say yes. I have seen dogs , after a very traumatic event, like escaping from a house fire , have screaming nightmares ...... what you are describing certainly sounds like dreams :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyLane Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 If Penny is sleeping in the lounge room and I am watching a tv show with dogs in it, Penny will usually whimper in her sleep. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 They definitely have dreams/nightmares. Kenny would bark & his legs would be moving, like he is chasing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollywaffle Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 I take comfort in the fact that my boy is not alone, but doesn't it impact on you when you see they're troubled...guess it's because we care..thanks for your answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear&Duke Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I have seen dogs , after a very traumatic event, like escaping from a house fire , have screaming nightmares ...... Persephone that made me shiver. Poor things I hope they are ok now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy82 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I don't see why they wouldn't have nightmares. We know they dream, and recently I caught my dog wagging her tail in her sleep, like she was meeting someone new (her favourite thing). So if they can dream of good things why not bad things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pailin Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 My dog certainly dreams, not sure about the nightmares though I guess it is possible. My girl constantly suckles in her sleep. She is 3.5yrs old and I swear she suckles like a little puppy :laugh: and she can get quite loud about it too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempus Fugit Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Could some biting cases be the result of a dog confusing a nightmare with reality? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Could some biting cases be the result of a dog confusing a nightmare with reality? Some humans have used this defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Persephone that made me shiver. Poor things I hope they are ok now That was a long time ago ..and I think, with a vet behaviourist help , things settled down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Yes, I believe they do have nightmares. A few nights after Charlie coming back from staying at the vets, he had a restless night where he was shaking in his sleep and his teeth chattering. Then woke up in a shock looking terrified and whimpering. It took him a few seconds to realise where he was and settled down. That was the only time I've seen him react like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Nova howls in her sleep :laugh: Along with lots of yipping, whimpering, paddling feet, rolling eyes - she's probably the most active dreamer we've ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CavsRcute Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 My Cavalier was sound asleep last and was trying to dig up the carpet In real life she is not a digger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyke88 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 i have a whole hearted YES to dogs having nightmares. after adopting my boy 4 years ago we have seen his 'nightmares' go from daily, terrified whimpering yelping growling running things where he'd wake up terrified, be head shy and afraid of men all over again (after gaining his trust from an abusive past) to gradually reducing to maybe once a month/ two months and only takes about 10 minutes to come around and realise nope still in safe happy house no reason to be scared. it is heartbreaking to watch but good to know we have helped him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJ88 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I would have to say yes, in my case Ava when we first got her as a puppy she would wimper in her sleep and make guinea pig noises. She occasionally does it now as well, very cute to watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash1 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I would add my vote to yes, dogs have nightmares. All our dogs regularly dream (can be quite startling to have a german shepherd start "running" in his sleep when he's sleeping on the bed beside you), however one of our rescue pups woke up the first two nights literally screaming. After the first time it happened I raced into the pup's room because I thought he'd hurt himself, but couldn't find any problems. Ended up sleeping in his bed with him to calm him down and he woke up again screaming. Nothing hurt, so can only assume it was a nightmare. He doesn't do it anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atanquin Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Well zorro loves chasing birds in his sleep and barking so I don't see any reason as to why they can't have bad dreams :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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