Do dogs dream? Yes. Do they have nightmares? Yes. Here’s how you can help

  • Dogs dream and have nightmares like humans, with signs including growling, crying and shaking. They are most likely recalling a traumatic experience
  • Resist the urge to wake them – they may lash out. Making an environment more comfortable and quieter can be a preventive measure

Dogs spend about 10 per cent of their total sleep in the dreaming phase. Photo: Shutterstock

It turns out bad dreams are not just a nuisance for humans – our pets can experience them as well.

Though the sleeping patterns of dogs differ in some ways from our own, there are striking similarities, including the ability to get frightened in the night.

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