Identifying and Handling Nightmares in Dogs
Nightmares in dogs can be just as difficult to witness as nightmares in children or other family members. For dog owners whose furry pal is often an animated dreamer, it can be difficult to determine whether the dog is indeed suffering from a bad dream or is simply experiencing a lively but harmless dream. Studies have shown that a doggy dream has much more action packed into a shorter amount of time than a human dream does. The actions of a dreaming dog can easily overlap between an action-packed squirrel chase and a dreamy visit into an abusive past. We are going to talk about some of the most prominent ways that one can tell whether their dog is having a nightmare as well as the best ways to go about handling nightmares in dogs.
Physical Manifestations
The most obvious clue that a dog owner can pick up on is their dog’s actions while sleeping. As mentioned earlier, dogs experience a much higher concentration of “action” in their dreams, which means that a dog is much more likely to exhibit running or jerking motions during sleep—nightmare or not. One clue that the dog is indeed having a nightmare would be if these jerking motions are accompanied by raised “hackles”. This is the area of fur that leads from the dog’s lower neck down the spine of its back. When a dog is frightened, angry, or sensing a threat, the hair in this area raises to stand on end. While awake, a dog would use this as a warning sign, and would likely exhibit this same behavior during his dream state.
The dog may also whimper, growl, or howl while sleeping. These three types of vocal manifestations are the ones most likely to occur when a dog feels threatened or scared. Barking during a dream is not as much of a concern because dogs bark for many reasons. A dog may bark out of happiness, at a strange noise, or at an animal. A dog could easily be dreaming about any of these things which do not necessarily fall into the nightmare category. Therefore barking shouldn’t be a concern.
The dog may also shiver or shake while whimpering or howling. This type of manifestation is not common during most dogs’ waking hours unless they frequently experience fear or abuse. If the dog exhibits this kind of behavior while sleeping, it is quite likely that he is experiencing some sort of nightmare. Bear in mind that shaking and jerky movements are also a sign of a canine seizure. If the shaking seems to last for more than fifteen minutes and the dog cannot be woke up, a vet should be contacted about evaluating the dog for medical issues.
Handling the Nightmares
Regardless of whether the dog has been raised from puppyhood or was adopted from a shelter, one must never touch a sleeping dog, especially one that appears to be in the throes of a nightmare. Just as we humans often wake up groggy and confused from a dream, a dog can also react in confusion to being awakened. His reaction could be anything from a nip on one’s hand to a full-on attack due to his sleep-muddled brain.
The best way to handle the situation while the dog is dreaming is to simply let him finish his dream. If the dream plays out and the dog wakes up on his own accord, he is much less likely to bite someone nearby and indeed may not even remember the nightmare. In order to remember a dream, the dog would have to wake up during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Waking the dog up while he is dreaming could cause an increased likelihood that he will wake up during the REM period and will remember the terrible dream.
If the dog awakens on his own during the nightmare and appears to be suffering from the experience, he may leave the area in an attempt to be alone. His wishes should be respected, especially with the chance that he may not be fully awake. If he comes in search of affection, such as hopping in bed with his owner or jumping into someone’s lap, then this is a sign that he is seeking comfort and it is okay for the owner to show affection and reassurance.