Mary's Mama Posted December 11, 2002 Posted December 11, 2002 You all have probably had this conversation before but.... We all know dogs dream. I am curious if you all think dogs have nightmares. My personnal position is no or at least not normally. Possibly if severly traumatized. I have had ppl tell me I should wake Mary up if she is dreaming and making noise or running so she doesn't have a bad dream. I think she is probably chasing the cat I told her not to. Do you all have any idea if dogs from happy backgrounds have nightmares? Quote
lordgoliath Posted December 11, 2002 Posted December 11, 2002 That's a very interesting question. I would have to say that without some bad or stressful experience in a dog's past, it would not be possible to have a nightmare. That being said, I don't think the experience would have to be an extreme, like being abused daily. It would really depend on the individual dog's experience of any event. For example, some dogs will get stressed out when left alone and will drool and drool. This is not necessarily the indication that a dog has an unhappy background. It is just that to that dog, being left alone is something he or she doesn't enjoy. I know that one time our Goliath was walking between my wife and the coffee table and somehow got his head stuck between her leg and a door on the table. He couldn't move forward or backward. The way he screamed was terrifying. I think that might qualify as an event he may have a nightmare about. He sleeps with us on our bed and I know that on rare occasions, I have heard him wimpering in his sleep, but I am not sure if it is a nightmare or just a normal dream (playing with a favorite toy) and since he is asleep his vocalization only sound like wimpering. Kind of like when someone first wakes up, there speech is not always very clear. My 2 cents.....er...well maybe 7 cents Quote
Bensam Posted December 11, 2002 Posted December 11, 2002 I have had numerous breeds over a lifetime of dogs and have seen the 'dreams' where their legs twitch and they making little whimpery noises. I have only had one which I would class as having nightmares. Ben will start howling in his sleep, all the calling his name, making a noise doesn't stop him. The howling just gets louder and more pathetic until I actually hold his head, talk to him and wake him up properly. I have had to climb behind the couch at times. He sleeps on my bed at night and on being woken up, just want to cuddle. He will sometimes do this a couple of times in one week then not again for ages. I have had him since 9 weeks of age, he's nearly 10 now, and he has never had a bad experience to warrant this. He is a totally happy laid-back little Terrier, cant remember the last time he was trouble for anything (not like the other two!). He even loves my Vet. so the occasional visit doesn't hold any fears. Anyone staying overnight is warned not to have a fit if they hear the Hounds of Baskerville in my bedroom, it's only Ben having a nightmare. Quote
Mary's Mama Posted December 12, 2002 Author Posted December 12, 2002 why does barking and running constitute a nightmare? couldn't it be a dream about chasing a rabbit, which would include barking and running. or playing at the dog park, includes barking and running. Hmmm, I guess we will never know! Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted December 13, 2002 Posted December 13, 2002 a bad dream for a dog could be dinner is late, you are out longer than usual or out on a walk he loses site of you and thinks you are lost Quote
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