Dogs
By Tamara McRill
Those mournful wails and yips let loose by our sleeping dogs tug on our heartstrings so hard that it can be impossible to resist waking our dreaming pets. The same goes for when their four legs get to moving and we wonder if they are happily bounding after squirrels or if something big and scary might be chasing them. Even the heavy-duty doggie snoring sometimes sounds like it can't be a good thing. But should we wake our dogs up from a dream?
The hardline answer is: Probably not. Dogs dream and sleep much like humans, with similar REM patterns. Although most dogs sleep 14 to 16 hours a day, they still need some of the deep, uninterrupted sleep we do. So, if you have a dog that seems to dream a lot, constantly waking your pup may be unhealthy for him.
But...what if you just can't help yourself?
No Touching
The aforementioned mournful wailing and heartstrings being tugged upon pretty much guarantee that we're going to awaken our pet anyway. At least I do—even though I know better—when my Wuppy sounds so sad and lonesome that tears spring to my eyes and I just want to hug his crying away. Which is exactly what not to do, at least not until your dog is fully awake.
No matter how loyal, well-trained and loving your pet is, awakening them by contact can get you snarled at or even bit. Remember that you are bringing your dog back from a dream state, where the dream is reality. One of our other dogs, Dusty, is a sweetheart, but it is extremely hard for him to assess his surroundings quickly if he is startled awake. He needs a minute to go from growling to his normal happy.
Use a Gentle Voice
Our natural instinct can be to wake our pet as quickly as possible, even sometimes by shouting their name, as we too are distressed for them. Taking that tone, however, can put your dog on the offensive. He will think something is wrong upon waking and go into protection mode.
Imagine an alarm clock that goes off sounding like the panicked voice of the person you love the most. That would be more than a little stressful to wake to. For these reasons, use a soft and loving tone to coax your dog out of a dream and into a safe environment.
Lay On the Love
Once your dog has successfully been retrieved from the Land of Nod is when you can finally soothe them by touch. Give comforting hugs, rub their head and give that favorite spot a quality petting. Talk to your dog and let them know everything is safe – basically everything comforting you would want after being abruptly woken up.
What sounds or movements does your pet make while dreaming? Can you resist the urge to wake them up?
Photo by Jason Empey
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
- Why Do Our Pets Stare At Us?
By Linda Cole For most pet owners, the best way to get your dog or cat's attention is to head for the cabinet where you keep their CANIDAE food or treats, or make yourself something to eat. No matter where they are, they can smell whatever it is...
- Do Pets Dream?
You’re quietly watching a scary movie late one night. It’s not too terribly scary because you have your faithful canine companion curled up on the sofa next to you, snoring contentedly. Suddenly, at the very spot in the movie that the “evil clown”...
- Do Dogs Dream Too?
Watch a dog sleep and you may notice that occasionally its eyes or legs twitch. Is it dreaming? Despite the fact that there is no scientific proof that dogs dream, there’s really no reason to believe that they don’t. photo Do dogs dream? In fact,...
- Do Dogs Dream?
While humans extensively talk about their dreams-Martin Luther King Jr. being one of the more famous people to do so and Barack Obama being the most recent-a very interesting question has arisen over the years about our canine friends. It becomes...
- What Do Dogs Dream About?
What do dogs dream about? Well, before answering this question one must ask himself, "Do dogs dream?". Hugo 'barks', "Yes"!, they do. Hugo holds expertise in dog behavior issues and ardently believes that dogs have the ability to dream just...
Dogs
Should You Wake Your Dog from a Dream?
Those mournful wails and yips let loose by our sleeping dogs tug on our heartstrings so hard that it can be impossible to resist waking our dreaming pets. The same goes for when their four legs get to moving and we wonder if they are happily bounding after squirrels or if something big and scary might be chasing them. Even the heavy-duty doggie snoring sometimes sounds like it can't be a good thing. But should we wake our dogs up from a dream?
The hardline answer is: Probably not. Dogs dream and sleep much like humans, with similar REM patterns. Although most dogs sleep 14 to 16 hours a day, they still need some of the deep, uninterrupted sleep we do. So, if you have a dog that seems to dream a lot, constantly waking your pup may be unhealthy for him.
But...what if you just can't help yourself?
No Touching
The aforementioned mournful wailing and heartstrings being tugged upon pretty much guarantee that we're going to awaken our pet anyway. At least I do—even though I know better—when my Wuppy sounds so sad and lonesome that tears spring to my eyes and I just want to hug his crying away. Which is exactly what not to do, at least not until your dog is fully awake.
No matter how loyal, well-trained and loving your pet is, awakening them by contact can get you snarled at or even bit. Remember that you are bringing your dog back from a dream state, where the dream is reality. One of our other dogs, Dusty, is a sweetheart, but it is extremely hard for him to assess his surroundings quickly if he is startled awake. He needs a minute to go from growling to his normal happy.
Use a Gentle Voice
Our natural instinct can be to wake our pet as quickly as possible, even sometimes by shouting their name, as we too are distressed for them. Taking that tone, however, can put your dog on the offensive. He will think something is wrong upon waking and go into protection mode.
Imagine an alarm clock that goes off sounding like the panicked voice of the person you love the most. That would be more than a little stressful to wake to. For these reasons, use a soft and loving tone to coax your dog out of a dream and into a safe environment.
Lay On the Love
Once your dog has successfully been retrieved from the Land of Nod is when you can finally soothe them by touch. Give comforting hugs, rub their head and give that favorite spot a quality petting. Talk to your dog and let them know everything is safe – basically everything comforting you would want after being abruptly woken up.
What sounds or movements does your pet make while dreaming? Can you resist the urge to wake them up?
Photo by Jason Empey
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
- Why Do Our Pets Stare At Us?
By Linda Cole For most pet owners, the best way to get your dog or cat's attention is to head for the cabinet where you keep their CANIDAE food or treats, or make yourself something to eat. No matter where they are, they can smell whatever it is...
- Do Pets Dream?
You’re quietly watching a scary movie late one night. It’s not too terribly scary because you have your faithful canine companion curled up on the sofa next to you, snoring contentedly. Suddenly, at the very spot in the movie that the “evil clown”...
- Do Dogs Dream Too?
Watch a dog sleep and you may notice that occasionally its eyes or legs twitch. Is it dreaming? Despite the fact that there is no scientific proof that dogs dream, there’s really no reason to believe that they don’t. photo Do dogs dream? In fact,...
- Do Dogs Dream?
While humans extensively talk about their dreams-Martin Luther King Jr. being one of the more famous people to do so and Barack Obama being the most recent-a very interesting question has arisen over the years about our canine friends. It becomes...
- What Do Dogs Dream About?
What do dogs dream about? Well, before answering this question one must ask himself, "Do dogs dream?". Hugo 'barks', "Yes"!, they do. Hugo holds expertise in dog behavior issues and ardently believes that dogs have the ability to dream just...