Everyday dog care · sleep and behavior
Do Dogs Dream? What Sleep Research Can Tell Us
Probably. The AKC summarizes the scientific view that dogs dream. But no one can tell from a sleep movement what a particular dog is dreaming about.
What researchers measured in dogs
A public dog-study abstract describes noninvasive sleep recordings that measured dogs’ eye movements during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These measurements describe sleep activity, not a report of what a dog dreams. Read the dog REM study abstract.
What the rat study adds
In a separate experiment, MIT researchers compared rats’ brain activity while they ran a track with patterns during REM sleep. They reported task-related patterns recurring in some rat sleep episodes. That is evidence about rats, not a direct study of what dogs dream. Read the MIT rat-replay report.
Let sleeping dogs rest
Let a sleeping dog rest rather than touching or shaking it to test a dream. The AKC cautions that disturbing REM sleep can startle a dog and lead to an unintended bite.
Research notes
Sources behind this guide
Written and source-checked by Puni Pet Guides Editorial Team · Reviewed Oct 27, 2026
This guide synthesizes the public references below; it does not report hands-on product testing or independent veterinary review.
Review scope: practical context, source traceability, and clear non-diagnostic boundaries. Diagnosis and treatment decisions stay with veterinarians.