What does your dog dream about when he or she sleeps? The answer is almost certainly you!
Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a Clinical and Evolutionary Psychologist at Harvard Medical School, believes that dogs, like humans, dream about their daily experiences.
Barrett has spent years studying human sleep behavior and claims that humans dream about the same things they are interested in during the day, but in a less logical and more visual way. The same is most likely true for dogs.
“There’s no reason to believe animals are any different,” she explained to People. “Because dogs are generally very attached to their human owners, it’s likely that your dog is dreaming of your face, smell, and pleasing or annoying you.”
The psychologist does point out that there is no way to know exactly what dogs see when they dream, but the mere possibility that they are dreaming of their loved ones has sent dog lovers into a frenzy.
One man tweeted a few images of his reaction to the idea – he looks at his sleeping dog and bursts into tears!
His tweet received over 60,000 responses from pet parents who shared photos of their sleeping dogs.
Barrett also gave advice to pet parents who want to ensure their dogs have a good night’s sleep. “Having happy daytime experiences and getting plenty of sleep in a safe and comfortable environment is the best way to give ourselves or our children better dreams,” she says. “It’s a safe bet that this is also the best for pets’ dreams.”
So the next time you see a dog with their legs moving in a running motion, it’s probably because they’re remembering that game of fetch you played with them or the fun they had at the dog park that day.
Share this exciting news with your dog-loving friends!
