--- title: Do dogs dream? The secrets of their sleep description: Do dogs dream? The secrets of their sleep image: https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/canisonno1140-1.jpg --- [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-ca) ![EN](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/country_flags/ca.svg) [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-ca) - Products - About us - [Where to buy](https://www.almonature.com/it/trova-un-negozio?hsLang=en-ca) Products - Cat Food - Dog Food - Cat Litter Cat Food - [Natural HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Natural%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Mousse HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Mousse%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Complete HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Complete%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [La Cucina HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=La%20Cucina%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Supportive Formulas HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Supportive%20Formulas%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Hydration Help HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Hydration%20Help%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Classic Complete](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Classic%20Complete&hsLang=en-ca) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) All Cat Food ](https://www.almonature.com/en-us/cat-products?hsLang=en-ca) Dog Food - [Natural HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/dog-products?segment=Natural%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Complete HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/dog-products?segment=Complete%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) All dog food ](https://www.almonature.com/en-us/dog-products?hsLang=en-ca) Cat Litter - [All Litter](https://www.almonature.com/it/lettiere?hsLang=en-ca) - [Soft Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-soft-texture?hsLang=en-ca) - [Grain Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-grain-texture?hsLang=en-ca) About us - [Brand Profile](https://www.almonature.com/it/manifesto?hsLang=en-ca) - [Our history](https://www.almonature.com/it/la-storia?hsLang=en-ca) - [The company](https://www.almonature.com/it/rendicontazione?hsLang=en-ca) - [Reintegration Economy](https://www.almonature.com/it/reintegration-economy?hsLang=en-ca) ![Do dogs dream? The secrets of their sleep](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/canisonno1140-1.jpg) Do dogs dream [just like cats](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/do-cats-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep/?hsLang=en-ca)? Where do they like to sleep and how much sleep does our four-legged friend really need? Before answering these and other questions with the help of **Dr Maria Grazia Calore**, veterinary doctor expert in pet behaviour, let's start by underlining the key role of sleep – for the wellness of the dog.  ### **A dog's sleep: how, how much and where?** A dog's sleep, just like a human's one, is divided into **a deep phase and a deep REM phase** in which it dreams. This moment can be recognised by the following signs: softly barking, growling, whining, a wagging tail and paw movements that mimic running. In fact, during the REM phase, a dog ‘processes' information gleaned during the day retracing its experiences and steps.The duration of sleep varies depending on **the age of the dog**: a puppy up to the age of three weeks old sleeps from 15 to 18 hours a day and from eight weeks of age, 10-12 hours total. This prolonged sleep has an ethological explanation: a predator, just as we could consider a dog, can have long periods of rest because it does not always need to be alert to survive.To avoid problems of [coexistence at home](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/dogs-at-home-alone-9-tips-to-prevent-minor-domestic-disasters/?hsLang=en-ca) we should not place a dog's bed in a passageway: in this way he will not assume the ‘responsibility' of controlling access around the house. Rather, we should put their bed in our room, if we want to sleep with them, or in another room. Moreover, the choice of the bed must be proportionate to our friend: it does not need to be too large because most dogs sleep curled up in a ball to maintain heat.  ### **A dog's sleep: a clue about their health** Even a dog's sleep can provide information on its **state of health or mind**. For example, if it sleeps very little, wakes up at night and complains or is agitated at the time of going to sleep, it is probably going through a stressful or anxious period. If, instead, the dog sleeps more hours than the expected physiological duration, it may be suffering from depression.In these cases, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian to rule out any physical disorders or metabolic diseases and deal with any behavioural problems with the help of an expert in pet behaviour. #### Related Articles [![Can Dogs and Cats Live Together?](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Cane-e-gatto-1-4-1.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/can-dogs-and-cats-live-together?hsLang=en-ca) [Dogs,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/dogs) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [Can Dogs and Cats Live Together?](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/can-dogs-and-cats-live-together?hsLang=en-ca) It's quite common these days that a family home has both dogs and cats: two very different species that interact with each other and share a living space with their... [![Do Cats Dream? The Secrets of Their Sleep](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Animals-Cats-Sleeping-5-1.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-cats-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [Do Cats Dream? The Secrets of Their Sleep](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-cats-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) Elegant, quick-witted and… sleepyheads! Yes, cats sleep a lot! And they apparently dream, just like we do. The image often portrayed of cats stretched out in the sun or... [![Keeping Your Animals Safe During the Holiday Season](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/new-years-eve-1822979_1920-1-5.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/keeping-your-animals-safe-during-the-holiday-season?hsLang=en-ca) [Dogs,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/dogs) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [Keeping Your Animals Safe During the Holiday Season](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/keeping-your-animals-safe-during-the-holiday-season?hsLang=en-ca) **The holiday season is a favourite time of year for many. What is there not to like when it comes to decorating your house with Christmas lights and ornaments and...** [![Three Things to Consider Before Taking Your Dog in the Car](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dogs-in-car-Jan-03-2022-12-18-40-45-PM.png) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/three-things-consider-taking-dog-car?hsLang=en-ca) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [Three Things to Consider Before Taking Your Dog in the Car](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/three-things-consider-taking-dog-car?hsLang=en-ca) **Whether you are simply driving to the shops for a few kilometres or going on a road trip across the country, chances are you will take your dog with you at some stage....** [![Wild cats: elegant, elusive and endangered](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/rustyspottedcat-3-2.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/wild-cats-elegant-elusive-endangered?hsLang=en-ca) [Biodiversity](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/biodiversity) November 16,2015 ###### [Wild cats: elegant, elusive and endangered](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/wild-cats-elegant-elusive-endangered?hsLang=en-ca) **Domestic cats are our beloved companions at home, but what do you know about their wild cat cousins? We are not talking about lions, tigers or leopards, but other types...** [![The wild nature of cats: the truth is in their DNA](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gatto-a-caccia1-3-1.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/the-wild-nature-of-cats-the-truth-is-in-their-dna?hsLang=en-ca) Project stories November 16,2015 ###### [The wild nature of cats: the truth is in their DNA](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/the-wild-nature-of-cats-the-truth-is-in-their-dna?hsLang=en-ca) Often in the mood for pampering, always there to remind you when it's time for food, and occasionally on guard duty to defend your home from ‘alien invaders', the... [![5 things an explorer cat never forgets!](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GattoEsploratoreAlmoNature-3.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/5-things-an-explorer-cat-never-forgets?hsLang=en-ca) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [5 things an explorer cat never forgets!](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/5-things-an-explorer-cat-never-forgets?hsLang=en-ca) The cat is certainly a curious animal, [patrolling its territory](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/a-cat-and-its-territory-from-marking-out-the-area-to-its-space-management-methods/?hsLang=en-ca) to defend it against unwelcome guests, marking the area to stake its claim on the land while - at the... [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/tag/insights) November 16,2015 ###### [How to Teach a New Kitten How to Use the Litter Tray](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/how-to-teach-a-new-kitten-how-to-use-the-litter-tray-2?hsLang=en-ca) Welcoming home a new kitten is always a joy. However, to start off on the right foot, it's necessary to teach them how to use the litter tray as soon as possible upon... - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep?hsLang=en-ca) ![Chat with us](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/icons/chat-icon.png) AlmoNature AI ![Close chat](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/icons/close-icon.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Almo Nature", "url" : "https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/author/almonature" }, "dateModified" : "2022-02-06T03:36:30.352Z", "datePublished" : "2015-11-16T23:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Do dogs dream? The secrets of their sleep", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/do-dogs-dream-the-secrets-of-their-sleep", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg" }, "name" : "Almo Nature S.p.A" } } ```