Dog Community

Nightmares?!?

Posted : 5/5/2006 11:43:41 AM

I know dogs can dream, but can they have violent dreams? In the middle of the night a few weeks ago DH and I were laying in bed and Sally let out a low but loud growl, a deep half bark, and another low growl, just out of nowhere. She has NEVER made noises like that before and hasn't since. She was on her bed, so we couldn't have rolled over on her and the cats were not in the room, so they could not have caused it. DH just said her name and she looked up at him kind of sleepily, and acted like nothing happened. Even though she didn't get up or anything I was afraid that she may have heard someone outside the window, but DH checked and found nothing (although I know that if I were a prowler and heard THAT noise, I'd make myself scarce as well).

The only thing that I can come up with is that she was having a nightmare--has anyone heard of this? Does this mean she is unsettled or unhappy?

Hillarie

Posted : 5/5/2006 11:46:42 AM

Mine do something like that sort of randomly... One will do it and we wont hear it again for weeks or months and suddenly someone else does it... I think more than anything they are confused about something. Like you know how you can startle yourself when you are falling asleep? Like that I think.

tashakota

Posted : 5/5/2006 12:00:56 PM

I'm pretty sure that they dream so it's not impossible for them to have nightmares. Pepper has let out random, loud barks at night before. Shocks me awake for sure! lol.. but otherwise she's asleep! lol...

labcrab

Posted : 5/5/2006 12:12:14 PM

All the dogs I've ever had have made noises in their dreams. I personally am not convinced any of them are "nightmares". They're definitely dreaming - sometimes Slicks paws are going as if he's running in his dreams, sometimes he lets out little soft muffled barky noises, sometimes he growls, etc. Anyway - I think he's dreaming about chasing squirrels, playing with other dogs, or maybe being a tough guy and defending the kids like a hero!

tiffy

Posted : 5/5/2006 12:52:57 PM

I read somewhere that your're never supposed to wake a dreaming dog.

labcrab

Posted : 5/5/2006 2:14:29 PM

I do wake Slick up from time to time, generally by accident. He's never anything but happy to see me - however, as a general rule, it's not a good idea to wake a sleeping dog. Many dogs will actually react aggressively if woken suddenly or startled. I would say definitely with a dog you don't know well, not to wake them. I also think that letting them complete their dreams is important. i.e. if Slick is have a "loud" growly, barky dream - I definitely won't wake him. I want him to experience the whole thing! good or bad! If it is a bad dream, then he needs to sort something out and I don't want to disturb that.

tacran

Posted : 5/5/2006 3:35:36 PM

The one and only time our dog ever nipped at anyone was in his sleep. He slept on our bed, and he had active dreams often, with running, muffled barks, whines. One night, we were all sound asleep, and I woke to a deep, scary growl, and just as I became fully aware enough to think "Oh no! A burglar must be in here," Tonka let out this huge growly bark and snapped at my husband's leg. It happened in 2 seconds, and all 3 of us sat straight up looking at each other in shock, then Tonka started licking my husband's face. It seemed like he knew he got the wrong person, and was like, "Dad! It's you! I'm sorry!" My husband actually had some broken skin from one tooth, but we all went back to sleep. We always wondered what he was dreaming about. It had to be something bad. He never made sounds like that before or after, awake or asleep. What a fright!

huskymom

Posted : 5/5/2006 5:01:55 PM

Ya one time Crusher was sleeping across the foot of the bed and BF kind of kicked him with a foot in his sleep. Crusher jumped, barked, snarled, and turned in the direction of the offending kick. Then something kind of clicked, like he woke up and he calmly jumped off the bed and went to his spot in front of the fridge. It scared the crap out of both of us. But it was over and done with before I was even truly awake. So ya I think dogs can have nightmares.

willowchow

Posted : 5/5/2006 6:25:48 PM

Willow will awake with a growl, yelp, bark, etc. on occasion. I've even seen her jump from her bed like she was running from something. I've always assumed she's having a bad dream about something that previously happened to her.

After she wakes up a second she's fine and I usually just have her go right back to sleep with no drama. Although, the first time, I was shocked and felt so bad for her.

He is The Boss

Posted : 5/5/2006 7:02:13 PM

Boss growls, barks, and carries on in his sleep all the time. Come to think of it, I have noticed Gracie doing it lately too. Boss does it at least once a week, Gracie not as often.

chris

Posted : 5/5/2006 9:38:51 PM

They could have Bubba does that some times and his legs will start too twitchin like he running after something. It is kinda cute too watch....

bluelighting

Posted : 5/5/2006 11:05:49 PM

Blue runs in his sleep, twitches his lips like Elvis, growls, barks, and howls in his sleep. It's something to watch.

I know Mocha keeps moving around in his sleep on his side like he was running until one night he fell off the bed. He gave me the weirdest look like how the heck I get down here.

nigguysmom

Posted : 5/6/2006 9:18:14 AM

Why not? I think that since we dream and they dream too...why not bad dreams sometimes? I love watching them when they are dreaming....sooo sweet and funny, noses twitching, paws going, tails thumping and sometimes a woof/bark or a growl.....

Must Love Muts

Posted : 5/6/2006 10:38:30 AM

I think dogs do have nightmares. Ruby does them all the time. I was just wondering if they remember them. One time she was barking and growling in her sleep, but when she woke up she wouldn't go near me for about an hour.