If you've ever noticed your dog moving his paws while he sleeps and wondered what's going on in his head, this will blow your mind.
According to research conducted by Harvard Medical School, dogs relive their daily experiences in their dreams, and it's very likely that they're dreaming about you.
Dr. Dirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at a prestigious university, explains that dogs form strong bonds with their owners, so their dreams are often filled with images of familiar faces and moments they share with their humans.
Their favorite smells, situations from everyday life, and even games with their owners may appear in dreams.
Similar to humans, dogs have a system that prevents them from moving too much while they sleep, but sometimes that mechanism fails. That's why you may notice your pet moving their paws, twitching, or even making noises as if they're reliving their favorite games of the moment with you.
Dr. Barrett points out that we still can't say for sure what exactly animals dream about, because they can't talk about their dreams.
However, there are indications that two gorillas, Koko and Michael, have managed to express something resembling dreams through sign language.
"When it comes to differences in dreams between species, we know that smaller mammals, like mice, go through stages much faster than larger animals, which means their dreams may be shorter and more frequent," Barrett explains.
People usually dream about things that have occupied them during the day, just in a more visual and less logical way. By the same logic, there is no reason for it to be any different for dogs, reports Index.hr.
"Since dogs are extremely attached to their owners, they probably dream about their faces, their scent, but also about how to please them - or annoy them a little," the scientist adds.
So, just like humans, dogs relive everyday events in their dreams. They may dream of chasing their tail, enjoying a delicious dinner, or simply lying curled up next to their favorite person.
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