Dogs Dream Like Humans — and Their Owners May Be in Those Dreams

Dogs can look strangely human when they sleep. Their paws twitch, their faces move, they make tiny sounds, and for a few seconds it feels as if they are chasing, playing, remembering, or reacting to something only they can see.

Scientists cannot ask dogs to describe their dreams, so the details remain partly uncertain. But sleep research strongly suggests that dogs dream during REM sleep, much like humans do, and experts believe those dreams likely involve familiar daily experiences — including the people they love most.