Do dogs have nightmares? Your canine's dream state, explained. – USA TODAY

Turns out bad dreams are not just a nuisance for humans, our furry friends can experience them as well. Though the sleeping patterns of man’s best friend differ in some ways from our own, there are striking similarities, including our ability to get frightened in the night.
But dogs don’t likely dream about showing up to school naked or losing all of their teeth. Those are uniquely human fears. So, what populates their dream world? 
Here’s what to know about a dog’s nightmares, what to do if your dog has a nightmare and what they might be dreaming about: 
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The American Kennel Club reports that dogs can have nightmares as well as other kinds of dreams. 
Small dogs dream more often than larger dogs, AKC explained, their dreams last for a shorter amount of time. 
Yes. AKC reports that the sleep patterns of your pup aren’t that different from your own. 
Dogs experience both slow-wave sleep, or SWS, and rapid eye movement sleep, or REM. Dogs spend about 10% of their total sleep in the dreaming or REM phase. 
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Indications that your pup is having a nightmare include:
Dogs are not able to dream up scary monsters the way we are AKC reports, so if your dog is having a nightmare, they are most likely recalling a traumatic experience.
Dog walking company Wag! reports that dogs who have experienced more trauma in the past, are more likely to have nightmares. 
If your dog is suffering often from nightmares, trying to make their sleeping space more relaxed and safe can help. 
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What to do if your dog is having a nightmare – resist the urge to wake them. 
AKC reports that your pup might lash out if you wake them from a nightmare, maybe not realizing they have been awoken and being disoriented. 
Again, making a comfortable environment can be a preventative measure. Nightmares in dogs can be triggered by noises or chronic pain, Wag! explains, so eliminating catalysts can help your pup get a better night’s rest. 
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Dogs dream about their everyday activities just like we do. 
In recent studies, dogs have been shown to be dreaming about pointing at birds or running. Dog dreams tend to depict activities they often participate in, Wag reports or sometimes a replay of a particularly formative experience. 

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