Mollie’s Dream

There is no such thing as a stupid dog – while we are out working all day, they are at home sleeping. Mollie is no exception.

Each morning, she slowly meanders over to the kitchen table. She sheepishly looks at each one of us, her brown eyes still half-shut – dreamlike. Her eyes have always enthralled me. In them, I have beheld the essence of innocence, a child’s playfulness, an undying affection and hope. She then yawns, and gives each person at the table a kiss; a cold, wet kiss that says we are loved.

As always, it’s still not quite time for her to tackle a new day; it’s too early. She trudges back to her Charlie Brown bed, with the ‘Peanuts’ gang imprinted upon it. She loves that bed and her space. Undoubtedly, she will fall back to sleep – perchance to dream.

I’ve watched intently as she sleeps and wondered about her dream world and pondered – is it similar to mine? Are her dreams in colour, black and white or mere shadows of grey? Does she have nightmares and memories of her dreams or the events of the day before?

Scientists, veterinarians, and animal behaviorists are continuously studying our canine friends, trying to understand their dream world. The gulf between canine and man’s sleep state is not as vast as expected.

In fact, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is similar to humans. We are after all 84 percent genetically identical. Our memories are fashioned in like manner, predisposing us to share similar experiences.

As I watch, I know that Mollie is now fast asleep. Her snoring says so. In between snorts she whimpers, moans and licks her lips. Her tail twitches like a maestro’s baton, with a rhythm of its own – unorchestrated. Furry paws become active, moving synchronized to unheard music. Mollie is in another world, oblivious to what is real. She won’t be disturbed.

An age-old adage maintains that dogs are colour blind. This seemingly carries no merit. Nonetheless, studies indicate that dogs can see colour, but not to the extent that I can. The colour is not quite as vivid and is comparable to my twilight vision.

Since Mollie’s sleep state is similar to mine, she is capable of having nightmares. Many dog owners will mistakenly assume that their dog is having a seizure during one of their nightmare episodes. They will see their pet gyrating their limbs accompanied by whimpering, barking and increased breathing.

It is safe to assume that their pet is in the midst of a nightmare and not having a seizure. A dreaming dog can be easily awakened, but awakening a seizure stricken animal is unsettling and not so easy. Medical assistance should be undertaken promptly.

Mollie possesses two main types of sleep akin to my own; slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM). As Mollie drifts off to sleep, she enters the SWS, that state of sleep where mental abilities and muscle tone are more are relaxed. She will then enter REM sleep, the sleep of the body, whereby her body is fully relaxed, yet her mind is full of activity.

In SWS sleep, Mollie’s brain waves are slow as opposed to the rapid irregular waves of REM sleep. Like me, Mollie’s REM sleep displays the most overt activity such as muscle twitching, murmuring and rapid breathing.

Puppies and older dogs dream more than middle-aged dogs. Puppies spend greater periods of time in REM sleep, undoubtedly sorting through newfound data. Adult dogs devote about 10 percent of their sleeping time in the REM phase. Interestingly, smaller dogs dream more than larger dogs.

Mollie’s sleep position is a good indication of what phase of sleep she has entered. Often she curls herself up in a tight ball and appears to be sleeping, but not necessarily. In order to enter deep REM sleep, she has to be completely relaxed; a curled-up position requires tensed muscles, so she is not as asleep as she appears.

Occasionally Mollie will sleep on her back with her paws drawn heavenward. It’s true that she is probably suggesting a belly rub, but it could also mean that she is just warm. Since there is less fur on her belly, this position affords her a chance to cool off.

It is important to remember that you should “let sleeping dogs lie.” Like her human counterparts, Mollie needs sleep for a healthy body and mind. Interrupted sleep can make her irritable, snappy and grouchy – much like me.

As I retire to my bed, I watch Mollie retire to hers. We give each other a knowing look that says “sweet dreams.” We will undoubtedly dream of each other.

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