My poor dog has had nightmares ever since I adopted him from the local pound. The pound is ran by a bunch of caring volunteers and are wonderful with all the dogs. Ben, my dog, had shown up at the pound of the fourth or July. The pound had found the owners of Ben, but they did not want him back. They called Ben a regular Houdini and weren't going to pay any more fees to reclaim the mutt. Later I adopted him.
At first he had nightmares several times during the day and many times at night. We have had him for over a month now and his nightmares have slowed some but he still has them everynight. He will whimper and cry. It is really sad. He sleeps on the cedar chest in our bedroom.
I read somewhere that you shouldn't wake the dog from his sleep for it really messes with his sleep cycle or whatever. They said to maybe ruffle some paper in order to bring him away from the dream without really waking him.
I haven't a clue about his past. I don't know if he has been abused or if he has just seen something that was so awful that he keeps dreaming of it. He is socializing well with other dogs and cats. He hasn't been around too many people, but those he has been around he has been really good with.
Any ideas you can share on doggy nightmares?
This is Ben, my collie/lab mix:
, but when my doggie had a bout of bad dreams, I would let him fall asleep in my arms, and keep him in my bed at night. After doing that for a few nights, he has not had any more nightmares, and he can sleep pretty much anywhere now without them. Sometimes he barks and runs in his sleep, but he does not appear distressed at all.
