To think dogs can have bad dreams?

[LazyRainyDayz]

I have two dogs and both of them seem to dream reasonably regularly. Just the usual stuff, legs twitching in a running pattern and excited little yips now and again.
One of them has had to be put on medication for life for a health issue, since then I have noticed she sometimes looks unhappy when she is dreaming. So her legs will be twitching like she is running but her breathing gets a lot heavier and she just looks so sad.
Am I going completely mad or does anyone else think dogs have bad dreams sometimes?

I thought it was a given thing they have dreams good and bad. Haven't come across anyone who believes otherwise personally

Yes animals can have good and bad dreams just like we can. We're not so different. Scientists have even shown that octopuses dream (their skin sometimes changes colour when they sleep, showing some of the same colours/reaction they have when awake and experiencing stimuli).

Yeah. We have a new little rescue who has woken up a couple of times growling and barking and looking scared. Bless her.

I wonder what they dream about that's bad though. My two have never suffered any abuse, the worst thing that's ever happened is that we have run out of treats!
Surely they would need a point of reference to dream about so if they have had a charmed life how do they know what bad things there are to dream about them.

That's so sad🥺

@LazyRainyDayz I'm sure they've felt fear and sadness before? Something chasing them, friends gone away etc

Yes perhaps it could be one of those things, I just find it fascinating, I would love it if we had the technology to see what they were actually thinking, or maybe I wouldn't if it turns out they don't like me!

i hate the thought that my girl is having bad dreams, if she seems distressed by her dream i gently get up as if I’m going to leave the room - this wakes her without touching her and startling her then we either pop for a snack or just settle back down

I guess it's like when little toddlers have night terrors having never witnessed anything terrifying in their lives. My Romanian Rescue has horrible nightmares and I hate tho think what they are about.