If I see him twitching, should I wake the dog up?
No, you should let the dog sleep. If you’re worried that your dog could be upset by a bad dream, you shouldn’t worry.
Up to this point, it’s hard to tell if dogs even have nightmares, so waking them up might cause more harm than good.
Startling a dog out of good sleep might trigger an aggressive response in most dogs, putting the owner at risk of a dog bite.
Make sure you convey this to kids because they are the ones who might be tempted to hug or kiss the dog while sleeping.
Some dogs might twitch in their sleep more than others.
The twitch depends on the age of the dog. For now, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that could suggest whether a particular breed is more prone to twitching.
However, puppies and older dogs might twitch more often. The more they age, the harder dogs twitch in their sleep.
Is there anything you should do to stop the twitching?
There’s really no need to interrupt the dreams of a puppy. Dogs need very solid slumber for a healthy mind and body.
Besides, waking them from a deep REM sleep could be startling to your fuzzy little dreamer. However, if your dog sleeps with you, their constant twitching is mostly waking you up, in which case no one gets a good night’s sleep.
It’s a much better idea to buy a comfortable dog bed to put in your bedroom, where neither you nor the dog can get disturbed.
If you’re looking to learn more about dogs, here’s what we recommend reading: 6 Problematic Dog Breeds You Should Stay Away From, According to Vets
