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Do Animals Dream? What Do They Dream About?

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Happy Dreams after a day at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The other night my dog, Lola, was sleeping on my bed and she started whimpering. Her feet started moving in a running motion and her eyes, while shut, twitched.

I patted her gently to reassure her she was safe, and I was there to protect her. Her frantic motions and whimpering stopped without her waking up, at least to my knowledge.

Last night, my cat, Turkey (yes, we have a cat named Turkey), was sound asleep on my chest. Suddenly and without any warning to me, he jumped up, opened his eyes, and looked around. He immediately settled back to sleep with no further jumping motions.

These actions, and years of watching my many animals and fosters make motions when they sleep, made me question if animals dream like humans do, and if they do, what do they dream about?

Mammals Do Dream During REM

According to an article in Psychology Today, mammals do dream during periods of REM sleep, our deepest sleep cycle. REM, Rapid Eye Movement, allows for vivid dreams and occurs during the end of the sleep cycle (source).

If your dog or cat is experiencing twitching sensations, it is in REM sleep and dreaming about a sensation it experienced during wakefulness.

So, the dog moving its legs in a running or swimming motion is very likely chasing the ball you threw it, re-enacting the swim it took, or possibly running from something frightening.

In my case, my dogs’ whimpers may have been from a trauma she suffered before we adopted her just a few months ago.

Turkey jumped in fear of something, and for Turkey, that something could be his own shadow, as he really is a scaredy cat.

Animals Dream Based on Their Sensory Factor

Daniel Graham, Ph.D. explains that animals dream based on what senses they use most often. Cats, Dr. Graham said, explore the world visually, so their dreams would be based upon actions, events, people, or animals they see.

Mice, on the other hand, experience the world via smell. So, their dreams are about food, flowers, garbage, other mice, or whatever fascinating item they smelled that day.

Imagine dreaming in smells over sights. That dream experience could be wonderful if you visited a bakery, flower shop, or bread store; if you visited the junkyard or changed your baby’s dirty diaper, you may not want to go to sleep that night.

Should You Wake a Dog or Cat if it is Having a Bad Dream?

Perhaps the phrase, “let sleeping dogs lie” should be rephrased to “let dogs experiencing what looks like a nightmare lie.”

When your dog or cat is experiencing what appears to be a nightmare-legs twitching, eyes blinking rapidly, body shaking, voice whimpering, it’s best not to wake your dog or cat.

The dog or cat may awaken in a dream state (similar to when we wake not knowing where we are or what day it is) and cause injury to you, thinking you are part of its dream (source).

If your dog or cat is having a bad dream, gently call its name until it comes out of the dream state.

No Bad Dreams at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is such a fun, active, and safe place that we can’t imaging your dog or cat going to sleep afraid or experiencing nightmares.

During our boarding sessions, dogs get story time with our friendly and compassionate staff, and then they get tucked into our soft beds!

Cats get purr time when they are boarded, with staff making sure all bedding is soft and clean and nightmare free! Our cats are houses away from the dogs, making their stay quiet, peaceful, and serene.

Book Your Stay at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa is the premier dream destination for your dog or cat. We would love to have your dog or cat stay with us. Simply click here to make your reservation!

Happy Father’s Day from the Dogs and Cats at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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This upcoming Sunday is Father’s Day, and the dogs and cats at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa want to wish all of the fathers and father-figures a restful, peaceful, joyful day filled with wet, sloppy kisses.

Without you in our lives, we might never have learned to sit, get off the sofa, eat only kibble and not food from the kids snuck under the table, sleep in a dog or cat bed or gasp! a crate instead of the bed, go to the bathroom outside or in a litter box and not on the carpet, keep all four paws on the ground, and BEHAVE.

We understand you are the alpha in the house and not as easily lured into giving us what we want based on our sad eyes or pawing action, so we respect you. We understand it is in our best interest to have you give us boundaries and rules, limitations, and consistency.

So on this Father’s Day weekend, we will try our very hardest NOT to dig up your lawn, drop a slobbery ball on your lap, mooch as you eat, jump on the bed before the kids do, eat, chew, or throw up any of your homemade cards and cereal necklaces made by the kids, scratch, claw, or bark at all of the guests invited over for the weekend, or steal a hamburger off the BBQ.

We wish you a very happy Father’s Day weekend and put together a list of activities you can do with us dogs or without us! I think you know which option we’d prefer, right, Dad?

Father’s Day Fun in the Tri-Valley

Searching for something different to do with Dad on Father’s Day weekend? Look no further! The dogs and cats of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa have compiled a list of family fun activities in the Tri-Valley!

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

Cute Cat and Delicious Ice Cream on White Background

Here’s a fun activity that any kid (or dog!) would want to participate in! Visit FIVE of the Tri-Valley’s participating local ice cream parlors, take a picture while you’re there, submit the photos, and earn a free ice cream scooper!

Order chocolate, peach, banana with fudge sauce dripping down the sides, peppermint, or all of the above and become the proud owner of a Tri-Valley ice cream scoop. Click here for details.

Wine Tasting

The Tri-Valley is full of amazing wineries! The Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association has a list of the fantastic wineries in Livermore. Find out which ones have won awards, what types of wines are served, which ones have picnic areas, food for sale, entertainment, and most importantly, which ones allow dogs!

From Cabernets to Pinot Grigios, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, and Sparkling Wines, Dad will have his choice and be set to enjoy himself against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful wineries in the world.

Fore! Set a Tee Time for Dad

Some dads just can’t get enough Tee time, and with Sunday being Father’s Day, Dad gets a free hall pass to golf! 9 holes? 18 holes? Golfing and wine? There are so many options from which to choose all in the Tri-Valley’s backyard.

Not sure which golf course to choose? Go to the PGA’s website for golf courses in Livermore and reserve time for dad pronto! We bet he won’t be the only dad hitting some balls on Sunday!

Hiking Trails for the Active Dad

Vacations in countryside. Silhouettes of family with dog walking on meadow at sunset.

For the active dad who wants to hit the running, walking, biking, or hiking trails, we recommend visiting the Tri-Valley Parks and Hiking Trails website. There are so many choices!

Let dad go alone, pick a trail or adventure for the whole family, or let him take me! the family dog! Whatever dad decides, know that now is a beautiful time to be out and about in the great outdoors of the Tri-Valley. Don’t forget to wear sunblock, a hat, sunglasses, and bring plenty of water humans and pets!

Happy Father’s Day to the Dads of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would like to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to the dads of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa. Daniel and Michael, may you enjoy this special time.

We appreciate your hard work and dedication to making The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa a fun, safe, and creative play to stay, vacation, and play!

Why Two Kittens are Better than One!

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It’s kitten season, and that means there are an abundance of cute kittens needing furever homes. Shelters and rescue organizations are full of darling kittens in all colors and personalities, each one deserving a home.

The decision of which kitten to choose can often be overwhelming, and an emotional tug-of-war with the heart, especially when there are a pile of kittens sleeping, wrestling, or meowing at you through cages or plexiglass.

The responsible pet owner also knows that consideration needs to be given to meeting the kitten’s needs, from acclimating them to being alone for the first time, providing the emotional comfort they crave, taking the time to play with them, stimulating their playful nature so they don’t get bored and destructive, and keeping them happy and healthy for as many as 20+ years.

So what do you do when you find multiple kittens vying for your affection and attention? What do you do when you just can’t decide between a pair of adorable kittens? You adopt both!

Reasons to Adopt a Pair of Kittens

We can certainly understand the anxiety and concern that may come from adopting a pair of kittens, but in reality, two fur babies is better than adopting just one, and here’s why.

  • Exposing a kitten to a new environment, in this case your house, is stressful and scary for the kitten. A sibling can make the transition more comfortable and soothe the kittens. A well- adjusted kitten means a happy adult cat.
  • Kittens can bond in pairs. Separating a bonded pair is emotionally devastating for the kitten. Sometimes the two kittens depend on each other to bring out the best in the other cat. Or, sometimes a shier kitten can learn from the more outgoing kitten and then you have two well-adjusted kittens.
  • Grooming a friend creates bonding. Cats groom themselves frequently. A pair will often groom each other creating a healthy disposition, a clean cat, and a natural way to keep each other company.
  • Kittens play a lot! Sometimes, kittens play at night which can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. When two kitten have each other to play with, they are less likely to seek attention from you, leaving you to slumber peacefully.
  • A duo of wrestling kittens provides a lot of fun and laughter. This momentum is not only good for the kittens to get exercise, it also provides healthy emotional support for you. Who has a bad day when kittens wiggle their bums and stalk each other?
  • Kittens can share toys and beds! Playing ball or chasing a fluffy toy mouse is equally fun when it’s done with a friend! Cat beds are equally meant to appeal to a pair of kittens who want to nap close together after a long day of playing!
  • Kittens teach each other behaviors that their human owners cannot. Kittens learn how to play and hunt from each other. Have you ever tried to teach a kitten that biting is painful? We feel your throbbing finger! Kittens can correct each other’s behavior in ways humans cannot.
  • Cats live in colonies and are not solo animals. Therefore, bringing home two kittens provides a more natural way to live than just being a solo cat.
  • Your current cat may not like an annoying little kitten. Just as older brothers and sisters can sometimes get annoyed by the needy little brother or sister, your older cat may not appreciate you bringing home a new kitten and expecting them to get along. Starting with two kittens eases the burden of having to introduce a new kitten to your current cat and eliminates the issues that may come with that new dynamic.
  • You have saved two lives instead of one, created double the cuteness, and may have just saved your couch or chair from the destruction of a bored kitten!

Considerations for Adopting Two Kittens

As long as you are able to afford the expense of feeding two cats and the medical costs that come with having multiple pets, it might just as well be in your favor to adopt a pair of kittens this kitten season.

Traditionally, you would want three litter boxes, one for each cat plus an extra. These can be placed around the home, garage, mudroom, bathroom, etc., and when cleaned as they are used, do not create excessive odor or work. Getting in the habit of keeping boxes clean is a huge time saver and game changer!

Need a Cat Sitter? Look No Further Than The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa offers cat boarding! Vacation in peace knowing your cat will be taken care of and staying in a most luxury cattery. Picture a four-level condo far, far away from the annoyance of dogs! With comfy bedding, soothing music, staff on premise, and cat whisperers who provide all of the love and affection your would provide, you can enjoy a guilt-free vacation!

Click here for reservations!

What Does My Dog’s Behavior Mean?

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Before we had dog behaviorists to analyze what our dog’s behavior meant, we may have misinterpreted what our best friends wanted to communicate with us.

Does a wagging tail really mean our dog is happy to see us? Does sitting by the food bowl and barking really signify our dogs are hungry? Could she really be manipulating us to get an extra meal, snack, or treat?

Does a dog who is whining and whimpering need medical care, exercise, love, attention, or a friend?

Are dog owners correct in imposing our feelings and sensations onto our dogs, or do does have they own form of communication?

The research team at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa sought ought these answers (no, we don’t really have a research team, just a behaviorists who are “in the know” and want to share this information with others)!

Common Dog Behaviors and What They Signify

Tail wagging: you aren’t wrong if you assumed tail wagging is a sign of happiness in a dog. According to pet experts at Pet Helpful, tail wagging also signifies that a dog wants to play, is friendly, or is being submissive. A rapidly wagging tail is indicative of a happy, carefree dog; a steady wagging tail held in a natural position suggests your pup wants to play; and a rapidly wagging tail held in a downward position means your dog is being submissive.

Digging: a digging dog, especially one that is digging in your flower bed, doesn’t mean to be naughty and bothersome! He is reacting out of a natural tendency to bury or uncover a treat or treasure, protect young, cool off, or uncover a small critter. This last behavior is especially common in dogs bred for hunting.

Yawning: A yawning dog doesn’t necessarily need a nap. She may be anxious, confused, stressed, experiencing a new situation or presence that makes her uncomfortable or threatened, or meeting a new dog. Yawning eases pressure and tension. (source).

Panting: a dog can’t sweat like a human, so it pants to cool itself and to avoid overheating. A dog may also pant if it is in pain or about to deliver a litter of puppies.

Staring: Most parents have taught their kids that staring is rude! But be aware that a dog who stares at you can either be showing aggression, love, or submissiveness, or awareness. A dog who stares with wide eyes is alert; if he shows the whites of his eyes he most likely feels threatened and may be prone to attack. A dog whose stare is intense and narrows is trying to dominate you. A polite or submissive dog will look away after staring for a brief time. Should your dog blink at you, she is showing how much she loves you, that she wants to play, or both!

Showing the belly: A dog who lays on its back feels safe and secure. This is a very vulnerable position and expresses deep comfort and relaxation and trust. He may also be signifying to you or another dog that he has accepted a more submissive role, that he is cooling himself off, or he is just more comfortable sleeping on his back. Like humans, dogs have preferred comfort positions when sleeping.

Raised hackles: Raised hackles are a result of a surge in adrenaline either from fear, curiosity, excitement, arousal, or if it’s a hunting dog, smelling prey (source).

Licking: Dogs lick, it’s what they do. The important piece of information is why dogs lick. Dogs lick themselves to groom, relieve allergies, clean a sore, and to feel calm and relaxed. If you are the lucky recipient of a dog’s lick, it means your dog loves you and wants to bond with you. Licking is a natural and instinctive action and a way for your dog to express itself (source).

Pay Attention to Your Dogs Behaviors

While this list of dog behaviors is only a short one, and we may never understand why dogs behave the ways they do, it’s more important to pay attention to your dog and the conditions under which it behaves.

The more you understand about your dog’s behaviors, the better of a relationship you have with your dog. A better-behaved dog makes for a happy dog-human relationship.

Help Your Dog or Cat Get Relief from Seasonal Allergies

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If your dog or cat is prone to allergies, there is a good chance this time of year is especially difficult for them. Spring and summer are not only difficult times for humans who suffer from allergies, but they have an effect on dogs and cats as well.

Pets are Prone to Allergies, Too

Just like humans, dogs and cats react to allergens when their immune system reacts to a foreign body such as pollen, dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemical skin irritants, stuffing from dog beds, proteins from foods, saliva from fleas, and more.

Allergies are common among dogs and cats of all breeds, frequently occurring after the pet reaches six months of age. Some allergies are thought to be genetic, such as atopic dermatitis or bee pollen.

Signs of Allergies in Your Dog or Cat

If you believe your dog or cat has an allergy, look for one or a combination of these signs:

  • Red, itchy, or inflamed skin or paws
  • Hives
  • Swelling
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive licking of paws or anal glands
  • Itchy or running eyes with or without discharge
  • Scooting on their bums
  • Ear infections
  • Excessive shedding
  • Respiratory issues such as wheezing, coughing, or having difficulty breathing

Relief for Allergies in Your Dog or Cat

English cocker spaniel dog taking a shower with shampoo, soap and water in a bathtub

The best relief for allergies for your dog or cat is to visit your local veterinarian. The veterinarian will examine your pet and can test it for allergens to be able to treat it more effectively.

Some helpful ways to treat your pet are:

  • Wiping down your pets’ paws or fur after being outside to eliminate the pollen coming inside
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs (please check with your vet as some drugs may contain chemicals that are harmful or fatal to your dog or cat)
  • Bathing your dog or cat in an oatmeal-based dog or cat shampoo
  • Changing your dog or cat’s diet
  • Flea and tick prevention
  • Fatty acid supplements
  • Avoid the irritants

What to Do if Your Dog or Cat has a Severe Allergic Reaction

In the event of a severe allergic reaction, your dog or cat could go into shock. “A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.”

The dog or cat must be treated by a veterinarian immediately. Sometimes it is possible to figure out the allergy, other times it is not.

In any case, the best way to prevent your dog or cat from the effects of severe allergies is to pay attention to how your pet acts and treat the symptoms.

A call to your vet is one of the best places to get the attention and treatment your dog or cat deserves and needs.

The Challenges and Joys of Bringing Home a New Dog

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The staff of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa are huge animal lovers, with many of us accepting multiple animals into our homes. When the situation arises with adding a new dog to our home, there can be complications as well as joys.

Whether you are adding a new dog into your family because of the passing of your dog, as in our case, or want a companion for your current dog, also in our case, want a dog for protection, companionship, or just happened to come across a dog that needs a home, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa would like to address the challenges and joys of bringing home a new dog.

Filling the Void of a Beloved Dog

When our family decided to fill the void of our beloved dog of 14 years who had just passed, emotions were mixed. A few family members chose to keep the status quo and let our older dogs live out their lives without adding a new dog, and a few others wanted to fill that void with the pitter patter of new paws.

We carefully chose not to use the word, replace, when filling the void, as that word suggests our former dog could be replaced.

We chose to look at our situation as choosing to bring a new dog into our home to relieve the sadness that came with losing a family member who was with us through good and bad for 14 years.

Decide What Characteristics You Want In a New Dog

The Ranch has the benefit of seeing so many breeds of dogs, sizes of dogs, and both genders. What we can say is, “No two dogs are the same, and we can’t stereotype a breed of dog.”

With that thought in mind, we searched for a dog that had the qualities we wanted in a dog. We are an active family, so we wanted a dog that wanted to hike, swim, play, go on trips and adventures, and play in the snow!

We wanted an older dog, as we didn’t want to go through puppy hood all over again. We had hopes of getting a dog that was already potty trained and also wanted a dog that was crate trained!

We set our sites high for a dog that would get along with cats and our Giant Flemish Rabbit.

But most of all, we wanted a dog that would love us unconditionally and who could serve as a sense of support for our son to carry on the mission of our dog who just passed.

When Looking for the Right Dog, Take Your Time

When we decided to get serious about adding a new fur baby to our family, we searched the internet for dogs who needed homes, starting with PetFinder, the rescue sites, reputable breeders, sites that specialized in breeds we wanted, and Nextdoor!

Our list of what we wanted in a dog was long, so we focused on the importance of a breed that wasn’t a herding dog for the safety of our cats and Giant Flemish Rabbit. We relied on the knowledge of the caregivers of the dogs to get to know their varied personalities, and then we sought out to meet them.

As we met dogs in person, we made three evaluations:

  1. The dog just wasn’t a right match.
  2. We needed a second visit with the dog to see if the dog got along with our older dogs.
  3. We instantly loved the dog, but weren’t ready to commit. As the matriarch of the family, I knew the dog was going to be with me long after all my children left home, and I wanted to make sure the dog was as much a match for me as it was for the rest of my family.

In the case of numbers 2 and 3, we found that we waited too long and the dog got adopted, which made us both happy for the dog and sad for us. But we knew there was another dog out there for us, and that we needed to take time to find the right dog.

Finding the Right Dog to Bring Home to our Family-Or Did We?

When we met Rio, he had the look and characteristics we wanted-an active younger dog with the personality of a giant love bug. Short fur, though not a priority, was exciting to me as I just gained hours of time for not having to vacuum!

He was two-years old, gorgeous, cuddled up to my son, lived with another dog, had all of his shots and vaccines, was neutered, walked well on a leash, lived with a family including a baby, and was labeled a lab mix, a breed we had owned several times and always co-existed with our cats and rabbit without any issues.

We agreed to foster to adopt and much to the fosters’ sadness, Rio hopped in our car happily as we drove away.

While Rio looked great on paper, the dog we brought home was a hot mess. Through no fault of his own, he was a rescue dog who lived the first year and nine months in a shelter.

When a dog isn’t socialized as a young dog or has had a traumatic experience, that fear stays with them.

Rio was very timid and shied away from new events and situations. While “housebroken” at his foster home, he had several accidents at ours. He didn’t follow basic recall and loved to be “chased” when we wanted him to come or drop something or take him for a walk.

Worst of all, Rio chased our rabbit and cats at first. Upon looking at him more carefully and watching his habits, we believe we had indeed just brought home a hound dog, whose very love is following the scent of prey!

Three Days, Three Weeks, Three Months-Tips to Dog Adjustment in a New Home

Behaviorists like to share their tips about having a new dog come into your home with the 3-3-3 rule.

Three days-give the dog three days to decompress and settle into your new home. Life in a new home is full of excitement! Think of going on vacation-for most people, it takes us a good few days to settle in and enjoy our time away from our every day life. A dog is no exception.

Three weeks- by three weeks, a dog’s routine is fairly adjusted to yours.

Three months- at this milestone, the dog learns to bond and trust you. He accepts that he is part of the family, and the honeymoon has begun!

Rio, now Ryder, has just completed his three month milestone, and while he still is a work in progress, he has come so far! He has bonded with my son, which was the most important feature, and has learned to adjust to the cats, not without a few scratches.

Sadly, our Giant Flemish rabbit passed away while in the vet’s care, so that obstacle has been removed.

We also discovered that Ryder has a very playful nature when he is comfortable, so we decided to pay it forward by rescuing a dog off death row.

Ryder’s pal, now Charlie, went from the dog house to the pool house and lives happily on a golf course with a family who loves him enough to promise him a lifetime of love and affection!

We can’t wait for Ryder to become part of the pack of dogs at The Ranch Pet Resort’s doggies daycare or boarding. He will definitely be signed up for our Stay and Train Dog Obedience Program.

Stay and Play at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

If you have a new dog or an old dog, we would love to have you visit The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

The Ranch Pet Resort & Spa is a pet destination like no other, and we’re located in the heart of California wine country. A beautiful setting, fresh air, luxury dog and cat lodging, exciting dog daycare in our one-of-a-kind playground, and full-service grooming await lucky pets.

And if that wasn’t enough, we even have a state-of-the-art doggie water park! A trusted name in pet care since 1947.