Most people know by experience that stressful days can lead to sleepless nights, but little work has been done, the researchers note, to find out if the same is true for other animals. In this new effort, they sought to learn more by recording brain waves of sleeping dogs.
To find out if sleep patterns in dogs change due to stressful situations prior to sleeping, the researchers enlisted the assistance of 16 pet dogs of different breeds and their owners. Each of the dogs was subjected to either a positive or negative experience. A positive experience was something the dog was known to like, such as being petted or engaging in playing catch. Negative experiences included being tied to a door for a length of time while being ignored by the owner or having a researcher stare threateningly directly into its eyes.
All of the dogs were fitted with EEG sensors, and after their positive or negative experiences, were allowed to go to a designated place to sleep.A scientific study found that dogs can have trouble sleeping after stressful experiences, similar to humans. In the experiment, 16 dogs had their brain activity monitored after either positive moments like play and affection or negative ones like brief separation from their owners.
The results showed that stressed dogs had poorer sleep quality during a 3 hour nap. They spent more time in REM sleep, woke up earlier, and fell asleep faster, a response researchers linked to stress related fatigue. A calm bedtime routine and a little affection may help your dog rest easier.
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