More than a quarter of dog owners say they have caught their pets sleepwalking, a poll has found.
A survey of 1,000 British dog owners found that that 27 per cent said they had caught their mutt prowling around the house while fast asleep.
The research, by dog food firm Wagg, also found that a massive 99 per cent of dog owners reckon their dogs have vivid dreams.
Those polled said they could ‘guess’ what their pooch was dreaming about by watching their movements as they dreamt.
A survey of 1,000 British dog owners found that that 27 per cent said they had caught their mutt prowling around the house while fast asleep
A total of 67 per cent said that they had seen their dogs ‘running in their sleep’ – as if they were out in the park – while they were dozing.
Of the 1,000 Brits polled, a total of 40 per cent said there dog often growled in their sleep, indicating that they were dreaming about a ‘confrontation’ with another dog or a visit from the postman.
And 66 per cent said their mutt ‘barked and vocalised’ while asleep – similar to humans talking in their sleep – and 35 per cent also saying their pooch regularly wagged their tails, indicating a ‘excitable happy dream’.
Dr Robert White-Adams, a vet and dog expert, said it was ‘fascinating’ that so many dog owners believed that their pet pooches had dreams or nightmares – and that they sleepwalked.
He said: ‘It is fascinating to see that such a high percentage of owners believe that their dogs do in fact dream.
‘It is difficult to prove, but the behaviour exhibited by our pets while they sleep convinces us that they are dreaming, in a way we find comparable and familiar to ourselves.
Those polled said they could guess what their pooch was dreaming about, which Dr Robert White-Adams described as ‘fascinating’
‘There are also reports of owners who believe they have found their dogs sleepwalking.’
He added: ‘It is also interesting that two-thirds of dog owners report they hear their dog vocalising during sleep.
‘In humans, sleep talking is an activity that is strongly linked to the dream phases of the sleep cycle. With that in mind, to see dogs exhibiting a comparable behaviour, strongly suggests the occurrence of a similar, dream-like activity for them.’
Dog owner Tom Scott, 34, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, said he pet terrier Alfie was a serial sleepwalker.
He said: ‘Sometimes when I pop to the loo in the middle of the night I see Alfie walking down the hall towards me, but he’s not really paying me any attention.
‘I never quite know if he is asleep or not – sometimes he snaps out of it straight away when I call his name, but other times he just keeps walking and goes into the living room or the kitchen.
‘It quite a weird experience, but he definitely sleepwalks now and again – probably looking for something to eat in his dreams.’
The survey also found that Boxer dogs were the ‘naughtiest’ during the night, with 82 per cent of owners saying they often got up during the night and ‘caused mischief’.
Spaniels were the best behaved during the night, with just 57 per cent getting in the night and causing trouble.