Unraveling Canine Slumber: How Dogs' Sleep Patterns Illuminate Human-Animal Bonds

Dogs' sleep habits offer insights into human-canine relationships, reflecting how domestication has influenced their behavior. While dogs primarily sleep at night, their patterns contrast with wild ancestors like wolves. Ongoing research on dogs' sleep aids in understanding human sleep disorders and cognitive functions due to close behavioral parallels.

Dogs have long been considered man's best friend, and their unique sleep patterns provide a window into the effects of domestication on behavior. A recent examination by researchers detailed how dogs' sleeping habits, primarily diurnal, parallel those of humans, while still retaining traces of their wild ancestry.

Averaging ten hours of sleep per day, dogs have adapted to human lifestyles, yet they take frequent daytime naps, unlike their human counterparts. Studies reveal that dogs spend more time in REM sleep than humans, raising intriguing questions about domestication's impact on sleep stages.

Scientists use dogs as a model for human sleep studies, exploring disorders such as narcolepsy and dementia. These investigations underscore the significance of understanding canine sleep patterns for insights into human cognitive functions and age-related health issues, fostering a deeper appreciation for our four-legged companions.

(With inputs from agencies.)