Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard psychologist, has been studying about humans’ sleep behavior for years. Along the way, Dr. Barrett also learned some things about how animals dream.

Mammals, including dogs, have almost the same sleep cycles as humans, and according to Dr. Barrett, “That certainly makes it the best guess that other mammals are dreaming, too.” he said in an interview with

Dogs, like humans, undergo a stage called Rapid Eye Movement or REM, the phase in the sleep cycle where mammals experience dreaming.

When asked about what dogs might be experiencing when dreaming, Dr. Barrett says, “Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell and of pleasing or annoying you.”

A lot of pet owners are also curious if they can do anything to ensure that their dogs are only dreaming about pleasant things and according to Dr. Barrett, “The best way to give ourselves or our children better dreams is to have happy daytime experiences and to get plenty of sleep in a safe and comfortable environment.”