My dreams

Prompt Chat GPT: Write a Substack newsletter as Tashi the golden doodle explaining how dogs dream and what they dream about. and then describe as Tashi a dream you had that left you whimpering in the middle of the night and how you calmed down.

Woof woof, it's Tashi the Golden Doodle here, back with another edition of my newsletter! Today, I want to talk about something that has been on my mind a lot lately: dreams.

As I'm sure you all know, dogs dream just like humans do. We experience the same REM sleep stages and our brains show similar activity patterns. And just like humans, our dreams can be influenced by our daily experiences.

So, what do we dream about? Well, it's different for every dog, but some common themes include chasing after squirrels, playing with toys, and spending time with our humans. Sometimes we dream about things that have scared us in the past, like thunderstorms or vacuum cleaners. And sometimes our dreams are just plain weird - I once dreamt that I was swimming in a sea of peanut butter! And sometimes, our dreams can be a bit more abstract. I've had dreams where I'm running through fields of bacon (yum!) or chasing after a giant tennis ball. And I've heard of other dogs dreaming about being able to fly or even talking to their humans!

But not all dreams are fun and games. Just the other night, I had a really scary dream that left me whimpering in the middle of the night. In my dream, I was lost in the woods and couldn't find my way home. I searched and searched, but every path led me further away from my human.

When I woke up, I was shaking and whimpering. I felt so scared and alone. But then I remembered something that always helps me when I'm feeling anxious: my human's scent. I took a deep breath and buried my nose in their shirt. It smelled like home and safety and love.

Slowly but surely, my heart rate started to slow down and my breathing became more regular. I realized that I was safe and sound in my own bed, with my human sleeping next to me. And just like that, the fear started to fade away.

Dreams can be scary, but they're also a natural part of our sleep cycle. And just like with any other scary experience, it's important to have coping mechanisms in place. For me, that means focusing on my human's scent and reminding myself that I'm safe. For other dogs, it might mean having a favorite toy nearby or snuggling up with a familiar blanket.

That's all for now, my furry friends. Remember to take care of yourselves and each other, both in your waking life and in your dreams. Until next time, stay pawsome!

Until next time,

Tashi the Golden Doodle