Why do dogs kick their legs and whimper when they sleep?
Your Dog Is Kicking and Whimpering in Their Sleep — What's Actually Going On? Here's how it started. Last week, I got up in the middle of the night to get some water. I walked past the couch and found my golden retriever fast asleep — all four legs pumping in the air, making these muffled little whimpers, eyelids fluttering. Like he was chasing something. Or running from something. I just stood there, frozen. He never woke up. Eyes shut the whole time. But his entire body was moving — legs, mouth, eyebrows, all of it. My first thought was: is he dreaming right now? What on earth is he dreaming about? My second thought, right on its heels: should I wake him up? I didn't. I stood there for maybe two minutes until he settled back down and kept sleeping, totally unaware. Like nothing had happened. But I couldn't fall back asleep. Dogs kicking, whimpering, even letting out low half-barks in their sleep — there's actually a pretty solid scientific explanation ...