Golden Retriever Spooks Himself and Chihuahua Sibling As He Wakes Up From Wild Dream

Sometimes, watching your furry friend snooze the day away is as peaceful as can be. Other times, though, it can be surprisingly chaotic! Whether your pup is wiggling their paws, talking in their sleep, or practically running while lying down, doggie dreams can result in a number of strange sounds and actions. Some pet parents even wonder if their pup is ok!

It's normal to have questions about your buddy's active sleeping, but once you know it's normal and safe, it becomes a lot more silly. That's why the dog owner behind @a_golden_fam couldn't help but film when their sweet Retriever began twitching in his sleep on July 7. When he started to kick, however, his poor Chihuahua sibling got caught in the crossfire!

Oh no! I almost feel bad for laughing, but this is an unfortunate yet silly situation for the sleepy dogs. I'm sure they were both back asleep within minutes! Next time, though, the little Chihuahua will probably think twice before napping so close to their brother's legs. Lesson learned!

Related: Woman Explains the Meaning Behind Dogs’ Sleeping Positions and We’re Intrigued

Although the little dog gave their brother some major stink eye after being woken up, viewers like commenter @mrsmkr79 know that the "poor baby golden was just dreaming." He couldn't help it! If anything, the sweet Golden Retriever seemed just as confused as his fur sibling. As he settles back down, he looks so embarrassed and apologetic! Fortunately, it's likely he forgot about this faux-'paw' the moment he fell asleep.

Another viewer, @57cowpoke, compared this video to a very common experience: sleeping beside a dog. The Golden's nocturnal martial arts reminded them of their dog kicking their back in the middle of the night, though I'm sure tons of other dog owners thought of the very same thing. Everyone who naps with their pup gets kicked, pawed, or head-butted eventually!

Why Do Dogs Kick in Their Sleep?

Kicking, twitching, and even running while sleeping is a common canine behavior, but not many dog owners know why that is. It's just dreaming! Veterinary researchers believe that these movements are responses to dream stimuli, including doggie nightmares, though some dogs are more likely to twitch in their sleep than others.

One theory is that your dog's brain works to relax their muscles during sleep so that they don't actually stand up and take off running while snoozing. This brain-body connection is strongest in middle-aged adult dogs, so and senior dogs and puppies might move more while catching Zs.

Any dog can move or talk while sleeping, as this sweet Golden boy proved, but you can rest assured it's normal and harmless. Unless, of course, you're in the way of those kicks!

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