The post Do Dogs Have Wet Dreams? Canine Physiology Explained by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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Responsible pet parents are forever monitoring their dogsâ behaviors to address developing issues and improve their quality of life, even when those behaviors become genuinely awkward. If youâve ever caught your dog having a wet dream, you know exactly how that feels! While itâs not uncommon for dogs to ejaculate when they are asleep, the prevalence doesnât make the situation any less uncomfortable for owners.
Fortunately, wet dreams are also perfectly natural and unlikely to be a long-term issue. If youâre wondering how to manage these moments and whether they warrant concern, weâll discuss if dogs have wet dreams and explain the causes behind their nighttime behavior.
Do Dogs Have Wet Dreams?
There is little research on wet dream occurrences among dogs, but plenty of anecdotal evidence reveals that they are a common and not unhealthy part of their development.
Wet dreams, or ânocturnal emissions,â are autonomic reflexes the dogâs sympathetic nervous system controls. Dogs may ejaculate even if they arenât having a sexual dream. In many instances, people donât remember or are unaware of their emissions, and this is possibly true for dogs.
Although researchers havenât studied wet dreams in dogs, we can see similarities between their behavior and ours. Studies on humans may give us insights into why and when our pets may have nocturnal emissions.
Image Credit: Kuznetsov Alexey, Shutterstock
When Do Dogs Have Wet Dreams?
For humans, most wet dreams happen during adolescence as the body matures, and the flood of hormones fuels new sexual development. Human males typically discover their sexual parts at around seven years and begin masturbating by age 15. Nocturnal emissions arenât uncommon at this age, with some estimates saying they may occur as often as every 2 weeks.
Dogs typically reach sexual maturity and enter their âteenage phaseâ between 6 and 12 months of age, although this can be later in some large and giant breeds. Wet dreams occur as a buildup of semen. Without any conscious sexual activity (i.e., intercourse or masturbation), nocturnal emissions may be the only source of relief.
A dog that doesnât have a female for mating and canât self-stimulate by mounting objects or licking themselves may have frequent wet dreams. Nocturnal emissions will generally decrease and disappear as the dog transitions to a mature adult at 2â3 years.
Image Credit: APIWICH PUDSUMRAN, Shutterstock
Should I Worry About My Dogâs Wet Dreams?
Wet dreams are usually nothing to worry about if your dogâs semen looks normal. Sometimes, your dog may also urinate in their sleep, which is more common in older dogs.
Urination while asleep or off-colored liquid could be cause for a vet visit, as they may indicate underlying issues like UTIs, hormonal imbalances, or diabetes.
How to Manage Your Dogâs Wet Dreams
The easiest way to keep your dog from having wet dreams is usually to neuter them. Doing so will significantly reduce their need or urge to ejaculate. Desexing can also help limit other behavioral challenges, and your dog will have fewer social issues around intact females. Discuss neutering with your vet, they can advise you on the best timing based on your dogâs size, breed , health and behavior.
If your dog is intact, you can manage the fallout of their wet dreams by preparing their sleeping space. Crate training is an enormous help with potty training and managing anxiety.
During this awkward adolescent phase, it can contain any unwanted mishaps. For convenient cleaning, a waterproof dog bed protector is easy to remove and toss in the wash. A bed protector will extend the life of your dogâs bed and keep it fresh, and you wonât have to worry about messes on your bed or anywhere else in the house.
Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
Whether dogs have sexual dreams causing nocturnal emissions isnât clear, but plenty of owners know that the results of a dogâs âwet dreamâ are perfectly possible. Still, as natural as they are, theyâre also embarrassing and often frustrating to manage. By anticipating and preparing for them as your dog approaches adolescence, you and your dog can navigate these awkward accidents gracefully and efficiently.
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Featured Image Credit: Naruedol Rattanakornkul, Shutterstock
The post Do Dogs Have Wet Dreams? Canine Physiology Explained by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
