why do dogs twitch in their sleep

Dogs twitch in their sleep mainly because they are dreaming. During the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, brain activity is high, and dogs experience dreams, which can cause their muscles to twitch. This twitching is a normal part of muscle relaxation and memory processing while they rest. Puppies and older dogs tend to twitch more because their brain structures that inhibit muscle movement during sleep (like the pons in the brain stem) are either still developing or weakening due to age. Twitching can also be triggered by environmental stimuli, muscle reflexes as muscles relax, or sleeping position. Although twitching is usually normal and indicates deep, active sleep, it is important to differentiate it from seizures, which involve prolonged, uncontrolled movements and other serious symptoms requiring veterinary attention.