Dear Curtis,

-------- My dog Molly slept a lot as most dogs do... after all, it's a dog's life and "it's har-r-r-r-d work" as we all know! Sometimes while she was sleeping her legs would suddenly twitch, she would give a muffled bark and then she would wake herself up, look at me and flap her ears (as if I were the one who had caused all the commotion). Curtis, what could she have been dreaming about to get her so riled up?

-------- Puzzled in Birmingham

Dear Puzzled,

-------- You’re correct in thinking that Molly was probably dreaming though some, especially cats, believe we’re incapable of it.

-------- While we dream for shorter periods of time than do people, we tend to do so with more action — twitching or moving our legs as if running or digging; chewing, licking or moving our lips and whiskers; whining, whimpering or yipping as if excited; and breathing rapidly or holding our breath for a brief time.

-------- As for what Molly could have been dreaming about, I don’t know. Some of my buddies dream about chasing something: a car, a ball, a criminal, a rabbit, or a cat! Some dream about digging for or chomping on a nice juicy bone. And, sometimes it’s a nightmare and in it we’re running away from something or someone, perhaps an abusive owner or the dogcatcher.

-------- When we’re relaxed and dreaming, it’s hard for us to be awakened so I’m not surprised that Molly, upon startling herself awake, gave you a “what gives” look . She was probably trying to figure out what happened to the field in which she was just romping.

-------- Personally speaking, I tend to dream about female dogs, dinner parties, car trips in a convertible, having my ears rubbed and belly scratched, being with my human and canine buddies, chasing a cat (or two)…and female dogs! Woof!

-------- Curtis the Dog