Watch Betty Pork 'N Beans sleep for 12 seconds. You'll feel better, we promise.

Puppy Dreams:  Why Do Puppies Twitch When They Sleep?

Puppy Body Building
Betty's adorable twitching makes us feel good, and it’s fun to imagine her milk-filled dreams of nursing a playing with her litter mates. But that’s not what makes her twitch and pop as she rests.  This twitching actually has a functional purpose -  "Activated sleep" helps build muscle and form the connections that will allow the puppies to develop motor coordination.  

A Key Indicator for Breeders
This is why twitching is a key indicator that the puppy is healthy and developing normally.    Breeders have recognized this for centuries, but modern research has showed us why.  When the twitching stops, the puppy is not developing in some important ways, and is in critical danger.

Learn more
In our film, Puppy Culture, we talk more about activated sleep (and show more adorable video examples).  Visit us at www.puppyculture.com

Want to dig deeper? Mark Blumberg, at the University of Iowa, has done some fascinating research on the function of sleep-twitching:
http://psychology.uiowa.edu/blumberg-lab/research

Jane Killion’s puppy rearing and socialization DVD is now available!

PUPPY CULTURE

Everything you need to know about puppies, broken down into easy-to digest 5-15 minute lessons and demonstrations. 

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