Dogs do one 'adorable' thing when they sleep that will melt your heart

It's no secret that pet owners adore their dogs as they're cute, loving and often offer comfort when people need it most, but you may not realise just how much your dog loves you. It turns out dogs do one thing when they sleepthat is not only totally adorable, but it shows that they love you too.

The cute piece of dog trivia was recently shared on TikTok by rorygunnermillie, and it's totally melted people's hearts. While we all know how easy it is for humans to dream, it turns out dogs have them too, but their dreams are thought to be very specific and it tells you a lot about how cute our pooches actually are.

Little you may know, your dog thinks about you a lot, even when they're asleep. As well as indicating that they love you, they can also sense if you feel the same way about them too.

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Over a clip shared online, the social media user wrote: "Did you know that dogs dream about their owner, and that 95% of their memories are [about] you. Your voice, your scent, your cuddles.

"They replay the love you give them every day." Naturally, this has left dog owners in awe, as they can't believe how gorgeous the idea is, with many deeming it "cute."

Even though it may seem too good to believe, both experts and researchers think dogs do dream about their owners and their daily experiences, similarly to humans. This is because they develop strong emotional bonds and process important information during sleep, particularly REM sleep.

Even though we can't uncover what exactly happens in their dreams, it's likely their dreams are filled with familiar people, smells, playful interactions like chasing balls and other things they are emotionally attached to during the day.

Dogs are social animals and they develop strong attachments to their owners, so it makes sense to assume their dreams would reflect their most important relationships and experiences. Much like we can dream about people and things we think about or see often, the same sort of principle applies.

Regarding dogs' memories, Pets Care states: "Dogs remember their owners through strong associative memories, especially using their sense of smell, sight and sound. They can recognise and respond to former caregivers even after years apart.

"Dogs have an extraordinary ability to remember people, but their memory works differently from ours. Instead of recalling detailed events, dogs rely on associative memories tied closely to their senses - especially smell, sight and sound. This means that while your dog may not remember every walk or treat in detail, they’ll never forget the way you smell or the sound of your voice.

"A dog’s sense of smell is legendary. It’s their primary tool for recognising people and places. Even after long separations, dogs can identify their owners by scent alone.

"That’s why reunion stories where dogs greet former caregivers with joy - even after years apart - are so common. The unique combination of scents you carry is imprinted on your dog’s memory for a very long time."

It was also noted that dogs use visual cues to remember people. Research even indicates they can spot familiar faces in photographs and focus on identifying features like eyes. Some studies also argue certain brain regions in dogs are dedicated to processing and remembering human faces.

As well as this, many dogs can link specific voices with people they know well. Hearing a voice they know well can help them develop a mental image and emotional response.

It's also said that emotional experiences can play a huge role in a dog's memory. Regular love, playtime and care can help dogs build deep bonds with people, which helps to enhance memory associations. On the flipside, if an animal has experienced trauma or neglect, these negative memories can also stay with them, and can help shape how they react to certain people or environments later down the line.