concern over new puppy who twitches when asleep.

by andrew
(canada)

why is my four month old saint bernard, twitching in his sleep?



Hi Andrew
This is actually a very common question that I get from new puppy owners, it seems to worry many!

Young puppies almost always twitch when they're sleeping, they may also jerk or even 'run' in their sleep. Extra-fast breathing, whining, even barking or growling are also perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

When a puppy behaves this way there are two things going on. One, that he's just dreaming, the way we humans do, and the twitching and vocalizations are part of what is going on in his dreamworld.

Two, that it's a normal part of his neurological development. His little brain is very busy making sense of the whole world around him and building up the connections his body needs as he grows.

You can find out more about this on my Why Is My Puppy Breathing Fast page.

Generally this twitching gets less noticeable as a pup matures, although many dogs will do it to some degree their whole life.

Hope this puts your mind at rest. Best of luck with your new puppy.