My dog makes some strange movements while it's sleeping.  It "twitches" or "jerks."  Is this normal?

Maybe it's dreaming.

This means that your dog is in a state of sleep that in humans is termed rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. It is during this time that humans, if awakened, say that they were dreaming. Veterinarians speculate that pets also dream. Although this has not been extensively studied, many veterinarians feel that dogs probably dream about chasing things, and playing with other animals and people. It is not necessary to wake REM-sleeping dogs up, as they will not harm themselves. A good, undisturbed nap will allow your dog to wake up feeling refreshed and able to play.

01/29/09