Irony, Dreams, and Smiles

Say What?

Ironic Play on Fear

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Let that sink in... that long word means the fear of long words!  If you break it down a bit, it combines hippopotamus, monstrous, sesquipedalian (long word) and phobia (fear). Someone had fun with a pen and a dictionary for that one. Pretty clever. 

So, If you are in that boring work meeting you always show face for and suddenly feel a bit anxious when hearing a long word, it's a real thing. You may have to say the word very slowly, but it's a thing and you are not alone. What will they think of next?

What’s Wrong With My Dog?

Twitchy Doggie Dreamer

Snore snore, twitch twitch… maybe even a little growl. Ever wake up because you sense your dog twitching or you hear little groans? Dogs can be animated in what seems like a REM rave. Like our vivid dreams, one of your dog's stages of sleep is Rapid Eye Movement (REM). This stage is associated with dreaming and twitching can be a physical manifestation of their dreams.

But not everything twitches, so why not? Muscle atonia is a temporary state of paralysis that helps prevent your dog from acting out their dreams during REM sleep. That's a relief, but my dog needs to understand in his dream that my bed is not a dirt yard. However, not all muscles are entirely immobilized so that's when you see twitches. We might dream of a great vacation we had and, along the same lines, your dog might dream of a great chase of a squirrel that day, running in the yard, a new friend's butt he sniffed, or the treats he had (or wish he had). Or, maybe your dog who is well-behaved during the day is a wild child in his dreams - what a rush! 

All dogs may twitch in their dreams, but some say puppies twitch more than older dogs because their young little bodies are still developing and so is their nervous system. It takes muscles to keep moving like that and those little tiny babes can sure stand to build their muscles up. It can also help their brain development. Note that if your dog seems to be uncomfortable or twitches longer or differently than his norm, it may be great to give the doggie doctor a call for their notepad. That's what notepads are for. In general, it's usually healthy when twitching during sleep and it also can mean they are in restful sleep. 

Back in the day I wanted a waterbed. Never got it. Now I have 1/4 of a waterbed feeling when my dog twitches in his dreams. And it can't burst with water everywhere - bonus! Sounds like the perfect outcome to my childhood wish. Dream on, lil babe. 

Champagne camping, precision skills, and furry love

Beyond glamping: I think I love camping now.
Truck Tea: The perfect cup of tea.
Heartwarming Affection: All sizes, all shapes.

Doggie DNA

Smile a Mile for a While

Depending on the context and your dog's overall body language, your dog's "smile" can be interpreted several ways tied to his emotions or state of being.  The next time your pup smiles at you, it could mean he is one or more of the below. I imagine my dog admires me when he smiles … or he is buttering me up for some treats. Eh, halfers.

• Relaxed, calm, and happy - slightly open mouth and visible teeth

• Panting - cooling, comfortable and maybe excited

• Playfulness - wide-open mouth with tongue hanging out

• Submission - lips pulled back to show front teeth

• Bonding - relaxed and comfortable happy expression

• Mirror you - mimic you and get positive affirmation

Chuckle

The fib is C. Older Dogs May Snore More. As dogs age, their muscles can relax more during sleep, leading to an increase in snoring. Breeds with shorter snouts, like Bulldogs and Pugs, are also more prone to snoring.

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