h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

my dog sits at the fire sleeping and twitching his legs i often wonder what he,s dreaming of some nice new lady doggie caught his attention or just running in the park? who can tell!

Stephen King says in 'The Stand' that when dogs have a good dream, their paws twitch - perhaps they are dreaming of running in the grass, chasing rabits, or just fooling around; but when a dog growls in its sleep, it's having a bad dream or a nightmare. If you disturb it in this state, it's most likely to bite you.

Liked your nym. I always wanted to have one that is simply "The". It's so profound, with all the possibilities intertwined around that definitive article, and its so inexplicably hanging out on its own without any cause or effect! Achieving Theness, well - that's a goal!

thank you stargazer using the! seemed the right thing to do but also my dog lies in front of fire awake staring and i try and say youll hurt your eyes staring into fire but i remember being a kid and staring into the flames i think they (dogs )must have vivid imagination as well ?

You should read The Dragons of Eden http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345346297/002-2871424-3552034?v=glance&n=283155 by Dr. Carl Sagan. It is really enlightening and easy to understand.

It is unknown (or unproven) if dogs have self-identity, but if they can (and they do) dream, they must at least have a functional form of imagination. Puppies can be seen having a lot of make-believe rough and tumble, which might be an instinctive desire to learn to hunt and fight. Anyway, they say that flames can have a hypnotic effect, and weaker minds are easier to hypnotize. Maybe, who knows.

How many times we have wished that our dog could talk, haven't we? But would we like to hear everything it has to say?

being pulled around by the scruff of the neck in a collar placed under a table at the pub bein forced to eat tinned food it must be a total nightmare to a civilized dog ?

They allow dogs in pubs wherever you are? They might not hate wearing a collar that much - my dog used to act brave as long as I held his leash, especially so if it was a body belt. I believe their nightmares are being forced to bathe when they don't want to, going to the vet (oh how they struggle and beg to stay away), having their teeth brushed (or attempted at), being attacked by other dogs, etc.

did you watch the programme about overweight dogs they dream about being thin i bet