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WAMost people think this is dreaming, but it’s actually one of the deepest healing stages in a dog’s body.
Dogs enter a REM state where the nervous system finally feels safe enough to reset. The facial twitching you’re seeing is cranial nerve firing and fascial micro-release—tiny stress patterns discharging from the day.
The louder grunts?
🐾 A vagal shift as the parasympathetic system takes over. Their heart rate slows, breathing changes, and the body drops into full restoration mode.
The loose jaw + tongue hanging out?
🐾 Muscle atonia. During REM, the brain intentionally “turns off” muscle tone so the fascia, brainstem, and neuromuscular system can repair without interference.
This is where:
• emotional memories are processed
• stress reorganizes
• safety is restored
• movement patterns recalibrate
• the entire system resets toward balance
You’re not just watching a dream.
You’re watching the nervous system heal itself in real time.
#waldrupsomaticmethod #dogsomatics
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[dog somatics, canine nervous system, dog behavior science, vagus nerve dogs, REM sleep dogs, somatic healing, canine fascia, dog sleep twitching, nervous system regulation, dog wellness, dogsoftiktok, dogtok, dog education, canine bodywork, dog sleep behavior]
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