Golden Retriever (detailed introduction)

　　Everyone knows that dogs have light sleep and wake up at the slightest sound. However, in fact, the quality of a dog's sleep has a great impact on their physical health!

　　1. What counts as deep sleep?

　　The sleep of dogs and other advanced mammals like humans not only allows the body to rest, but also lets the brain rest automatically, playing a role in memory consolidation. The deep sleep that allows the brain to rest is called "non-REM sleep," as opposed to "REM sleep," which mainly allows the body to rest. "REM sleep" refers to the stage when the body is asleep but the eyes are still moving. When a dog can feel safe with its guardian and environment, the safety signals are sent to the dog's brain, allowing the dog to gradually enter deep sleep or "non-REM sleep," thereby giving the brain sufficient rest.

　　2. Good sleep and bad sleep

　　Moderate stimulation activates the dog's brain, so REM and non-REM sleep are key for deep sleep. If a dog sleeps excessively for a long time, fatigue also increases correspondingly; conversely, this causes bodily tiredness.

　　Research indicates REM sleep has a special relationship to memory consolidation. Poor REM sleep can lead to memory confusion. For example, if a dog gets into a fight with another dog during a walk, it will remember the frightening fight scene and subconsciously think "I will never go near that place again" or "That was scary," which is an innate behavior. Good sleep can alleviate the anxiety that arises from this subconsciousness. Although it cannot change the subconscious, it helps the dog regain calmness.

　　Stress response is the enemy of deep sleep; it can directly interfere with the body and brain's ability to eliminate fatigue. Diseases such as colds, heart disease, stomach ulcers, and diabetes often trigger stress responses in dogs. If this condition persists, dogs with poor sleep may develop behavioral problems like suddenly fighting back fiercely, fighting other dogs, or disobedience.

　　3. Key points for comfortable sleep

　　Frequently giving dogs command signals to keep their emotions active, such as simple commands like drinking water or sitting during meals, can stimulate their thinking and brain activity, thus improving sleep quality. However, this method is ineffective for some elderly dogs. Therefore, older dogs can reach deep sleep through moderate exercise that provides more external brain stimulation.

　　Additionally, a suitable sleeping location is very important. Dogs can choose according to their preference or be provided with a quiet, odor-free, and secure place such as a bed or crate. Also, if a dog's body temperature is low, it cannot sleep deeply. Touch the dog's paws; if they feel cold, use a towel to keep its temperature and adjust the room temperature, ideally maintained between 18-20°C.