Hey there. Just because your dog is whining and kicking in their sleep doesn't necessarily mean a nightmare. Sometimes it's just them dreaming. My dog does the exact same thing, and she's only ever been an indoor dog with no previous owners or trauma (unless you count us forcing her to step on wet grass, she usually gives us a dirty look for that one). The thing to keep in mind, especially if your dog doesn't have a history of abuse is simply this --- Dogs dream too. So, when you hear them barking in their sleep, or see them trying to run while lying there with their eyes closed on the couch, they're really just having a dream. They're not in any pain, any more than you or I am when we dream. If you think they're having a nightmare, then go ahead and gently wake them, but chances are you'll get one of those sleepy, confused looks like 'Dude, what's up?' before they roll over and going back to sleep. I know my dog does. According to dog trainers and psychologists, the paw movement and barking means they're in the middle of a rem cycle and are in that 'deep sleep' stage that most of us would kill for. Also, small dogs do it more, which I can say from experience because my golden-doodle does it every time she takes a nap (so at least once a day). If you want to read more, Cesar Way has a small article about it : https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/innocuous-behaviors/do-dogs-dream (Doggy Dreams). The important thing to take away from it though, is just this. It's completely normal, and nothing to worry about. :-)

Licking, and it's frequency and intensity, can be breed and personality based. Some dogs, like poodles and poodle mixes, have a tendency to lick absolutely everything (even when they're bored). My dog (mini-golden doodle), will lick you until you move out of reach, and even then she may do something silly like lick your shoe or pant leg just because it's there.

So, yes, depending on the dog, acute licking can lead to irritation and dermatitis, but it has to be consistent attention to the same areas. For the most part, though, you need to keep in mind the breed your working with, and how that particular dog shows affection or anxiety. If anyone wants some further information, here's a link to dog trainer 'Cesar's website, Cesar's Way: https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/innocuous-behaviors/why-do-dogs-lick ("Dog Licking")