I had a dream some days ago that doesn't goes out of my mind. On that dream at first I remember it was summer and I was trying to go to a beach that I recognized as a well known one in the dream, but that I can't identify after I wake up. As I said, I kept trying to go to that beach, but I always arrived there when the night was starting to fall and couldn't enjoy the day there and most of all couldn't find my friends that had already left.
Then, all of a sudden I was at a place that in the dream I recognized as my parents home, but in reality that home has nothing to do with my parents one nor do I know where it is.
Nevertheless, in the dream I knew that I was in my parents home, that they weren't at home but me and my two younger brothers. By then we all came back to be together as kids and we had crocodiles for pets!
Then, I noticed that one of the crocodiles was missing and in the dream it was my favorite one. I was worried because I feared what it might do to other people who might find it and also because I missed that crocodile and wanted to get it back with me.
Then, a german-shepherd dog showed up and in the dream I remembered that the dog was ours and had been missing for a while. I felt happy but also concerned because we had to teach the dog to live with the crocodiles, as the dog had been gone before we started having those crocodiles.
After that I noticed the dog was a female one and recognized it as Cassy, a dog I had to put down due to severe illness in January this year and that I still miss a lot as a very good lost friend. Although the dog didn't look at all as Cassy, in the dream I recognized Cassy in it and then remembered that Cassy was dead. I felt deep sadness inside me and just grabbed the dog, gave a very close hug and started crying. I woke up at that point of the dream.

This dream sounds like it starts off as a typical frustration dream, where you want to be somewhere or do something but something thwarts your plans, for example, having to take an exam but not having any idea what is on the test or not being able to find the room. It's the same in this dream, with being too late to enjoy the beach during the day and not being able to find your friends. This type of dream usually has to do with your being worried about not being prepared for something or being put into a situation you can't handle.

A beach in a dream can have to do with getting away from daily routines and relaxing, so this can have to do with you having difficulty coping with change, even change that seems beneficial.

I think your parents house in your dream represents the ideas you grew up with and the knowledge that you have gained, based on the fact that your parents are the first people to teach you how to cope with life.

A crocodile can symbolize something threatening, but they are also ancient creatures (in a way, kind of like dragons), so they can stand for ancient wisdom. This also relates to the idea of learning from your past and accepting the wisdom of your parents, but at the same time, there is idea that if you sticking to old ways of thinking can be dangerous. Your having crocodiles as pets, when a pet is supposed to be something that is safe and docile, could be a message that you are relying on something for security and that is in fact, creating a danger for you.

When I think of a German shepherd, I think of a dog that is very protective (I used to have a German shepherd mix), so it is like you are trying to find more ways of keeping yourself secure.

Having to put Cassy down probably did make you feel sad and insecure and sad about change, having to get used to living without her.

Here is some more info on the meaning of Animals in Dreams: www.dreaming.life/dream-themes/animals-in-dreams.htm. There is a bit about crocodiles and alligators.