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When they’re not eating, walking or playing with their favourite toy, you can guarantee that your pup will be filling their time by catching some z’s - it’s tiring work being a dog, you know!
One of the biggest questions many dog owners have is ‘how long do dogs sleep?’, usually because they’re concerned that their dog is enjoying just a few too many naps throughout the day. However, the amount of sleep dogs need depends entirely on their breed, age, personality, activity levels and even their diet! So, how much sleep is normal for the average dog?
The Different Dog Sleep Stages
When it comes to understanding your dog’s sleeping patterns, it’s important to get to know the different sleep stages.
Just like us humans, our canine companions go through various sleep cycles throughout their slumber. Although the cycles are very similar to ours, they progress through each stage at a much quicker rate. The stages include:
Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) (stage 1)
Slow-wave sleep (SWS) (stage 1)
Rapid eye movement (REM) (stage 2)
Light sleep (stage 3)
Deep sleep (stage 3)
The REM stage is the most restorative part of the sleep cycle and whilst humans typically spend around 25% of their time asleep in REM, dogs only spend around 10% in this stage - it’s no wonder they need so many naps to feel well-rested!
How Many Hours a Day do Dogs Sleep?
Us humans might get jealous of how much time our canine companions spend snoozing the day away, but this is because we have slightly different sleeping patterns to our furry friends.
Dogs are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they nap in short bursts throughout the day and spend longer asleep at night. It’s typical for dogs to spend around 45 minutes asleep at a time, compared to the recommended 7-9 hours for humans - even if most of us would love an afternoon nap.
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When it comes to how many hours a dog sleeps per day, it works out to around 12-14 hours for the average dog, but larger breeds and puppies can sleep for up to 18 hours! It’s tiring work being a cute ball of fluff.
Why do Dogs Sleep so Much?
You might be wondering why your pup spends so much of their day napping. After all, how tiring can it be going on walks, eating and getting belly rubs?
Although it’s normal for your pooch to spend a fair few hours asleep during the day, if you notice them trying to squeeze in a few extra naps, it could be down to:
Boredom/lack of stimulation
Breed
Warm weather
Stress/anxiety
Underlying health issues
Inadequate nutrition
Age
It’s fairly normal for some breeds to spend most of the day asleep and the same goes for both puppies and older dogs. However, if you notice your dog is suddenly sleeping for a lot longer than usual, it might be worth investigating the cause. From boredom (did someone say new toys…?), to a diet lacking in certain nutrients, there are a number of things which can cause your dog to feel extra sleepy.
Why do Dogs Bark in Their Sleep?
If you’ve ever been watching your canine companion peacefully snoozing the day away, only to be startled by a sudden bark - you might be wondering why your dog is barking in their sleep!
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This usually occurs when your dog is dreaming during the REM stage of sleep. Whether they’re having a nightmare that they’re trying to fight off an intruder, or a lovely, pleasant dream where they’re running through fields with all of their four-legged friends, it’s common for a bark or two to escape their mouth.
During this stage of sleep, a bark may also be accompanied by twitching, horizontal ‘running’ or even cries. However, there’s no need to wake up your pooch if you do notice any of these signs, as it just means they’re getting some much-needed restorative sleep!
Wouldn’t it be great to know what they were dreaming about? Their favourite treats, perhaps?
Why is Your Dog Peeing in Their Sleep?
You might be a little frustrated if your fully toilet trained pup has started going to the toilet whilst they’re asleep. There can often be a number of different reason for this sudden change, including:
Urinary tract infection
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Enlarged prostate
Bladder or kidney stones
Spinal problems
Hormonal imbalances (especially after neutering/spaying)
A full bladder before bed
Accidents happen sometimes, especially if your pooch is young (or very old!), so if it’s the first time your pooch has treated their bed as a toilet, then there’s no real cause for alarm.
To avoid it happening again, try to ensure your pup sticks to a strict bedtime routine, fully emptying their bladder before calling it a night. Although it might be tempting to stand at your back door whilst your dog does their business, it’s worth accompanying them outside to check they’re actually going to the toilet when you let them out!
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However, if it starts happening frequently, it’s worth having a chat with your vet. It could be down to something as simple as a urine infection, which can be treated with some antibiotics, but it could be due to something more serious - especially in older dogs. A quick trip to the vet will help you to find out what’s going on with your pooch and hopefully stop you having to do those early morning clear ups!
In the meantime, it might be worth investing in a waterproof dog bed and some diapers, like the Simple Solution Diapers to save your dog’s bed and your floor!
When it comes to the dog land of nod, there’s so much to learn! From doggie dreams to nap after nap, after nap, it really does seem like our pooches have got life sussed! From super cosy beds, to warm, soft blankets, make sure their nap time is extra comfy by exploring our range of dog bedding today!