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Questions
- How Long Do Dogs Sleep?
- How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?
- How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need by Age
- How to Know When a Dog Sleeps Too Much
If they’re not running around, or looking to get attention from you, they’re usually off catching a quick nap to recharge for the rest of the day. There’s no questioning, how much dogs like to sleep. They often take multiple naps throughout the day and depending on their age, could be fast asleep during your waking hours.
The life of a dog is often pretty laid back and as owners, we might even be envious of their lifestyle. Wouldn’t it be a game changer if we could take a nap halfway through the workday just to recharge?
We’ve gathered together everything you need to know about your puppy’s sleeping habits and to answer the question many owners ask themselves - why do dogs sleep so much?
How Long Do Dogs Sleep?
An adult dog will usually sleep between eight and fourteen hours a day, but there’s a wide gap between the two figures to allow for lots of range.
The number of hours of sleep a dog need can depend on several different things. Age, size, health, and breed are all factors that need to be considered. Not only that, but individual preference can also mean slight differences. Even with humans, you could have an identical twin who prefers to sleep in more than you just like two Labradors may have different sleep schedules.
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Activity levels and lifestyle, even the environment can all be considered when considering how long dogs sleep. Health issues such as diabetes, kidney issues, hypothyroidism, and arthritis can all make a dog need more sleep, so it really depends on so many different factors.
How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?
It can be worrying when your pup seems to be sleeping for long periods of time but there can be lots of different reasons for these long slumbers. While the average number of hours of sleep ranges between eight and fourteen, that doesn’t mean that anything beyond this is abnormal. If you and your pooch have a very busy weekend packed with activities then just like you, they might need to sleep a little longer to recharge.
If you have yourself a pocket size pooch or a giant pup, they will both require more sleep than the average dog. Giant breeds need extra sleep because of their sheer size. Lugging around their body weight can be hard work so they’re bound to sleep harder and longer than a medium breed of dog. For example, an adult Great Dane may sleep up to 18 hours.
Similarly, teeny tiny dogs like Chihuahuas might sleep for as long as sixteen hours. With such little legs, a 30-minute stroll might seem like more of a marathon to them, so they’re going to need more sleep to recharge. Eight to fourteen hours may be the norm, but anything slightly outside of that still may not be of concern if you consider factors like size.
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How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need by Age
Age is another big factor when owners are trying to work out how long their dog should sleep.
When puppies are growing, they need extra rest because the process of growth takes up so much of their energy. When you bring your new puppy home, they can sleep for anything up to 20 hours, so it might at first seem like they’re rarely awake. These hours aren’t always consistent either. They might have waking hours while you’re asleep, so they sleep more during the day. It might seem like your puppy is only away for short periods at a time but that’s perfectly normal.
Dogs grow at different speeds so as well as age you should still consider their breed. A small breed dog will stop growing much faster than a larger breed dog so you can expect them to sleep less sooner.
When your pup becomes a senior citizen, they will also need extra naps. Older dogs can become stiff, and everything takes more effort. While an adult dog can fully recharge and repair from daily activities in eight hours, a senior dog might again start sleeping up to 20 hours a day. Common concerns in older dogs like arthritis can cause them to need a lot more rest and recuperation.
How to Know When a Dog Sleeps Too Much
If you know how much your pooch usually sleeps and they seem to be spending more and more time sleeping that is beyond what you might expect for gradual changes with age, you may want to speak to a vet. The Community Pet Clinic is always on hand to help you get to the bottom of why your dog might be sleeping so much.
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Sleep can be linked to health concerns, but if your pup is healthy then their mental wellbeing might need to be checked as well. If they’ve been through a lot of changes their stress levels may be peaked and dogs who become depressed and shut down will sleep more. If you’ve recently rescued a dog, you might notice they need a lot of sleep because they have to adjust to an entirely new routine and lifestyle. Sometimes they just need time to gradually adjust or you can add something to help such as the Adaptil Pheromone Diffuser to naturally relive their stress or anxiety.
For everything your dog needs for a good night’s sleep, take a look at all of the dog must-haves available in-store and online.