How Much Do Dogs Sleep? Sleep Time For Dogs
Dogs are likely to spend as much as half of their day sleeping. For 30 percent of the time, they are awake but in relaxing mode, and for just 20 percent they are active. Sleeping time also depends on the age, breed, etc. of the dogs.
Sleep Time of Puppies
Sleep is a vital part of the routine of puppies. It is a general concept that getting your puppy active will be the best method to help him develop, but at this stage of his life, sleep will be more beneficial for him than exercising. For the training purpose of your puppy, he should have a balanced mix of exercise as well as enough hours of sleep each day to rest his tiny body.
Puppies usually sleep 18 – 20 hours a day. You might have noticed that one minute your puppy is active and mischievous, and the next minute he’s asleep calmly and relaxed. Sleep is very helpful in the healthy growth of your puppy, which contributes to the development of his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles. So, 18 – 20 hours’ sleep a day does not make your puppy passive but is helpful for growth.
Sleep Time of Adult Dogs
Adult dogs have a sleeping span of about 12 – 14 hours per day, and this span increases to 18 hours a day for the large dog breeds. However, this span increases as their age increases, as they enter their senior age.
As the dog is past the puppy age, his average sleeping span decreases to 12 – 14 hours from 18 – 20 hours a day. As per the facts, the average sleeping span depends on factors such as the breed of dog, size, diet, overall health, the regular amount of exercise of the dog. Working dogs that herd the farm sheep, law enforcement, or bomb-sniffing dogs tend to sleep less due to their full and busy day.
Larger dog breeds sleep more than the smaller ones. However, the dogs who are left alone at home or lay in the yard sleep more due to less amount of activities or exercise. The dogs who are sick and are experiencing overweight also tend to sleep more than their usual average time.
Sleep Time of Senior Dogs
Just like senior citizens, senior dogs also need more time than adult dogs for rest. They do utilize most of their time for sleeping as compared to younger dogs. This behavior is somewhat considered to be the normal behavior in senior aged dogs.
On a higher scale, senior dogs can sleep up to 18 – 20 hours a day, with a minimum value of 14 – 15 hours of sleep a day.
Cons of Dogs Sleeping too much
If your dog is sleeping for about 14 – 15 hours, then it is a normal routine for dogs to sleep that much. But, if you are noticing an increase in the sleep time of your dog, then there are a number of things to be worried about. Over-sleeping can be problematic in a way or the other.
There are a number of cons of over-sleeping in the dogs, which are as follow:
5. Age of Dog
The sleep time of the dogs is associated with the age of the dog. Large, old dog breeds and puppies sleep more than an adult dog. Too much sleep can cause a decrease in the activity span of dogs, making them lazy and unresponsive, which is not a thing to consider normal.
4. Stress, Anxiety, and Boredom
If a dog is sleeping a lot, then he might be going through psychological difficulties such as anxiety, stress, and boredom. Due to this attitude, the dog is not very lively and tends to doze off often. This behavior has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the dog. To cope with this situation, it is better to set a routine of activities for your dog.
3. Lack of Activities
Those dogs who sleep a lot have very fewer activity levels. This makes them lazy enough and they lose interest in everything. This attitude is not good for them physically. Lack of exercising and activities make the dogs over-weight and thus leading to issues related to muscles, heart problems, etc.
2. Excessive Drooling
Over-sleeping makes dogs very much prone to excessive drooling. This drooling is quite a difficulty for the pet owner as it is followed by spots, smell, and unwanted insects near it.
1. Less Socializing Attitude
If a dog is not enough socialized, it would tend to bark at everyone who stops by at the home. This attitude is not welcoming enough for the guests.
Over-sleeping tends to make dogs less socialized and hence they will bark at anyone nearby them, which is not a good sign. So, it is one of the cons of over-sleeping.
Tips to Improve your Dog’s Sleep
There are some tricks that can lead your dog to a peaceful sleep. The following steps are known to be the best for calm nights for your dog.
6. Set up a Consistent Routine
A consistent routine is a guarantee for a peaceful, quiet, and relaxing sleep. Day to day consistency helps your dog to recognize when it’s his time for the bed. Following a proper schedule for a walk, feeding your dog, and letting them sleep at a properly fixed time help them to be active too.
Even on weekends, try to follow the schedule as much as possible so that things don’t get disrupted. Also, try to enable your dog to poop right before bedtime so that he can sleep quietly and relaxed.
5. Limit Water before Bed
If you want to improve the sleep time of your dog, then you should limit the amount of intake of water before bedtime. It is suggested that the last water intake should be 2 hours before bedtime. This will let your dog sleep relaxed without any need for bathroom breaks.
However, dogs with heart diseases and diabetes should not be restricted from water intake. If intake of water is more than normal, then you should preferably consult a vet.
4. Avoiding Excessive Activity before Bed
You may have a notion that tiring your dog will be the best idea to let him sleep more peacefully, but it is not an appreciated way. If you let your dog have rigorous activity, this will increase his demand for water, thus interrupting his sleep by waking up for bathroom breaks.
3. Try Melatonin for your Dog
As humans buy melatonin for themselves for a good night's sleep. Just like that, pet manufacturers also sell melatonin for dogs.
Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that most dogs accept very well. A dose between the ranges of three to six-milligram will work, depending on the breed and size of the dog.
But, before going for Melatonin for your dog, always consult your vet for the proper recommendation so as to avoid any reaction or conflict.
2. Fluffy Dog Bed & Environment
Just like humans, dogs also want to have a quiet surrounding and fluffy dog bed for a good sleep. Try to analyze the surroundings of the place where your dog sleeps. Make sure it is quiet enough with proper ventilation.
A good dog bed with a cozy and warm blanket will put your dog to sleep in no time. There might be a chance that your dog likes to have relaxing music before going to sleep.
1. Check any medical condition
Try to get your dog checked by a vet if your dog is having issues getting a good night's sleep. Some medication may help in getting your dog relaxed and having a good sleep.
Why Dog Need a Dog Bed to Sleep
There are a number of reasons for dogs to have a bed for their sleep. Some of them are as follow:
- A good dog bed ensures better sleep. If a dog has a good night's sleep, it improves the dog’s memory-making him smarter.
- A bed dog of good quality supports the joints of the dog. If a dog bed is not available, then dogs may suffer from problems like arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc.
- Just like humans, dogs also wish for a spot where they have their privacy and can relax. A bed for them will let them know that they have a consistent spot for proper sleep.
- A good dog bed is easy to clean. Dogs are having enough trails of dirt and pests like fleas with them, and in this condition, they get into their bed. So for that purpose, a dog bed should be such that it is easily detachable for easy and enough cleaning.
How you help your dog to have a better night's sleep? Let me know and share your thought in the comment below!
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