Dog sleeping patterns are different from ours, so don’t be surprised if your pooch naps far more than you do! Find out what’s normal and what’s not for our pets – and whether you really should let sleeping dogs lie.
Dogs sure can snooze. Unlike humans, who generally stay up all day and then sleep for one long stretch at night, dogs spread out their sleep time. In fact, they might only spend five hours a day being active, with half the day devoted to sleeping, and the remaining time resting.
As with humans, factors such as activity levels, age and health can all affect a dog’s need to sleep, as well as the quality of that sleep. Breed, size, weight and environment will also have a bearing on how much shut-eye they’ll take.
How many hours’ sleep does a dog need?
Adult dogs should roughly get between 12 and 14 hours sleep a day. This may sound like a lot, but their ancestral genetic coding tells them to expend energy only when needed, whether for hunting, or play and socialising. Larger breeds can sleep for even longer; up to 18 hours a day.
Meanwhile puppies are likely to sleep even more than adult dogs during the daytime. Despite being little balls of energy one minute, keen to play and explore the world, young pups find all that stimulation an exhausting business. You might see them suddenly keel over and take a nap mid-way through an activity to recharge – try to leave them to it, if you can. Sleeping is important to puppies’ development, and they can easily notch up 18 hours a day.
Puppy sleeping habits
In the early days, when you bring your puppy home, nighttime can be stressful for a puppy (and their owner) as they get used to a sleep routine – be prepared for some whining or yapping. Establish a pattern by making their crate comfy and keeping noise and light levels low – these are cues your pup will come to understand as ‘sleep time’. If your puppy needs a potty break, keep your voice calm and soothing as you deal with that, so there’s as little stimulation as possible.
Is all dog sleep the same?
Within those many hours of doggy downtime, experts have pinpointed different types of rest. A dog’s day is averagely about 50% deep, restorative sleep, while a further 30% is more of a snooze, when their ears might be on low alert for any activity worth getting upright for.
You may notice your dog’s eyes twitch, their paws flick, or even a growl or two, during sleep. Rather like our rapid eye movement (REM), this is their dreaming time, when they’re re-living the day – maybe finally winning that battle over the big stick with another dog in the park.
Sometimes your dog may express extreme agitation, which could be a nightmare. Don’t wake them up: they may be scared, or lash out in fear. You could try and calm a troubled sleeper by gently stroking their back and using a reassuring voice to soothe them.
Where should dogs sleep?
Curled up, legs sprawled out, tum exposed on their back, awkwardly ranged across floor and sofa... Dogs choose myriad – and often hilarious – sleeping positions! Depending on their breed, too, some will sleep in a way that lets them breathe more easily or keep warm (or cool). You may often see your dog circling or ‘digging’ before settling – a throwback to their wolfish past, when they’d make a sleeping den in the wild.
While they may nap all over the place, providing your pooch with a dog bed is essential for their wellbeing and happiness. It gives them a space which is only for sleeping, and somewhere to go if they want some ‘me time’.
A dog bed needn’t be expensive, but for older dogs, consider a thicker, comfier bed to provide support for fragile bones.
What’s stopping your dog sleeping?
If your dog’s sleeping behaviour seems to change radically – for example, a typically active dog seems constantly fatigued, or vice versa – there could be a number of reasons for the change, and it’s worth taking seriously. Causes of alterations in sleep habits could include:
A change in diet
Some foods may be less digestible for your dog than others, and their sleep could suffer as a result.
Pain
Restlessness can be a sign of pain in our pets. Many dogs experience some degree of arthritis as they age, which can make settling down a trial.
Underlying health conditions
Thyroid problems are often signalled by lethargy and a disinclination to exercise. Lethargy may also indicate an underlying heart condition or diabetes
Doggy dementia
Older dogs’ behaviour can change in many ways, including their sleeping patterns. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), also known as doggy dementia, may result in disturbed nights.
If you’ve noticed a big change to your dog’s sleeping patterns, it’s always wise to pay a visit to the vet, to check all is well.