How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need Each Day To Be Healthy and Happy?
It seems that dogs have a profound affection toward napping that gives them the ability to punch in large amounts of sleeping hours each day. And we can bet, that if you look at your pooch right now, you will find him snoozing away.
It comes as a surprise to many first-time owners that their new dog spends more time sleeping than begging for treats, but this is entirely normal. Dogs don’t have the same sleeping pattern as we do, and consequently, need to clock more hours to stay in top health.
Why do dogs sleep so much?
Like people, dogs also go through two stages of sleep, REM-the rapid eye movement phase, and SWS -slow-wave phase. The REM is a state of deep sleep during which a dog dreams and his body gets a chance to rest and replenish its energy reserves.
While humans spend about 25% of sleeping in REM phase, dogs only spend about 10%, which is one of the reasons why they need to sleep more than us. Unlike us, dogs are always on their guard, which means that their sleeping pattern is easily interrupted. Hence a dog will feel a need to sleep more to rejuvenate his body and supply it with energy.
How much sleep is normal?
On average, adult dogs spend 12-14 hours each day sleeping, however, all dogs are different, and some will need more or less to be fully energized. Several factors can influence the amount of time your pooch spends snoozing.
– Age: As we said, adult dogs on average spend 12-14 hours sleeping; however, a growing puppy may need from 18-20 hours of rest. Moreover, senior dogs get tired easily and also need more rest to function properly.
– Breed: Large breeds like Great Dane or Newfoundland burn a lot of energy and as a result can spend sleeping from 16-18 hours. On the other hand, small and toy breeds like Chihuahua and Poodle can function really well with only 10 hours of rest each day.
– Activity: Working and guard dogs will spend less amount of time sleeping since their sole focus is set on a task they were given. Of course, they will later have to sleep to rest and be ready for work the next day.
On the other hand, companion dogs that don’t have to perform any tasks will spend more time sleeping and napping. Usually, this is the result of boredom so try engaging your pup in interactive play or take him for more walks.
What can impact a dog’s sleeping pattern?
Dogs need to get enough sleep every day to be healthy and content, so any disturbance in your dog’s sleeping pattern is cause for concern. Listed below are the main reasons why your pooch is sleeping excessively or not getting enough beauty sleep.
– Health: If you notice that your dog spends more time sleeping all of a sudden and he is also acting lethargic it is time to visit a vet. Excessive sleep is associated with diseases like diabetes, depression, and hypothyroidism, which require immediate vet attention.
– Environmental changes: Dogs are creatures of habit, and even the slightest change in their routine or environment can disrupt their sleeping pattern. Think about any recent changes to understand what is troubling your dog.
– Diet: Even with so many dietary choices it can be hard finding the food that meets all the nutritional needs of a dog. Foods made from cheaper and low-quality ingredients aren’t nutrient dense, so a dog ends up spending more energy on digesting them which causes him to sleep more.
Where should your dog sleep?
Dogs often spend 50% of their day sleeping and 30% chilling around so you must keep your pooch comfortable. For most owners, the question of sleeping arrangements is no brainier, and they prefer sleeping with their dogs.
While it is great to have company during the night, every pooch should have the best dog bed and a chance to choose where he is going to sleep. Pick a quiet corner, away from draft and foot traffic and place your dog’s bed there, you can even put in a blanket to make your pooch more comfortable.
Summary
Like us, dogs need their beauty sleep to look and feel their best. Since their sleeping pattern differs from ours, an adult dog can sleep from 12-14 hours a day, while puppies and seniors sleep even more.
A slight disturbance in your dog’s sleeping pattern isn’t worrisome if he is still acting his usual self. However, if your dog is noticeably sleeping less or more than usual and he shows signs of lethargy or depression you should take him to a vet and have him thoroughly checked out.
