If you’re a pet parent, you might have noticed that dogs can fall asleep almost anywhere. Some can snooze for more than 12 hours at a time! This brings up the question, how much do dogs sleep?
The average dog spends about half of his day asleep, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Larger breeds, puppies, and older dogs require even more sleep. Working dogs, on the other hand, tend to stay awake longer.
But what’s normal and when to seek help? And how can you tell how much sleep your dog needs? Let’s find out.
How Much Do Dogs Sleep?
Humans need six to eight hours of sleep to function optimally, but most of us are not even close to these numbers.
Stress, back pain, insomnia, and other factors can all affect our ability to fall and stay asleep. A dog’s life, by comparison, seems like a dream.
Our canine friends sleep 10 to 12 hours per day, according to Reader’s Digest. However, sleep duration may vary depending on their age, size, breed, and health needs.
Puppies, for example, need up to 20 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. The same goes for older dogs and larger dogs, says PetMD. Larger breeds, such as the Bernese Mountain dog, expend a lot of energy, so they require more shuteye than a Chihuahua or a poodle.
Generally, our canine companions spend about half of their day asleep. They usually take quick power naps throughout the day rather than sleeping for hours at night.
Unlike other animals, dogs are not diurnal or nocturnal. Your furry friend will most likely imitate your behavior and go to bed when you do, notes Michelson Found Animals. If you’re a night owl, your dog may stay up late, too.
How much sleep do puppies need?
Just like babies, puppies spend their time playing and exploring their surroundings. These activities drain their energy, leaving them feeling tired. Plus, their bodies are growing and developing, which further increases the energy expended.
The AKC says that it’s common for puppies to get 18 to 20 hours of shuteye per day. This allows their brain, immune system, muscles, and bones to develop properly.
Note that puppies enjoy being close to their human parents. A 2020 study published in the journal Animals found that 86% of the dogs aged four to 12 months chose to be around people at night.
The same source reports that most puppies slept 10 to 11 hours over a 24-hour period, which is half the amount of sleep reported by other studies.
All in all, your puppy may need more or less sleep, depending on his age, breed, and activity level. There’s no need to worry if you see him sleeping for as little as 10 hours or as much as 20 hours a day.
How to get your puppy to sleep at night
As a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure your puppy gets enough sleep throughout the day.
Here are some tips to help you out:
- The AKC recommends leaving puppies undisturbed during sleep. Refrain from cuddling them when they are taking a nap.
- Likewise, it’s important to encourage your puppy to wind down after playtime.
- Try to plan his day according to his internal clock. Most puppies need a quick nap every hour or so, says the AKC.
- Create a soothing sleep environment for your canine friend. Place his crate or pet bed in a quiet area of the house.
- Put a soft blanket and some toys inside his crate so he can sleep more comfortably. Consider placing the crate in your bedroom to make him feel safe.
- Limit his water and food intake for several hours before sleep, says the AKC.
- Treat your puppy the same way you would treat a baby—turn off the TV or keep the volume down and use dim lights when he’s sleeping.
- Take him out for a potty break before bedtime if necessary.
If your puppy needs frequent potty breaks, consider placing a pee pad inside his crate. Replace it as needed and sanitize the area with a natural cleaner at least once a day.
How Many Hours a Day Do Older Dogs Sleep?
Senior dogs need more shuteye because they get tired more easily, explains the AKC. Joint pain, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, and other conditions can affect their activity level, too.
Generally, adult dogs tend to sleep in bursts throughout the day. Those who are in their senior years often take long naps followed by periods of low activity, Dr. Sara Ochoa told Reader’s Digest.
For example, your senior dog may take a one-hour long nap, go out for a walk or greet his human family, and then fall asleep again.
Sleep requirements increase with age.
However, dogs age at different rates, meaning that a seven-year-old Bichon Frise is likely to be more active than a Great Dane of the same age.
Senior dogs can sleep anywhere between 14 and 20 hours per day, says PedMD.
As a pet parent, it’s important to monitor your dog’s sleeping habits and take note of any changes that may occur.
Watch Out For These Warning Signs
It’s not normal for an otherwise active senior dog to start sleeping all the time.
Make sure you contact the vet if your pet has a difficult time falling and staying asleep. These changes may indicate an underlying condition, such as dementia or heart disease.
Senior dogs may experience loss of appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, and other worrisome symptoms. Many times, these issues come along with changes in your pet’s sleeping habits, Dr. Ashley Rossman told PetMD. You may also notice the following:
- Sneezing or coughing
- Changes in bowel habits
- Tiredness and lethargy
- Not drinking water
- Not waking to stimuli, such as outside noise
- Staying awake at night
- Sleeping in unusual places around the house
- Pain and discomfort
For example, older dogs who wander around at night may suffer from dementia or other cognitive disorders, warns the AKC. Vomiting and lack of appetite may indicate an infection or even cancer.
If you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to your vet as soon as possible.
Consider Your Dog’s Breed
Dogs sleep more or less, depending on their size, breed, activity level, and other factors. Generally, smaller dogs tend to sleep less than larger breeds, but that’s not a hard rule.
Despite their large size, working breeds, such as the Akita, the German Shepherd, and the Rottweiler, enjoy being active and may sleep less than a regular dog.
However, if your Rottweiler spends most of his time indoors and has a sedentary lifestyle, he’ll likely sleep more than a working dog of the same breed.
According to Pet Insight, American Staffordshire Terriers sleep the longest of any dog breed (8.71 hours). Other sources have cited Staffordshire Terriers needing as much as 12-14 hours of sleep a day.
Next on the list are:
- American Bulldog: 8.64 hours
- Great Pyrenees: 8.61 hours
- Doberman Pinscher: 8.60 hours
- Great Dane: 8.59 hours
- Toy poodle: 8.51 hours
With a few exceptions, most dog breeds listed above are quite large. Now let’s see which dogs sleep the least:
- Miniature Australian Shepherd: 8.16 hours
- German Shepherd: 8.22 hours
- Yorkshire Terriers: 8.23 hours
- Australian Cattle Dog: 8.27 hours
- Miniature Pinscher: 8.27 hours
Breed, however, is just one of the many factors influencing sleep duration. You also need to consider your dog’s overall health and daily routine, as well as his sleep environment.
The Animals study reports that a dog’s social interactions with other pets and humans affect his sleep, too—and so does his emotional state.
Sleep duration also depends on his personality and behavior. A playful, energetic dog, for example, may sleep less than other dogs of the same age, size, and breed.
Do Dogs Dream?
As a pet parent, you may have seen your dog moving his paws, twitching, or crying during sleep. According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, dogs begin to dream about 20 minutes after they fall asleep.
When that happens, their breathing may become irregular and their eyes move behind the lids. You may also see their muscles twitching as if they’re chasing someone or something. Their dreams are often related to the experiences they have throughout the day.
Researchers note that smaller dogs dream more often than larger breeds. Bigger dogs, on the other hand, tend to have longer dreams.
The experts at the VCA Animal Hospitals recommend that pet owners refrain from waking up their dogs when they hear them whimpering or crying, as they may react by biting.
Just like humans, animals can have nightmares, but that’s perfectly normal. Let the nightmare run its course and cuddle your pet after he wakes up, says Dr. Gary Richter.
When to Seek Help
PetMD warns that dogs can have sleep disorders. REM Behavior Disorder, narcolepsy, insomnia, and sleep apnea are just a few to mention.
- Narcolepsy, for example, tends to affect younger dogs, causing sudden collapse followed by deep sleep. The best thing you can do is to record it and contact the vet.
- Insomnia, on the other hand, is often a symptom of an underlying condition, stress, or anxiety.
Generally, you shouldn’t be worried if your canine friend sleeps a lot. However, call the vet if you notice any changes (other than those related to aging) in his sleep patterns.
Pay attention to these warning signs as well:
- Your dog has a hard time waking up
- He’s panting heavily and feeling more tired than usual during playtime
- His feeding habits have changed
- He’s no longer interested in the things he used to enjoy
- He wakes up suddenly, feeling stressed and anxious
- He’s staring at walls
Watch out for sudden changes in his appetite, third, sleep patterns, and behavior. Disorientation, poor mental focus, anxiety, grumpiness, and other symptoms require medical attention.
Help Your Dog Get Better Sleep
Now that we’ve answered your question, “How much do dogs sleep,” take the steps needed to ensure your canine friend gets enough rest.
Simple things, such as keeping him active throughout the day and creating a bedtime routine for both of you, can make all the difference.
If your dog has arthritis or achy joints, look for orthopedic or elevated pet beds. Make sure his sleep environment is quiet and dark during the night. Set the thermostat below 81 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent him from overheating.
Note that sleep is just as important for pets as it is for humans. With that being said, see our guide on how much sleep children need. Meanwhile, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Citations
- Cutolo, M. (2021, December 8). What do dogs dream about? Reader’s Digest. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.rd.com/article/what-do-dogs-dream-about/
- DiGiacomo, R. (2020, February 19). Should I let my dog sleep late every day? American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-do-dogs-sleep-so-much/
- Do dogs dream? Do Dogs Dream | VCA Animal Hospitals. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/do-dogs-dream
- Editorial, P. M. D. (2021, October 4). Should you worry if your older dog sleeps all day? PetMD. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/should-you-worry-if-your-older-dog-sleeps-all-day-0
- How many hours a day do dogs sleep? …and other dog sleep questions answered. Michelson Found Animals Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.foundanimals.org/how-many-hours-a-day-do-dogs-sleep-and-other-dog-sleep-questions-answered/
- JoAnna Pendergrass, D. V. M. (2021, October 14). 4 sleep disorders in dogs. PetMD. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/4-sleep-disorders-dogs
- Kearl, M. (2019, October 9). Can senior dogs sleep too much? how much should older dogs sleep? American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/too-much-sleep-is-there-such-a-thing-for-senior-dogs/
- Kinsman, R., Owczarczak-Garstecka, S., Casey, R., Knowles, T., Tasker, S., Woodward, J., Da Costa, R., & Murray, J. (2020, July 10). Sleep duration and behaviours: A descriptive analysis of a cohort of dogs up to 12 months of age. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7401528/
- Reisen, J. (2021, April 29). How much sleep do puppies need? here’s how to make sure. American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-much-do-puppies-sleep/
- Sandra C. Mitchell, D. V. M. (2022, January 6). How many hours does a dog sleep in a day? PetMD. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-many-hours-does-dog-sleep-day
- Staff, A. K. C. (2021, August 27). What were working group dogs bred to do? get to know these 31 incredible breeds. American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/working-group-dogs/
- Staff, A. K. C. (2022, January 14). Is your home’s heat too warm for your dogs? American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/temperature-setting-for-dogs-in-winter/
- Tavares, I. (2021, December 8). How many hours a day do dogs sleep? Reader’s Digest. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.rd.com/article/how-many-hours-a-day-do-dogs-sleep/
