How many hours do dogs sleep?
, by Brenda Knapik, 2 min reading time
Have you ever walked past your pup lying curled up and cozy, when you have a million tasks to do?
Have you ever walked past your pup lying curled up and cozy, when you have a million tasks to do? They’re probably not being lazy! Dogs need more sleep than we do, but they only get a portion of it at night. So, how many hours do dogs sleep?
How many hours do dogs sleep?
Adult dogs can need between 12 and14 hours sleep per day. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs spend up to half of their day asleep. They then spend 30 percent awake but relaxing, which only leaves 20 percent of their day for activities. Your dog’s sleep depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Age
- Breed
- Activities/work
- Sleeping environment
For example, studies show that learning new tasks in the day can affect a dog’s sleep at night. It’s also possible that dogs who work as guide dogs or police dogs may have different sleeping patterns to usual pet dogs. Of course, older dogs and puppies tend to sleep more.
Puppies and sleep
Puppies can be zooming around one minute and fast asleep the next. In fact, puppies can fall asleep while playing! Puppies are like babies in that they need more sleep than adults. Usually, they sleep for about 18 hours per day.
As puppies grow up, the number of hours they sleep for will gradually decrease. Their sleeping patterns change over time too, meaning older puppies sleep better at night. For example, 16-week old dogs sleep for more hours than one-year old dogs, but they are awake more often in the night.
You might not realize quite how often your puppy sleeps because they’re such a little bundle of energy when they’re awake. Some young pups experience random bursts of energy, called “zoomies” or FRAP (Frenetic Random Activity Period). They run frantically around the house or engage seriously energetic play, before tiring themselves out. Some experts say that it’s okay to let your dog indulge in there zoomies, as long as they’re in a safe area.
Dog sleep disorders
Just like humans, dogs can experience sleep disorders. Narcolepsy affects humans and dogs in a similar way. Dogs can also experience sleep apnea, when breathing becomes temporarily impossible causing the person or animal to jolt awake regularly.
Sleep disorders can cause sleep deprivation, poor-quality sleep, and even health issues. If you’re worried about your dog’s sleep it’s always a good idea to seek advice from a vet.
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