How Many Hours A Day Should My Dog Sleep?

How Many Hours A Day Should My Dog Sleep?

Ah, if only we can snooze on for as long as our dogs do. But should we be concerned about all that time they spend fast asleep?

How Long Do They Sleep For?

Most dogs need about 12-18 hours of sleep a day. That’s almost half the day gone! This number can vary depending on age, breed, and how much of a couch potato your dog is.

How Does Age And Breed Come Into Play Here?

While the average amount of sleep for most dogs is 12-14 hours, puppies and older dogs can sleep to an upwards of 18-20 hours per day. Dogs hailing from lazier breeds are happier to snooze with you for longer, and vice versa for working breeds.

How Much Sleep Is Too Much Sleep?

There’s really no such thing, but you should keep a look out for the following things:

  • Sudden change in sleeping habits
  • Insomnia
  • Pacing when they should be asleep

There could be some hidden health issues causing these.

How Do Dogs Sleep, Then?

According to plenty of research done, dogs have only two stages of sleep in their sleep cycle – and it is not regular.

  • Stage 1: Slow-wave Sleep (SRS). For naps, with low brain activity.
  • Stage 2: Rapid Eye Movement (REM). For deep sleep, with high brain activity.

Compared to humans, dogs get very little REM sleep. So it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Can They Join Me In Bed?

Unfortunately, studies have proven that having a dog in bed is highly disruptive to everyone’s sleep – no matter how much you all love each other!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay

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