It’s a dog’s life for some; our cute canines have such a leisurely life that they can sleep whenever they want, and they make the most of this by napping for up to 80% of the day. Discover why dogs sleep so much, how their sleep patterns differ from human beings, how much sleep is normal, and signs that you should consult your vet.
Dogs Sleep to Build and Conserve Energy
Dogs are much more attuned to their bodies and sleep whenever they feel tired. Humans have routines and commitments that we schedule our rest around, whereas dogs are free to sleep whenever they want. Working dogs spend more of their day awake because they’re bred for certain jobs, but non-working dogs or working dogs who have retired have more time to nap.
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a professor emeritus at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, shares: “All day long, electrical activity is happening in our brain, and random, disorganized data gets stored in various places. We organize that in our sleep, and dogs do, too. It’s very therapeutic, and if you deny dogs that, they’ll kind of lose it.”
Sleep helps your dog to organize their thoughts, store memories, and learn from the day. It also regulates their emotions. Without naptime, they can get grumpy.
How Much Do Dogs Sleep?
On average, a dog will spend around 50% of its day sleeping; seniors and puppies can sleep for even more extended amounts of time, sometimes up to 22 hours!
Small dogs and working dogs spend less of their day sleeping, but most breeds assign around 30% of the day to lounge about, leaving just a 20% active period. Imagine trying to complete all your daily tasks in just five hours!
Puppies will spend their awake time learning and exploring as much of their new world as possible; they will sleep until they drop. And it’s this reason that makes them likely to sleep for more extended periods than adult dogs. The only problem is that puppies aren’t good at controlling their bladders.
The best way to combat this is to set up a sleep schedule, allowing you to wake them up for regular toilet breaks. To do this, monitor how often your puppy needs to relieve themselves, then set a sleep schedule that fits this pattern. This can help prevent accidents, make your puppy feel more comfortable, and establish a good routine early in their lives.
How Do Dogs Sleeping Patterns Differ from Humans?
Canine sleeping patterns are not too dissimilar to human ones, though they do possess a key difference: they spend less time in REM sleep.
When a dog enters sleep, they take around ten minutes to transition from slow wave sleep to REM or rapid eye movement. However, their irregular sleep patterns affect the quality of this sleep. As they often doze, they are easily woken by surrounding movement or noise interrupting their REM. This means they only spend around 10% of their sleep in REM, compared to 25% for humans.
What if My Dog Sleeps Too Much?
Every dog is different and so are their sleep requirements. Knowing what’s normal for them is the key to monitoring their sleep health. If you know they usually take a two-hour afternoon nap, but it suddenly increases to five hours, that’s the time when you’ll want to consult with a vet.
If your dog is in a healthy routine and appears happy and energetic when awake, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Dogs are alert creatures and will perk up immediately if food or play time is available. If you notice that they’re slow to get going or seem to lag through the day, then something else could be going on.
Common conditions that could affect your dog’s sleeping routine include:
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
If you have any concerns about your dog’s sleep patterns or general health, consult your vet for the best advice.
How Can I Reduce My Dog’s Naptimes?
If you’re concerned that your dog spends too much of their day sleeping, you can try and increase their awake time by making their day more exciting.
The average household will have humans who sleep for around eight hours a day and go out to work for another nine hours. That’s a long time for your dog to try and find something fun and stimulating to do. Instead, they can get bored and use sleep to relieve themselves of the monotony.
Add more excitement to your dog’s daily schedule with as many walks and playtime sessions as possible. These can be in the morning, evening, or during a midday lunch break. When they spend time alone, try providing them with a range of puzzle toys that can add enrichment to their day. Swap the toys around regularly, so there’s always something new to try.
It’s normal for a dog to sleep for a significant part of the day. Still, bringing fun elements into their lives can prevent them from feeling stuck in a rut or sleeping because they’re bored and have nothing else to do.
