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Many people believe that they have a sleeping dog, however, we must consider several factors to be able to say so. It is also very interesting for those people who feel that their puppy does not get enough sleep.
Puppies go through the same sleep stages as humans, they have sleep and nightmares just like us. It also happens, especially with brachycephalic or flat-nosed breeds, which snore a lot or move and even start to make small noises. In this article by PeritoAnimal we explain to you how many hours does a dog sleep a day, if it's normal for your race and age, or simply if you're a sleeper.
depending on age
It is usual that those who have just adopted a dog want to have it all day with the family, playing and watching it grow, however, it is not at all good for them. The smaller they are, the more they should sleep to recover their strength, not to get sick and to be very healthy and happy, as we want them to be.
The first few days are usually a little chaotic, especially if there are children at home. The dog must get used to the new noises and movements of the family. We should give them a good place to rest, away from areas of movement (hallway or entrance hall, for example) with something that insulates them from the floor like a blanket or mattress and put them in the place where they can rest from now on. . Creating positive habits is always simpler in puppies than in adults, don't forget that.
- Up to 12 weeks of life can sleep up to 20 hours a day. It can be a little tedious for many owners, but it's healthy for the dog. Remembering that they are going through a phase of adaptation to their new home and family. Then they will start to stay awake for more hours. Don't forget that your dog's sleeping hours are very beneficial in improving learning and memory.
- adult dogs, we consider those who have more than 1 year of life, can sleep up to 13 hours a day, although they are not followed. It can be 8 hours at night and short naps when they come back from a walk, after playing or simply because they are bored.
- the old dogs, over 7 years old, usually sleep several hours a day, just like puppies. They can sleep up to 18 hours a day, but depending on other characteristics, such as arthritis-like illnesses, they can sleep even longer.
depending on the time of year
As you can imagine, the time of year we are in also influences a lot to know how many hours our dog sleeps. At the Winter dogs tend to get lazy and spend more time at home, looking for a warm place, and they don't really want to go out for a walk. In times of cold and rain, dogs usually sleep longer.
On the contrary, in the days of summer, it may be that the heat disturbs the hours of sleep. We can see that our dog goes more often at night to drink water or that he changes his place to sleep because it is too hot. They tend to look for cold floors such as the bathroom or kitchen or, if they are luckier, under a fan or air conditioner.
Depending on physical characteristics
It is important to bear in mind that the dog will sleep according to its characteristics and daily routine. On days when there is a big physical activity, you will certainly need more sleep or you may also notice that short naps will be longer and deeper.
The same happens with dogs that are stressed a lot when we receive visitors at home. They are very social and want to be the center of the meeting. When it's all over, they sleep longer than expected because they've been so active. The same happens during trips that can either sleep the entire trip, not to notice what is happening, or get exhausted that when they arrive they just want to sleep, not wanting to eat or drink.
What we shouldn't forget is that dogs, like people, need sleep to replenish energy and reactivate your body. Lack of sleep, as with us, can alter the dog's character and habits.
