If you are a dog owner, you must have observed your dog's lovely sleeping posture. After all, they spend a lot of time sleeping. In addition to spending the night dozing with you, most dogs also nap a lot during the day. After another snooze, you may be thinking, "Wait, how many hours does a dog have to sleep?"
The simple answer is that the average dog sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day. About 75 percent of a dog's sleep occurs at night, with the rest occurring during the day. However, the pattern may vary for each puppy.
From age to exercise, there are a range of factors that require some dogs to have different sleep needs than others. Read on for veterinarian recommendations for various dog sleep schedules, as well as tips for keeping your dog well rested.
When it comes to sleep, your dog's age is one of the most important factors affecting his or her napping needs.
Puppies
Your dog will need the most sleep as a puppy, which is usually the first six to twelve months of their life. Puppies need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day for proper development. In fact, studies have shown that sleep deprivation can be detrimental to a puppy's health. Experts recommend that puppies snooze in a crate or kennel to establish a healthy sleep pattern. Since your puppy is still potty-trained, the crate will also save you from having to remove urine from the mattress.
Adult Dogs
When your dog is between one and five years old, they will begin to sleep a little less than they did as a puppy. Experts recommend that adult dogs sleep 8 to 14 hours a day to be their happiest, healthiest selves.
When your adult dog leaves their crate, you may also want to get them a comfortable dog bed or a Sherpa Throw Blanket so they get into the habit of napping in their own corner. Separate spaces can help you avoid bedroom allergies, which are often exacerbated by pet dander, while providing you with extra space to lie down on your own comfortable mattress.
Older dogs
Dogs begin to need more rest between the ages of five and ten. Older dogs need to sleep 18 to 20 hours a day, just like they did as puppies.
If you see your older dog napping for most of the day, it's probably not a cause for concern. Just like older humans, older dogs often don't have as much energy and need to eat more to stay healthy.
I hope all the dogs in the world are healthy and happy!
