How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?

It’s hard to know exactly how much sleep dogs should be getting. It’s not as cut and dry as it is for humans. Dogs don’t conk out for 8 hours at a time like people do. Instead, dogs:

Nap Consistently Throughout The Day. This is an instinct taken from their wolf ancestors, who would constantly half-sleep throughout the entire day in order to stay generally alert and aware of their surroundings in case of predators. It simply wasn’t safe back then for dogs to go completely into sleep mode like we do.

Are Super Flexible Sleepers. While humans stick to a fairly regular sleep schedule, dogs are very flexible sleepers and don’t have a consistent sleeping pattern. They can be napping one minute while bored and off barking at an enemy squirrel the next moment. Dogs need to be flexible sleepers so that they can rest when it’s convenient but be on full alert if trouble comes calling.

Need Very Little REM Sleep. Humans spend a significant amount of sleep time in REM mode (20-25%), but dogs only spend 8-12% of their sleep time in REM mode. While humans do a shorter period of deeper sleep, dogs do a longer period of napping half-sleep.

When you break down a dog’s day, you may be surprised to learn that:

50% is spent sleeping
30% is spent lying down, but awake
20% is spent being active and moving around

Is My Dog Sleeping Too much?

Even if your dog seems to be sleeping a lot, it’s probably not something to be concerned about. Some dogs just like to snooze more than others!

dog sleep

However, you will want to keep an eye out if your dog’s sleeping habits suddenly change drastically. Sleep changes can occur as a result of:

Food. If you switch to a new dog food and see your dog’s energy languish, this could be a sign that your dog is not getting the nutrients he or she needs.

Health. Sudden shifts in sleep habits could mean that your dog has an underlying illness.

If you witness drastic, sudden shifts in your dog’s sleeping habits, it’s best to consult a vet to be safe and rule out anything sinister and to make sure your dog is getting the nutrients he or she needs to stay healthy.

Is My Dog Not Sleeping Enough?

Maybe instead of sleeping too much, you worry your dog is not sleeping enough. Again, it’s important to be aware of sudden shifts in your dog’s sleeping habits.

Some reasons why dogs may have trouble sleeping include:

Physical Pain. Dogs experience arthritics or other pain may not sleep well.

Emotional Discomfort. Dogs suffering from stress or anxiety may have a hard time resting.

Medication. Trouble sleeping could be a side affect of a medication your dog is prescribed.

Video: How Much Sleep Should Your Dog Get?

Not Enough Exercise. If your dog isn’t getting enough exercise throughout the day, he or she may be antsy and energetic.

Where Should Dogs Sleep?

Some owners prefer that their dog sleep in their own bed, while others share their bed with their canine pal.

Even if your dog tends to sleep with you when you go to bed at night, we recommend that you have a dog bed or comfy, cushioned area in your home just for your dog, where your dog can lounge and nap. You’ll definitely want to get a dog bed if you have a senior dog, as they aren’t as easily able to jump up on beds and couches to find a comfortable sleeping spot.

Remember, dogs nap throughout the day, but they still want to be by your side! Set up a dog bed in an area of the house that you frequent, so that your canine pal can snooze away while still keeping an eye on you.