
This may happen a few times each night as your dog cycles through the stages of sleep. Do dogs dream?ĭogs may start barking, whining, or jerk their legs during REM sleep, and researchers believe that when dogs behave like this, they may be dreaming, perhaps about finally catching that pesky neighborhood squirrel. Humans also undergo REM sleep, and studies on people show that this is when dreams occur. This is known as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. In the active stage of sleep, dogs move their eyes rapidly under closed eyelids. When dogs first fall asleep, they enter the quiet stage of sleep, where breathing slows, blood pressure drops, and the heart rate decreases. Watch the video to learn more:ĭogs follow distinct sleeping patterns which are similar to those of people. Dogs are simply built to sleep this much – they sleep differently than us humans. While humans sleep about a third of the day, dogs sleep half of the day or even more. Some pet parents wonder why their dogs seem to sleep so much. Yes, I want to track my dog Why do dogs sleep so much? Not to mention, you’ll be able to locate your dog anytime, from your smartphone. Using a GPS and activity tracker for dogs ($49) you can find out exactly how much your dog sleeps per day, how much physical activity they’re getting, etc. How can I find out how much my dog sleeps? Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your dog is sleeping too much. If your dog sleeps more than normal, this could be a symptom of disease. Help your dog develop healthy sleep patterns by providing plenty of stimulation during the day in the form of toys, companionship, walks, and playtime. Some indoor dogs may sleep too much because they are bored.

However, dogs can adapt their sleeping behavior to their surroundings so that they can be awake when there is something to do, and asleep the rest of the time.

Senior dogs may require more sleep as they age. Larger dog breeds such as the Mastiff or the Newfoundland also tend to sleep more than 14 hours per day.ĭogs in a quiet home may sleep more, while dogs in active environments will sleep less. Not surprisingly, puppies need more sleep – up to 20 hours of sleep are needed per day for healthy growth and development.

This includes nighttime sleep plus a few daytime naps. As a result, dogs need about 10-14 hours of sleep per day.

You have to go for walks, fetch sticks, and be alert for subtle changes in your people. You and your dog deserve a good night’s sleepĭog sleeping basics How many hours a day do dogs sleep?īeing a dog is a lot of work.What if I don’t want my dog to sleep in my room?.Should your dog sleep in its own bed or in your bed?.Dog sleeping on back: bell-up sleeping position.How can I find out how much my dog sleeps?.
