This might just be me, but I find when I’m tired my dog is at his most active, and when I’m wanting to play with him, he just wants to sleep!
Adult dogs sleep for an average of thirteen hours per day. You may think that’s a lot, but this number’s even higher for puppies and senior dogs. The amount of time also varies by breed type, size and age.
Why dogs sleep so much
Dogs do sleep a lot more than humans but remember that they will have a more disturbed sleep than we do.
Surprisingly, active and working dogs sleep for the least amount of hours, and they can also adjust their sleeping pattern if they know they have a routine of activities or work they know they need to do. Some house dogs, if not mentally and physically stimulated enough, will sleep out of pure boredom. We suggest keeping your dog busy with a kong, or, if you’re out all day, book a dog walker or doggy day care.
Dogs’ sleeping patterns
Your dogs sleeping pattern is pretty much the same as yours.
The quiet stage is when your dog’s breathing will slow down, blood pressure decreases and they will lie very still.
This is followed by the active sleep stage as ten percent of dogs will experience rapid eye movement (REM) ten minutes into their sleep cycle. This is the stage when your pooch will jump, twitch, whine or whimper and their eyes roll back into their head. It is often referred to as ‘dreaming’ because it’s a similar reaction to the human experience of dreaming (so some vets believe). Puppies spend a longer time in the REM stage than adult dogs do.
What to do if your dog is sleeping too much
If you’re worried your dog is sleeping more than average, make sure they are well hydrated and are eating.
Lethargy could be part of a bigger problem including:
If your dog has become lethargic then we suggest you book an appointment with your vet immediately.