Dogs are essentially very-fun loving creatures, and they are charged with oodles of playful energy. They spend their time running from one place to another, jumping and chasing onto different things, which drains their energy and leaves them exhausted. To recover from this insane amount of lost energy, dogs require a generous amount of sleep and rest. First-time dog owners often worry about their dog oversleeping or simply lying around the house all day. And the common question is, “How much sleep is normal?” Well, here’s everything you need to know about a dog’s sleeping behavior.
How much sleep do dogs require?
According to a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, adult dogs generally need 12-14 hours of sleep per day. In comparison, young dogs or puppies require a stretched 18 hours long nap. They lose out on their energy faster than adult dogs, and therefore a good 18 hours long nap will help them re-energize and become the ball of happiness that they normally are. Senior dogs will typically need a large amount of sleep too; this is because their body and mind are left exhausted with minimal activity and will need more sleep to regain that lost vitality. To re-boost their body with energy, they demand a solid 18-20 hours of sleep.
Why do they sleep so much?
Joblessness
Unlike humans, your furry family member does not have a 9-5 job. There is usually no fixed schedule or routine for a dog to follow throughout the day. Unless you don’t give your dog rigid training that keeps them active all day, it is quite likely for your dog to take numerous short naps in the day time.
Breed
Your dog’s breed also explains its sleeping hours. Breeds like Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Greyhound, etc. love naps. Sleeping is quite evidently their favorite pastime. On the contrary, breeds like Pomeranian, Australian Terrier, Labrador Retriever, etc. sleep the least.
