Why do dogs sleep so much?

Adult dogs spend approximately half of their life sleeping, typically twelve hours each day and some breeds may sleep as much as 18 hours per day! So, the question is, why do dogs sleep so much? And overall, what constitutes a “normal” sleep duration for a dog? (Click here to shop our cozy dog beds and dog blankets).

Since dogs sleep like humans, there are still two main types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and slow wave sleep, but unlike us they wake up more frequently than we do. So, although it may seem like your dog is sleeping so much, really there are far more breaks and interruptions than may initially meet the eye.

Plus the type of dog overall indicates how much your dog will sleep. For instance, a search and rescue dog will sleep less than a dog living in a home as a pet. The level of activity your dog gets will also hinge on the amount of sleep; your pet will sleep more than a dog that’s in motion 24/7.

Dogs may sleep out of boredom, but they also know when to be awake and aware of their surroundings and next thing you know, they’re back to taking a nap. Age plays a factor as well; as you can imagine, older dogs sleep more than younger dogs do.

A few critical things to remember about your dog while sleeping is simply the expression, let sleeping dogs lie. Seriously, if there’s no need to disturb your dog while he’s sleeping, don’t do it. Let him snooze.

Although you may notice that your dog does in fact sleep quite frequently (and what you may not know about why your dog sleeps so much is that in the middle of the night he may be awake while you’re snoozing so you’re just not aware of it), but be aware of any abnormalities in your dog’s sleeping pattern. (Click here to shop for snuggly dog beds and dog blankets).

For instance, if your dog is ill, on medication, or depressed or senile or demonstrating symptoms, your dog may sleep more than normal. Plus, if your dog’s sleep is becoming so deep that he may not hear normal audio stimuli like doorbells, it’s time to take your dog to the veterinarian. So while it’s important to not interrupt your dog from its precious snooze time, be aware of any changes in your dog’s sleeping habits and start keeping track of the length and intensity of sleep if your dog seems a bit too out of it and unaware of things which previously used to wake him up.

Lastly, additional reasons contributing to why your dog may sleep so much, are its environment. If you create a healthy, peaceful environment via dog beds, dog mats or dog blankets, your dog is more likely to have a peaceful sleep than if he’s in an uncomfortable environment.

Overall, if your dog seems to be sleeping extensive amounts, that’s normal. For an extensive selection of dog beds and more information about dog sleep in general, count on The Dog Bowl, where nothing is more important than your pets’ health and well being. For more information about dog beds and to shop at The Dog Bowl's online storefront click here.