If you are a new pet parent and have a puppy then your major concern might be their sleep cycle. Seeing them sleep for almost a day might raise your concerns about their health. While it is absolutely normal for puppies to sleep more but exactly how much should puppies sleep?
Here in this blog, ‘How Much Should puppies sleep?’ we will try to enhance your knowledge and lower your slight tension by providing you with all the required information about puppies sleep cycle.
Why Is Sleep Important for Puppies?
Sleep is overall important in dogs and they tend to sleep a lot however puppies sleep more. Puppy’s bodies are rapidly growing and evolving and sleep helps them in this growth and development. Puppies sleep cycle[1] is directly related to their growth.
- Sleeping helps promote growth and health in puppies.
- It supports their physical and mental development and helps strengthen their immune system.
- During sleep, the puppies body produces growth hormones which help in vitalizing their bones and muscles.
- Sleeping boosts their brain cells and sharpens their memory making them quick learners.
- Puppies body produces antibodies during sleep which helps them fight diseases and infections.
Thus to ensure the puppies overall development[2] it is important to ensure that they have a peaceful slumber.
How Much Should Puppies Sleep?
Puppies sleep cycle differs in terms of their age, size and breed. So here are age-wise sleeping guidelines for puppies:
- 0 to 2 weeks: Puppies in this age category are just newborns and sleep for about 22 hours a day.
- 3 to 8 weeks: Puppies of this age group sleep for about 18 to 20 hours a day and almost start socializing.
- 9 to 16 weeks: Puppies of this age group sleep for about 16 to 18 hours a day and start to learn basic commands, tricks and language.
- 4 to 12 months: Puppies of this age group sleep for 12 to 14 hours a day and are mentally and physically grown. At this age, they become extremely familiar with their surroundings and catch up with things easily.
How Do I Know if My Puppy Is Sleeping Too Much?
As we now know puppies sleep a lot, but how to know if they have overslept:
- To know if your puppy is sleeping too much, observe his behaviour. If the puppy wakes up energetic, playful and cheerful that means he has had a good amount of sleep. On the contrary, if your puppy wakes up lazy, anxious, and disinterested then these are the signs that your puppy is sleeping too much.
- Compare your puppies sleeping hours with the general sleeping chart and see how much should your puppy sleep. By analysing the chart you will get a clear picture, and if the sleeping hours differ extensively then you can consult a vet.
- External factors such as stress, anxiety, and boredom affect the puppies sleeping pattern. So if you have relocated or left your puppy alone for a longer period then it may affect their sleeping and they sleep longer.
As mentioned by Dr. Laci Schaible, DVM, in bechewy, "Predicting a puppy’s sleep pattern takes some trial and error. If you take your pup out of the house for a new experience, expect them to need an extra quiet rest period to settle down, and to need that rest it sooner than they usually do."
How To Establish a Bedtime Routine for Your Puppy?
Here are some tips on how to help your puppy sleep better during the day:
Good daily routine:
Setting up a good daily routine helps to make your puppy sleep better. Fix the daily routine of walking, eating and playing with your dog. By following this routine your dog will have an appropriate sleeping schedule daily.
Exercise:
Puppies have a lot of energy and if they are not exercised regularly they will not sleep. That is why it is very important to exercise your dog to reduce their energy. So before bedtime take your dog for a walk or indulge in any kind of physical activity.
Feed your puppy before bedtime:
Feed your puppy their last meal before their bedtime so that they get sufficient time to digest their meal and sleep peacefully. Giving your dog food right before sleep will lead to digestive issues in them.
Potty break:
Before your dog’s sleep time take him out for a potty break and let him finish his business. By doing so you can ensure your dog has good sleep and will have no disturbance once slept.
Avoid distractions:
When your puppy is sleeping make sure there is absolutely no distraction. Remove all the toys or any such things which can distract your puppy from sleeping. Puppies are more prone to distraction and once distracted they won’t sleep easily causing an imbalance in their entire sleep cycle.
Common Puppy Sleep Problems and Ways To Solve Them
Here are some common puppy sleep problems and ways to solve them:
Barking:
Puppies tend to bark at night when they feel lonely, anxious and scared or have to go out. If your puppy has an irregular sleep cycle then this situation is likely to be created.
To stop this barking problem of your puppy you may try giving him chew toys, making him sleep near you or ignoring him till he stops barking.
Waking up early:
Your puppy is likely to wake up at midnight or early if they have to either pee or poop. To solve this problem and avoid the discomfort you have to stop feeding your dog food as well as water just before bedtime.
Difficulty in sleeping:
Your puppy is likely to face difficulty in sleeping if he is energetic. So in order to reduce your dog’s energy make them walk before their bedtime or engage them in any physically draining activity.
FAQs
Is it okay that my puppy sleeps all night?
Yes, it is absolutely ok for puppies to sleep all night. Puppies need sleep of almost 18 to 20 hours for their growth and overall development. Puppies when they are wide awake are full of energy and enthusiasm, due to which they need proper rest.
Do puppies sleep a lot at 3 months?
Yes, puppies tend to sleep a lot at 3 months. Puppy’s body is rapidly growing and requires a lot of sleep. Thus if your puppy is 3 months old then you might see him sleeping for almost 20 hours. Sleeping helps in the development of their brain and immune system.
Should you wake a sleeping puppy?
No, you should never wake a sleeping puppy. Waking up a sleeping puppy can make them annoyed, grumpy and lazy. Puppies need sleep to re-energize and to maintain their proper mental growth. So if you wake up the sleeping puppy you create hindrance in their daily activity.
How do I know if my puppy is sleeping too much?
To know whether your puppy is sleeping too much or not, you need to observe his behaviour. So after sleep, if your puppy wakes up lethargic, unresponsive, and still sleepy then that means he is sleeping too much. If this continues for a longer period then it can be an indication of health-related issues too.
At what age do puppies stop sleeping so much?
Normally puppies stop sleeping so much between 6 to 12 months, but it can differ. As the puppies start growing and moving towards adulthood there will be lots of changes in their body and behaviour which will reflect in their sleep pattern.
Conclusion
Through this blog, how much should puppies sleep? we hope you have received all the information you were looking for. As a new pet parent, you might be getting anxious and scared about your puppies sleep pattern. But with little effort, this problem too can be solved.
To ensure your puppy has a great sleep you need to build a good daily routine. Setting up a fixed routine will help your puppy sleep on time promoting his overall growth and development.
Reference:
- Kinsman, R., Owczarczak‐Garstecka, S. C., Casey, R., Knowles, T. G., Tasker, S., Woodward, J., Costa, R., & Murray, J. (2020). Sleep Duration and Behaviours: A descriptive analysis of a cohort of dogs up to 12 months of age. Animals, 10(7), 1172.
- The Perfect Nap with the Most Brain Benefits » the nerve blog | Blog Archive | Boston University. (2013, October 18). © 2023 Boston University.
