Why does my dog sleep so much? 5 vet-backed reasons. You enter the door, and your pooch is lying on the couch. 1 hour later, still sleeping. By evening, there is hardly any activity left, and you start to suspect something is wrong.
Take a breath. Actually, for most of the time, there is nothing. Healthy adult dogs sleep 12-14 hours per day, and puppies and senior dogs can sleep more. Count them all up, and a dog sleeps around 50% of its life!
Why Do Dogs Bark in Their Sleep?
Tell about your dog’s or a dog you know well’s sleeping patterns: one or two sentences about how your dog sleeps, or a dog you know. This intro will be better with a real detail that will make it more memorable.
However, sleep is a place where a health issue can frequently be the first thing that presents, so it’s good to know what a typical sleep might look like. The following numbers are to be used as a starting point. What your dog does is more important.
Important: It is not a replacement for a veterinarian’s advice and is for education purposes only. Please consult your veterinarian if your dog seems to not be sleeping well or if you have any concerns about his/her health.
So, how many hours does a normal dog sleep? (Dog Sleep Cycle According to Age)
Dogs are not human beings. They don’t sleep for long periods but for short periods, and the time adds up quickly. For comparison, adults need 7 or more hours of sleep per night, according to the Mayo Clinic. Typical dog behaviour is:
| Life stage | Average amount of sleep taken per day |
|---|---|
| Puppy | 16–20 hours |
| Adult | 12–14 hours (occasionally a bit less) |
| Senior | 14–18 hours |
Please remember these are averages and not medical rules. Don’t worry if your puppy is one of the “early risers”, as many healthy puppies sleep more than 16 hours.
When your dog has to tackle a new challenge, it is better to spend 50% of the time sleeping, 30% of the time awake, and only 20% of the time training!
Why Does My Dog Sleep So Much? 5 Vet-Backed Reasons
Fortunately, there is a rule of thumb for this: About 50% of the time is spent sleeping, about 30% is spent resting while awake, and only about 20% is spent actually active. That is, your dog’s busy time equals 2-4 hours. However, your dog’s normal pulse is the best chart you can find.
There Are 5 Reasons That Your Dog Is Sleeping a Lot
1. Normal Doggy Biology and Light Sleeping
Dogs naturally are light sleepers. They rest during short periods, waking up at the slightest noise, and they are the ancestor of those who were required to be vigilant. Much of the time that you think you are sleeping all day is light dozing.
Puppies grow at a rapid pace and require energy to grow; they crash a lot. Older dogs will get tired sooner and take longer to get better. However, big breeds tend to sleep more than their smaller counterparts.
2. Exercise, Stress, Weather and Boredom
There are lots of reasons why you might start to nap for a longer period of time: a long walk, rough play session, change in routine, stressful week, or cold snap. Boredom counts too. If a dog has no activities to occupy itself with, he just rests.
3. Lethargy in Dogs, as Well as Underlying Health Conditions
This just needs to be taken seriously. A dog may be lethargic as a result of pain, infection, and/or hormonal issues and will exhibit reduced interest in normal activities, in addition to sleeping more. These are some of the most common reasons cited by vets:
- Arthritis and chronic pain — usually the first sign is inability to move.
- Hypothyroidism—extra sleep and weight gain, especially in middle-aged and older dogs, are signs of hypothyroidism.
- Diabetes — increased thirst and urination and increased fatigue later on.
- Cushing’s disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and anaemia — all of these conditions can cause a dog to be tired.
Why Does My Dog Sleep So Much? 5 Vet-Backed Reasons
4. Side Effects of Drugs and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
Pain, anxiety, and sedative medications may make one feel drowsy. As dogs age, cognitive impairment (also referred to as dog dementia) can also cause sleep disturbances. Some studies of older dogs indicate that the greater the number of signs of dementia that a dog exhibits, the lighter and more fragmentary its sleep is.
Study link: Add the published paper regarding sleep and cognitive decline in senile dogs here so that readers can look at it.
Expert note: Just because something is more sleep doesn’t necessarily mean cognitive dysfunction. Dogs with cognitive changes are more likely to exhibit changes in their patterns (e.g., sleeping during the day, wandering or pacing at night).
Why Does My Dog Sleep So Much? 5 Vet-Backed Reasons
When to Call the Vet: Excessive Sleeping in Dogs (Warning Signs)
Consider changes, not hours. If your dog is normally a 2- or 3-hour napper and now takes a 5- or 6-hour nap, pay attention.
If the additional sleep is accompanied by any of these, please call your veterinarian:
- If they have difficulty getting up or are confused.
- Avoiding food, throwing up, or altering bowel habits.
- Feeling confused or unsteady on your feet or in your head.
- Stiffness, reluctance, or limping when walking.
- Restlessness during sleep and sleepiness during the day. Restlessness (unable to sleep at night) and sleepiness (during the day).
A simple principle: If the low energy lasts more than 1-2 days, dial the phone.
A Simple Tip: Record Your Dog’s Sleeping Behaviour
Make a quick video of your dog sleeping and waking up. Your veterinarian can glean a lot from it, and, of course, it’s easier to show than to tell.
What Other Dog Owners Say About Sleeping Patterns
Data from other dog owners have been collected.
If you view the threads where dog owners post about their dogs on r/dogs, you’ll notice a pattern… Owners state that a gradual ageing of sleep is not much of a concern. They are taken to the vet when they suddenly change. This is in line with veterinary advice; each dog is an individual, and so the pattern that you have observed for your dog will be the most accurate indicator of a healthy dog.
