📌 Key Points
- ✅ Adult dogs average 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day; puppies need 18 to 20 hours.
- ✅ Dogs spend only about 10% of their sleep in REM, so they need longer total sleep to make up for it.
- ✅ If sleep habits change suddenly, for example not sleeping at all at night, see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- ✅ Schedule quiet rest periods after walks and play; don't respond with eye contact when your dog begs for attention.
- ✅ Experts advise against sharing a bed: parasite eggs can end up on bedding, and dogs can become overly dependent.
Have you ever come home, seen your dog sleeping all day, and worried it's sleeping too much? Sleep is actually an important part of how dogs recover and consolidate memories. So how many hours should a dog sleep each day? What happens if they sleep too little or too much? This article breaks down the truth about sleep hours, the factors that affect them, and practical ways to build a healthy routine.
How Many Hours Should a Dog Sleep Each Day?
According to canine sleep research, adult dogs sleep a total of about 12 to 14 hours a day, with slight differences depending on age, breed and size:
- Puppies: need more sleep, usually 18 to 20 hours a day, because growth hormone is released during sleep.
- Adult dogs: an average of 12 to 14 hours, including a long sleep at night and several naps during the day.
- Senior dogs (over 7 years old): lower energy, tire easily and doze off often, so their rest time is usually longer than in their prime.
Note that "rest" for a dog isn't only sleep; it also includes "quietly resting" — no training, no play, just letting them settle. On days with a lot of activity, rest time should increase accordingly.
How Are Dogs' Sleep Patterns Different from Humans'?
Dogs' sleep patterns are very different from ours, and understanding this explains why they "sleep all the time":
- Polyphasic sleep: dogs don't sleep through the night like humans; besides a long night's sleep, they nap throughout the day, adding up to 12 to 14 hours.
- Low REM proportion: dogs' rapid eye movement sleep (REM, the dreaming stage) makes up only about 10% of their total sleep time, while in humans it is as high as 25%. Because the proportion of deep sleep is lower, dogs need longer overall sleep to compensate.
- Sleep spindles help consolidate memory: research has found that dogs show "sleep spindles" during non-REM sleep, and their frequency is linked to new information learned before sleeping — sleep well, and what they learn sticks.
What Are the Effects of Too Little or Too Much Sleep?
Too little sleep makes dogs emotionally unstable, irritable, short-tempered, prone to anxiety and less able to concentrate. Quiet dogs will move away on their own when tired, and owners should let them rest right away; lively, active dogs often don't know when to stop, so owners need to set a regular routine rather than waiting until they are exhausted.
Conversely, too much sleep isn't good either. Long-term excessive sleep may be linked to canine depression, diabetes and hypothyroidism. If sleep habits change suddenly — for example, your dog suddenly can't seem to wake up, or doesn't sleep at all at night — take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Practical Advice: 4 Steps to Build a Healthy Routine for Your Dog
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Regular walks and exercise: exercise and sleep affect each other. Enough exercise helps dogs sleep more deeply and also helps maintain a healthy weight.
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Set aside quiet rest periods: after training, walks or play, let your dog rest quietly on their own mat; the time you spend at work or doing housework is a good slot. If they keep looking at you begging for attention, don't respond with eye contact, so they learn that rest time isn't play time.
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Provide a fixed, comfortable dog bed: choose a bed suited to your dog's size, add a soft, warm mattress and pillow, and place it away from noise, in a ventilated spot that isn't in a draught, so your dog has a fixed "sleep base".
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Control the intensity of play: when guests visit, don't let a whole group take turns teasing the dog; long play sessions leave them overexcited and tired, and vigorous games should also be avoided before bedtime.
As for sleeping in the same bed as the owner, experts generally advise against it: dogs' skin may carry parasites such as lice and fleas, and their eggs can end up on bedding; sharing a bed also makes dogs overly dependent, so they are more likely to feel anxious when left home alone.
PetChill's Reminder
A dog's sleep is a health barometer: 12 to 14 hours a day, in naps, waking up full of energy — that's the ideal state. No matter how busy work gets, remember to set aside quiet rest periods for your pet and choose a comfortable dog bed.
To learn more about dogs' routines and behaviour training, keep following PetChill's latest articles!