A guide to understanding your pet’s rest
These loyal companions spend much of their time resting. If you see your furry friend spending long hours curled up in bed, you may be wondering: do they really need that much sleep? 💤
The short answer is yes, and for several reasons. Sleep helps to conserve energy and restore the body, for a healthy and active lifestyle. In addition, deep sleep facilitates cognitive and emotional processes, helping your dog process his experiences.
How many hours does a dog sleep a day?
Generally speaking, dogs spend approximately 50% of their day sleeping, which is equivalent to about 12 hours a day. In addition, they spend 30% of their time awake, but relaxed or just lying down, and only 20% of their time being really active.
A dog’s sleep, like that of humans, is divided into several phases. However, dogs have a lower amount of deep sleep compared to people. This is how their rest time is distributed:
- Drowsiness (19-21%): this is that state in which the dog seems to be on the verge of falling asleep, but has not yet fallen into deep sleep.
- Slow wave sleep (22-23%): The dog is relaxed, but not completely asleep. His breathing and heart rate slow down.
- REM sleep (10-12%): This is the deep sleep phase, during which they may have involuntary movements, such as kicking or barking. This is when we see them dreaming!
Factors affecting a dog’s sleep
There are several factors that influence how much a dog sleeps. Some of the main ones are:
◾️ Breed
Genetics play a crucial role in the amount of sleep a dog needs. Some breeds are known to be more sleepy than others: Basset Hounds can sleep up to 20 hours a day; mastiffs, about 18 hours, like the St. Bernard. The Chow Chow likes to sleep a lot, another 14 hours.
◾️ The age
Puppies need between 16 and 18 hours of sleep a day to support their growth and development. From the age of 3 months, they will reduce their sleeping hours until they sleep between 12 and 14 hours.
As dogs age, their sleep patterns also change, and it is common for them to sleep more as they enter their senior years.
◾️ Health
If you see that your dog is sleeping less than usual, it may be caused by something bothering him or some kind of ailment. You should always consult a veterinarian if you notice changes in your dog’s routines or behaviors.
◾️ Physical exercise
The level of daily activity also influences how much sleep your dog gets. If he has an active lifestyle and gets plenty of exercise, he is likely to need more rest time to recover.
◾️ Time of year
When it’s cold dogs tend to sleep longer; they are less inclined to move around and go for walks and prefer to stay in their warm bed. And in summer they wake up more often because of the heat, go to drink water at night, get out of bed, etc., so they sleep less.
📌 In conclusion, sleep is essential to your dog’s health and well-being. While every dog is different, most will spend about half of their day sleeping. And remember, if you notice unusual changes in their sleep routine, consult your veterinarian to rule out health problems.
