How Many Hours a Day Do Dogs Sleep?

Even though it sometimes seems like we dogs sleep all day long, that’s not true – we only sleep about half the day! Of course, there’s more to the story – let’s look into it.

How many hours a day do dogs sleep?

Age is a big factor when it comes to daily sleep requirements. On average, adult dogs sleep between 12-14 hours in 24 hours. Puppies that have been weaned sleep a lot more, up to 18-20 hours a day. Senior dogs need more sleep as they get older, too.

Size is another factor. In general, bigger breeds like Newfoundlands, Great Danes, and mastiffs tend to sleep more than smaller breeds. But some smaller breeds including the Pekingese sleep more than the typical 12-14 hours despite their small size.

Finally, activity level also matters. Working dogs like police dogs, herding dogs, and sled dogs may simply have fewer hours to sleep when they’re on duty, so they’ll sleep less than non-working pet dogs.

How long do dogs sleep at night?

Adult dogs sleep about 7-10 hours at night. They get the rest of their hours spread out in naps throughout the day.

A big difference between human and canine sleep is that a dog’s sleep cycle is much shorter than a human’s. While humans go through about five sleep cycles during night sleep, dogs go through an average of 15-20! Plus, dogs enter deep sleep quickly and go into REM sleep after just 10 minutes, while it takes humans about 90 minutes to enter REM sleep.

How long do puppies sleep at night?

Though puppies sleep a lot, they don’t sleep in long stretches when they’re very small, even at night. That’s because they don’t yet have the bladder control that older dogs do!

If you’ve ever raised a puppy, then you surely remember lots of trips outside in the middle of the night to go potty! The rule of thumb is that a puppy can “hold it” about one hour for every month of life. So don’t expect for you and your puppy to get a full eight hours sleep until your pup is at least eight months old.

Why do dogs sleep so much?

Ample sleep is critical for good health in dogs, just as it is in humans, since this is when the body repairs itself and takes care of important functions. Prolonged lack of sleep can weaken a dog’s immune system over time. Plus, sleep is when physical growth happens, which is one reason puppies sleep so much longer than adult dogs.

Sleep is also important for mood – just like you, your dog may be cranky and in a down mood after missing out on sleep.
Plus, sleep gives the dog’s brain a chance to rest and solidify memories. And like humans, dogs dream during REM sleep, too.

Too much of a good thing?

So, depending on your dog’s age, breed, and lifestyle, you’re looking at anywhere from 12 to 20 hours of sleep a day. More sleep than this could be a sign that something’s amiss, so definitely talk to your vet about it. Otherwise, let your dog curl up next to you on the couch and enjoy some shut eye!