How much do dogs sleep?

My dogs sleep a lot.  A really lot.  So I decided to see if I could find the real answer to "how much do dogs sleep?" According to Sleep and Dreams in Dogs and Cats:

Under controlled laboratory conditions both cats and dogs sleep about 13 hours per day but they wake up more frequently than people do.

According to Planet Dog:

• Adult dogs spend approximately half their life sleeping,   typically 12 hours a day.

• Some breeds need more sleep than others –   as much as 18 hours per day! (typically larger breeds).

I think mine sleep more than average - closer to the 18 hour limit.  They sleep 8 hours a night with us.  They sleep while we read or watch TV in the evening.  And they sleep all day if we leave them inside.  I'd bet they are only awake 4-5 hours a day during a normal day.

How much do your dogs sleep?  For other dog related posts see my blog Humans for Dogs.

Photo by mikecpeck.

Comments

[bijg]

Wow! I put this question ("do dogs sleep alot?") into Google and came to Your Blog! Thank You, I was worried, and now I am encouraged! I have two Lab Puppies and they sleep alot, I thought something was wrong or they were bored. I am doing my best to keep them happy, we are just so busy! Now I can relax! bijg

[Stormy]

I think the days that we stay home from work are just exhausting for our dogs. They don't get their 8 hour nap!

[Ross]

Phew!

Our Lab Henry has breakfast at 7, sleeps from 9 until 11, has a walk at 1, sleeps from 2 until 5, eats at 7 and then sleeps from 8, wakes for a bit at 10, then all night until 7 again. To be fair his walks are very active, he spends most of the time running.

[Stephanie]

Thanks for looking into this. My dog and I just moved out my parents house which holds one other dog and four cats. I was worried that my pup slept too much (she sleeps at night when I sleep and then when I'm at work - a good 16 hours). Reading your article it occured to me that she probably did the same thing at home with the other animals. Thanks again.

[Pookster]

My puppy is 5 months old and it seems she never sleeps anymore during the day - just at night. I actually have to "put her down" for naps! She gladly takes them but, if it's more than one a day, she gets up (way too) early in the morning! :)

[Sarah]

I glad to know this. I was going to take my labradoodle to the Vet tomorrow. Thanks

[Phil Cowling]

Hello,

We live in a Condo and have had a Schithu dog now for 9 years. He doesn't get much excercise but he is the most calm and loving companion a person could have.He sleeps most of the day and night. Is this normal.

I have been with him 24/7 ever since he was born. He gets so frightened if we leave the house with him inside. He will scratch the door, mess, panick and when we come home he is very anxious, shaking, huffing and puffing and you can his mouth is all wet from drewlng.

He is so faithful and follows where ever I go in the house. He just thrives on love and sleeps with us every night.

I understand some dogs can suffer from separation anxiety. Several years ago we had no choice but to put him in a kennel for two days as we had no one who could look after him. When we went to pick him up the lady said she was just finishing bathing him as he got so dirty from rolling in his water dish. This sounds very strange and he has never done such a thing. Her husband was very unfriendly and looked like a mean type of guy who wouldn't have much patience with dogs etc..

Could that experience have terrified him so much that he gets so upset when we are not in site or knows if we are not in the house.Could this experience in the kennel have caused him so much fright that he has never gotten over it?

I love the little fella so much and he means the world to mean.When they are sleeping can they have bad dreams about the past or frightning dreams.

I would really appreciate you if you could answer my questions.

[Stormy]

It sounds like your dog suffers from anxiety disorder. I would try leaving him confined when you leave. He's used to following you around the house and so when you aren't there, he doesn't know what to do. Leaving him in a cozy kennel will make him feel more secure.

And yes, dogs dream and they can have good dreams and bad dreams. My favorite is when they dream of running and all their paws twitch!

[sarah]

do you know what animal sleeps the most? a cat i know it is really hard to believe my teacher told me that and at first i thought that it was a beaver but i was wrong so any way that picture is really cute =) and well, i'll talk to you later! bye

[Stormy]

I heard that bats and koalas sleep about 20 hours a day! On the flip side, elephants and giraffes sleep very little - 2-4 hours a day.

[Incommunicado]

Hi, i have a 4 month old Lab/Kelpie/Staffordshire cross, and a 5 month old Jack Russell/Aust Silky cross. Both sleeps a lot, way more than i remember my other dogs doing that. I know it is normal for puppies to sleep a lot, but at what age should this wear off?

Also, my JRT/Aust Silky is perpetually exhausted or sleeping. He takes a long time to learn commands, and gives me the impression that he refuses to listen. I am wondering whether this is a personality trait or whether he has some sort of disorder, since JRTs are really active breeds and he seems to have none of it. I have taken him to the vet, and the vet says nothing is wrong but honestly, i am a little unconvinced.

It would be much appreciated if you could offer some advice. Thanks a lot.

[Stormy]

I think dogs sleep whenever there's not anything exciting going on. Give them something to do (like swimming, playing fetch, walking or hunting) and they'll stay awake all day. Give them a quiet house and they'll use the time to sleep.

So if your dog is in a very active environment and still sleeping a lot, I might worry. If he's in a quiet home, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Nezrom]

Glad to know it is normal for dogs to sleep long hours. We have a boston terrier and a great dane. They usually go to bed around 9 or 10 and wake up between 8 and 10 the next day. Ofcousre they take their naps too during the day.

wow finally i fond the answer to my mom's question. she always thought that why does my dog sleep all day while she is in the computer, or why isn't she play full. but now i know why i can finally prove to my mom the real answer this time.

(p.s) i have a girl pointer mix

[Hina]

I have a german shepherd puppy who is about 8 months. We went home for christmas from college and I guess it was because she was in a new environment (my parent's house) but she hardly slept at all. Then, after awhile she would just sleep anytime she got the chance. It was kind of a rapid change. Could it be that she's just getting used to their house and our activities or should I be worried about something else?

[Stormy]

Hi Hina,

I bet she was just getting used to their house and all the activities. I had a dog who wouldn't eat and would run around like crazy whenever we went to a new place. It would take a day or two for her to settle down and adjust. (She was very happy during that time - just too busy to eat or sleep.)

Stormy

[Jeannie]

Hi my poodle J.J is now, 6 1/2 months, and he was the most playful dog, up to last week. He is sleeping all the time and has no interest in playing. I am so worried. We took him to the vet 3 times. He had blood test stool sample test and an X-ray done, the x-ray because he threw up a couple of times. Anyhow all his tests were normal but he still has no interest. When someone comes home then he gets excited and will play for maybe 5 minutes and go back to sleep. This is a sudden change in J.J and we are very worried we can't figure out whats wrong. Any suggestions?

[Kathy]

Wow, am, I relieved I really thought my son and I were doing something wrong as our puppy does sleep a lot, I chalked it up to growth spurts, so it is probably that and being normal as well. I knew cats slept lot but I honetsly cannot remeber any of my other dogs sleeping this much. Probably as I was not home as much then as I am now.

What a relief....

As to the Poodle named J.J. I think you are in the same fix as us, growth spurts nd it being normal for the puppy, as I was told as long as he/she is eating, pooping/pissles and plays they are normal, also check the nose if it is cold he is fine, if it stay warm then there may be a problem, or so I have been told.

[Derek]

I have a 11 month old Border Collie and he only sleeps when I do and even then it is him who makes me get up when he decides we have had enough. Sometimes we only get about 5 hours and he decides that's enough. He is a lovely dog though.

[Lisa]

I have a 9 week old goldendoodle. He sleeps a lot! Definitely 18 hours. When I wake him up he plays for about 5-10 minutes and then lays down again. He's also only eating about 1/2 what the recommended amount. Do you think he is OK? It's only his 2nd day with me. He goes to the bathroom like he eats all day.