In my last article (titled “When do puppies calm down?” if you want to read it) I’ve told you that I got a new puppy. I feel really blessed, and sometimes a little bit tired. You see, if my puppy isn’t being his hyper self, he is sleeping. And sometimes it feels like he is sleeping 22 hours a day. I was kind of worried and wondering is it normal for puppies to sleep a lot?
So, I did some research and found out a few interesting things about puppies and dogs in general. And, you’ve guessed it. I will share it with you all!
So, in this article, I’ll explain why on earth puppies sleep so freaking much. To be honest I’m kind of jealous.
Is it normal for puppies to sleep a lot?
Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my puppy takes his naps. First of all, when he sleeps I can take a break from running after him. Secondly, he looks like a little angel when he sleeps.
However, as a first-time dog parent, I did get a little bit worried. I simply didn’t know how much sleep puppies really need. So, I also want to help you out. I don’t want you to worry as I did.
So, back to our question “Is it normal for puppies to sleep a lot?” The answer is actually yes! It is completely normal, and you’ll see why.
Why puppies sleep so much
A puppy sleeps on average between 18 and 20 hours! So if you think your puppy is sleeping too much, they probably are not!
Look at it like this, your puppy is like a baby. When they are awake they have a lot of energy and want to explore the world. They want to see as many things as possible. But, given that they are so young their little bodies need a lot of rest too! That roam around the house or the garden tires them out. So they need a little nap to recharge.
Besides this, human babies sleep a lot too, so why would it be any different for dog babies. But don’t worry, as your puppy gets older, they will sleep less and less.
Why sleep is so important
Sleep is super important for your puppy. As mentioned above during the time they are awake they are exploring the world around them. Everything is new and exciting.
So, while they sleep they are not only recouping their energy. Your puppy is also processing everything they saw, smelled, felt, and learned.
Besides these, sleep has many more benefits for your puppy. Only some of which are:
- Sleep provides your dog with the needed energy for his brain and body to function
- It can actually contribute to a healthy immune system, meaning sleeping makes your dog healthier
- Sleep balances appetite
- While your dog sleeps his body releases different hormones. Including hormones essential for growth and development
How to know your puppy is getting enough sleep
It’s very important for your puppy to get enough sleep. But how do you know that your puppy slept enough and had a good rest?
Well, I’ll take my puppy as an example. When he wakes up and is bouncy, playful, curious, then I know he got enough sleep.
However, when I got my puppy he cried through the whole night. It broke my heart, and it got so bad that I thought of returning him to the breeder. But, what I’m trying to say, that night my puppy (nor me) didn’t get enough sleep.
The next morning he was kind of disengaged, lethargic, slow. This meant that he did not get enough sleep.
So, is your puppy is full of energy, happy, jumpy, and overall seems like he is in a good mood? Then he probably got enough sleep! However, if they are the complete opposite of that, then obviously they didn’t sleep enough. If this goes on for a couple of days, you might want to contact your veterinarian. Please do this just to make sure everything is okay with your puppy.
If you need more information on dogs and sleep I have many great articles for you:
- My Dog Has To Sleep Touching Me – What To Do
- Do Dogs Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
- My Dog Sleeping With Tongue Out: What Does It Mean?
- Dog Sleeping Positions And What They Mean
- How many hours a day do dogs sleep: Sleeping positions
- How much do dogs sleep? What’s normal