How Long Do Dogs Sleep per Day
Posted March 5, 2020
On average, dogs sleep about 14-18 hours a day, while puppies sleep about 20 hours.
Sometimes dog owners think that their pets sleep too much or too little. So how long should a dog sleep and what determines the duration of a dog’s sleep?
An average range for an adult dog is about 14-18 hours a day. However, these are the factors which determine how long a dog sleeps:
- Age: Puppies and senior dogs (over 7-10 years) sleep more than adult dogs. A puppy of up to 3 months sleeps about 20 hours per day
-Stress and fatigue: If the dog has experienced stress or has had busy days, it may sleep for a very long time, even 24 hours a day.
- Level of excitement: If the dog is overexcited, it can have difficulty falling asleep.
- Lifestyle: If a dog spends too much time on its own and is bored, it sleeps more than a dog who lives an active life with its owners.
- Weather: When it is hot or humid, a dog spends more time sleeping.
- Health: If the dog is sick, it sleeps more than usual.
The dog’s sleep has two phases. During a fast phase, dogs see dreams and during a slow phase, dogs' muscles are relaxed, body temperature decreases and breathing and heart rate slow down.