A dog that sleeps for much of the day is not lazy. Sleep takes up much more of their life than of ours, and it affects their mood, health and behaviour. Here are the useful guides, and what should alert you.
Guides by age
There is no single figure: sleep time varies with age, size, breed and activity. The ranges below are often-quoted orders of magnitude. Take them as guides.
- A puppy sleeps most of the day, often around 18 hours out of 24. Their body and brain are being built during this time.
- An adult dog generally sleeps around 12 to 14 hours out of 24, counting the night and naps.
- An older dog is closer to a puppy, with longer and more frequent naps.
Large dogs often sleep more than small ones. A dog that has spent the morning in the forest will sleep more than a dog that stayed at home. What matters most is what is usual for your dog.
Sleep made up of many naps
A dog does not sleep in one go like us. They string together short phases of sleep, broken by waking. They also spend a lot of time dozing: lying down, eyes half-closed, ears alert.
A dog also sets their sleep to your rhythm. Many flat dogs sleep while you are at work and wake when you return. That is why quiet evening moments count: after the walk and the meal, give them time to settle.
During deep sleep, you will sometimes see them move their paws, twitch their lips or give small yelps. This is normal. Let them sleep: a dog woken with a start can react sharply.
Why it matters
A dog who lacks rest often shows it through behaviour more than through visible tiredness.
- They are more irritable. They growl sooner and cope less well with children or other dogs.
- They get wound up instead of calming down. An overtired puppy nips, runs everywhere and has trouble stopping.
- They learn less well. Rest helps fix what they have learned during the day.
- They recover less. This matters for active dogs as much as for older ones.
What stops them sleeping well in a flat
In a flat, the dog lives in the middle of the activity: people passing, noises in the building, the doorbell, the television. A few adjustments help them switch off.
- A bed away from busy routes. Avoid the hallway and the entrance, where they get up at every sound of a door.
- A room where you are. Most dogs sleep better near their family than isolated.
- No draught, no radiator. Choose a mild corner, away from poorly insulated windows and direct heat sources.
- A bed their size, which lets them stretch out and supports their joints, especially if they are older or heavy.
- The right to be left in peace. Teach children that a dog lying in their bed is left to sleep.
- A routine. Outing, meal, quiet: regular times help them find their rhythm.
For the position, our guide to where to put your dog's bed covers the good and bad spots. As for beds, the shop's beds and cushions use memory foam, with a zipped cover that washes at 30 °C.
If you are welcoming a puppy, their nights take a bit of learning. Our guide to teaching a puppy to sleep in their bed takes you through it step by step.
When to worry
What should alert you is a change. See your vet if your dog:
- sleeps clearly more than usual, or seems low even when awake;
- struggles to get up, lies down carefully or keeps changing position;
- wakes at night to drink a lot, urinate or pace in circles;
- breathes heavily or snores in a new way;
- seems disoriented at night, or mixes up day and night, which sometimes happens in older dogs.
These signs can have very different causes, from pain to a hormonal problem. Only an examination can tell.
In short
- An adult dog often sleeps around 12 to 14 hours a day, a puppy or an older dog more.
- They sleep in short phases and doze a lot: this is normal.
- A lack of rest shows mostly in their behaviour.
- Give them a quiet bed, away from busy routes, in a room where you are.
- A sudden change in their sleep deserves a vet's opinion.