• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered by Rover.com

Just another The Dog People by Rover.com Sites site

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Love
  • Dog Bonding
  • Dog Care
  • Puppies and New Dogs
  • Cat Love
  • Dog-friendly places
    • London
    • Birmingham
    • Edinburgh
    • Manchester
    • Liverpool
  • Shopping
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Toys and Chews
  • Dog Names
    • The 200 Most Popular Dog Names in the UK
    • Rover’s Dog Name Generator
    • Archived: Girly Dog Names: 104 Top Picks of 2020 for Your Pretty Puppy
    • 68 Literary Dog Names for Bookish Dog Lovers in 2020
    • 16 Perfect Batman Dog Names
    • The Most Romantic Dog Names Ever
    • Popular Irish Dog Names for 2020
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-US
    • en-CA
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Is My Puppy Sleeping Too Much?

Share0Pin It1

Is My Puppy Sleeping Too Much?

Dog Bonding
By Joshua Nelson

Share0Tweet0Pin It1

Getting a new puppy is, to many of us, as exciting and joyful as bringing home a new baby. We watch the puppy’s every move, reveling in this amazing little creature’s antics (and cuteness!), and are entranced with her even when she sleeps, her little legs twitching in her first doggie dream in her new home. But wait. She seems to be sleeping an awful lot – is that normal? Is your puppy sleeping too much?

If you’ve never had a dog before, or if it’s been a while (or never!) since you’ve had a puppy, it’s normal to wonder if we’re doing things right. We even worry about the big responsibility we have for this new member of the family, and what they need from us to live a full, happy life.

Advertisement

You expect the house training accidents, the chewing, and the crazy puppy playfulness and energy, but when it seems like he sleeps all the time, we wonder and worry.

Is it possible for a puppy to sleep too much?

The short answer is no. You will see variations on the amount of sleep according to age and breed, and activity, but young puppies need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day.  (Adult dogs typically sleep about 14 hours a day, as a comparison.)

That’s a lot of sleep! But when you stop and think about it, consider how much is going on – she’s literally growing a little bit every day, she’s learning new things every day, and she’s playing with her toys and with you. It’s exhausting! And just like all baby animals—including infants and small children—growing puppies need a lot of naps.

It takes a lot of energy to grow and to learn new things, and you want to be sure that along with exercise and play time, she’s getting plenty of downtime to sleep and rest.

Create a sleep routine

As with all babies, your new puppy with thrive on routine. You’ll notice that after a meal he may want to sleep for a while, or after a walk or game of fetch. It’s helpful to you and your puppy to get on a schedule for:

  • mealtimes
  • play times
  • nap times

For example: after a rousing game of fetch, or chase or keep away, it’s time for a snack and a trip outside to potty, then a nap.

Crate training can be very helpful with routines, as the quiet of a crate and the comfort of his own space will let him know it’s time for sleep.

The bulk of your puppy’s daily 18-20 hours of sleep will, of course, be during the night, when we are sleeping, so it’s a good idea to not let her nap too long in the few hours before the time you normally retire to bed yourself. You don’t want to wind her up too much, nor overtire her, but be sure she’s not been sleeping so much that she’s wide awake and ready to PLAY when it’s time to go to bed for the evening.

Am I worrying over nothing?

What if you go to wake him after a nap and he’s still sleeping? (Pro tip: let him sleep.) Or, what if you have a puppy like my last puppy, and she sleeps so deeply she doesn’t even wake up when her bladder is full and instead wets the bed. That can’t be right…can it? While it may not be typical for puppies to sleep that deeply, it’s not unheard of.

Probably the best indicator of normal behavior is how he behaves when he’s awake. Is he active and bright? Interested in his surroundings and engaged with you and other family members (including other canine or feline family members)? Is he a little bit mischievous, grabbing the sneaker you left by the door and running off with it? Yep, you have a normal, healthy puppy.

But if during normal wake periods you notice your puppy seems lethargic and sluggish, not wanting to move much, or otherwise dull and disinterested in his surroundings, this could be cause for concern. If he’s recently had a vaccine booster, he may be extra tired for about 24 hours afterward,  but if that’s not the case, and he seems physically depressed during normal waking hours, call your veterinarian immediately.

Otherwise, as the old saying goes, let sleeping dogs lie, and enjoy the quiet time until your wee fanged tornado wakes up to start all over again. And then enjoy that time, too! 

Share0Tweet0Pin It1

sidebar

By Joshua Nelson

Share This Article

Share0Tweet0Pin It1

Popular Posts

  • Signs Your Cat Wants to Be Held And How to Avoid Being Bitten
  • 6 Tips for Training Your Territorial Dog
  • All You Need To Know About Neutering Your Cat
  • Burnt Paw Pads: How to Spot, Treat and Prevent Them
  • How to Keep Your Cat Calm (and Safe) During Fireworks
  • The 20 Best Dog Breeds for Every Type of Family and Kid
  • Do Cats Smile? Here Are 5 Signs Of Truly Happy Cats
  • Can Dogs Actually Feel Embarrassed?
  • Does My Cat Have Asthma? How to Identify and Treat Asthma in Cats
  • Why Dogs Are Afraid of Fireworks and 10 Ways to Calm Them

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Sitter Resources
  • Terms of Service
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Download the App
  • In The Press
  • Advertise With Us

Need Help?

  • Help Center
© 2023 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.