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Despite being small balls of activity, puppies typically sleep 18 to 20 hours per day. Your puppy might be a tiny whirlwind one second and then fall asleep peacefully in the middle of a sprint the next. Sleep is crucial for normal development because it helps the child’s muscles, immunological system, brain, and central nervous system to develop as they should. He also benefits from rest during growth spurts thanks to all that sleep.
Puppies expend a lot of energy when they are awake because they are physically developing, discovering new people and places, and discovering what they are capable of. They won’t always pay attention to an internal clock telling them it’s time to rest because the world is such an interesting, fascinating place.
Even more so than food, sleep is a must for your puppy, but how much do they require and why is it so critical to their growth?
How much sleep a puppy requires varies depending on a number of factors. Every puppy is unique, with unique DNA, unique surroundings, and unique pet parents with varied schedules.
The primary piece of advice is to let your puppy sleep if she wants to. Play with your puppy if she wants to play. Make sure she has a companion animal or enjoyable toys to play with while you’re busy.
As soon as you bring your puppy home, establish a routine to aid in nighttime sleep. This process is followed throughout the day, not only at night. Check to see if adhering to this routine can assist ensure that you both get a good night’s sleep.
They have a lot of energy at this period, so some fetch-style toys can help them unwind. Puppies aged 6 months or younger sleep for roughly 16 to 18 hours every day.
Our standard poodle, who is 6 months old, still sleeps a lot. If we don’t put him in his crate, he will go in there on his own around 10 pm and sleep there until 7 am. When we let him out, he cuddles with us for 20 minutes while we sleep, goes outside to pee, plays with the cat while I get ready for work, and then takes another nap until 10 am before he actually wakes up.
He will play and go for a walk before taking another 5-hour snooze in the late afternoon. Probably at least 16 hours per day.
Does a puppy ever get too much sleep?
The quick response is no. Young puppies require between 18 to 20 hours of sleep each day, though the number will vary depending on age, breed, and activity. (As a comparison, adult dogs normally sleep about 14 hours each day.)
That much sleep is a lot! But when you stop to think about it, you’ll realize how much is actually happening: She’s practically expanding daily, she’s picking up new skills, and she’s interacting with you and her toys. It’s draining! Growing puppies also require a lot of naps, just like all baby animals and humans (including newborns and young toddlers).
You want to make sure she gets enough downtime to sleep and recover in addition to exercise and playtime because it takes a lot of energy to develop and learn new things.
After his nap, what if you go to wake him up but he’s still asleep? (Tip: Allow him to sleep.) What if your dog sleeps so soundly that she wets the bed instead of waking up when her bladder is full? That was the case with my previous puppy. That’s got to be wrong, right? Although such deep sleep in puppies may not be common, it is not unheard of.
Probably the best measure of normal behavior is how he behaves when he’s awake. Is he intelligent and active? How does he act with other pets around? Including cats!
He took the slipper you left by the entrance and ran off. Is he being a little mischievous? Yes, you have a healthy, typical puppy.