sleep. We all need it, both humans and animals. People need between 6-8 hours a night. But have you ever thought about dogs? How Much Sleep Does a Dog Need? Do they have the same type of sleep as a human or is it different?
Dogs' sleep patterns are different
Dogs' sleep patterns are very similar to ours, but they differ in one important way. When they fall asleep, it takes them about 10 minutes to transition from the slow wave — where breathing slows, blood pressure drops, and heart rate drops — into rapid eye movement (REM). In the REM phase, their eyes roll under closed lids and their body can respond to dreams.
Dogs spend only about 10 percent of their sleep time in REM because of their irregular sleep patterns. Since they tend to fall asleep whenever they want, often out of boredom, they also wake up quickly and jump alert. As a result, dogs need more total sleep to make up for their lost REM.
Humans, on the other hand, spend up to 25 percent of their sleep in REM, reflecting their more common schedule of staying awake all day and resting all night.
How much sleep is normal?
Sleep must change throughout life. This also applies to our canine friends. Puppies sleep more than adult dogs. Older dogs also sleep more often. Why are these changes taking place?
Puppies grow quickly. Growth requires energy, after which the body must recover. It is normal for puppies to sleep up to 20 hours a day. Conversely, older dogs sleep more because of a slowing metabolism. This is a normal part of age. However, it's important to note that "slowing down" in old age can also be a sign of underlying conditions such as arthritis or cancer. That's why it's a good idea to have the dog examined by the vet annually (or even every 6 months) to make sure your dog isn't having any physical problems. Early treatment of arthritis and other conditions can significantly improve quality of life for senior dogs.
Activity can also affect sleep time for dogs. Active dogs sleep less than inactive dogs. Inactive dogs may also have unusual sleep/wake cycles. This may be because many dogs are home alone during the day and thus sleep. When owners come home, the dog becomes active. This inactivity during the day can cause dogs to wake up at night, when the rest of the house is asleep. It is a good idea to leave interesting toys for your dogs when you are away for the day. Daily exercise for at least 15-30 minutes also promotes healthy sleep patterns… in everyone!
Race and size can also affect sleep, but the reasons are less clear. Large dogs in general seem to sleep more than their smaller counterparts (think Chihuahua vs Mastiff). This may be due to higher energy needs for larger muscles and internal organs. The average dog sleeps about 12 to 14 hours per 24-hour cycle.
Does my dog need a bedtime?
We all know that if we don't get enough sleep, our cognition suffers. This is the beauty of being a dog – you can sleep anywhere, anytime! Like all animals, dogs need a certain amount of sleep, but because they don't do heavy lifting, you don't have to worry about setting a bedtime for your dog. He will do that for himself.
My dog sleeps all day. Is this normal?
The truth is that sleep varies widely between individual dogs, just as it does in humans. There may be correlations between breed and size, but ultimately every dog is unique. If your dog is active and alert when awake, has a good appetite, and otherwise appears normal, your dog may just need the extra sleep. On the other hand, if your dog is sleeping abnormally, has a loss of appetite or other unusual signs, it's time for a checkup.
