Is your new pup always lively, happy, and bouncy? Have you figured out what you will feed it so it grows to be strong and big? Have you taken it to the vet for shots and a checkup and discovered that it is entirely healthy? Yay!
But does it sleep a lot? Does it make you wonder how much puppies sleep to tell whether something is wrong with your new furry friend?
Is It Okay For Puppies To Sleep A Lot?
Experts say that puppies require ample nap time to stay healthy. These little ones whiz around and use most of their energy. They are also at a stage when they are building brain power and muscles, which makes them conk out for the greater part of the day.
Therefore, it is perfectly fine if you see your pup sleeping for long stretches at nighttime and taking naps. They could also take as many as 20 naps daily.
Keep in mind that puppies grow at a faster rate than humans. Their rapid growth entails that they need to eat a lot and sleep for an extended period. But the question arises, how much do puppies sleep exactly?
How Much Do Puppies Sleep?
Newborn puppies, much like newborn babies, come into this world utterly dependent on the care of their mothers. Believe it or not, they are deaf, blind, and have little to no control over the movements of their muscles.
Most of a dog’s time is spent sleeping and the rest nursing. Therefore, they often sleep around 18 to 22 hours a day. Isn’t your pup lucky?
But as they grow older, puppies tend to reduce the number of naps they take because they start to explore the world around them. Below is an estimate of how much puppies sleep as they grow older, but keep in mind that your dog’s breed, age, activity level, and diet will play an essential role in the number of hours it takes to snooze.
At 8 Weeks
Your puppy is bound to sleep around 20 hours a day.
At 10 To 12 Weeks
Your puppy is likely to sleep around 18 to 20 hours a day.
At 14 To 16 Weeks
Your puppy will sleep at most 18 hours a day.
At 16 To 18 Weeks
It is a critical phase in the development of your pup’s life. They adapt to a set feeding schedule, start basic training, and learn to socialize during this time. They require ample sleep to stick to the new things they are learning.
Now, puppies and older dogs will settle for 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily. They try to spread their naps evenly as the day progresses, which range from 30-minutes to two hours. On the other hand, if you have a very young pup at home, it may sleep an additional hour. As it continues to grow, the frequency of its naps will dwindle, and you will have more and more time to play with it!
Reasons Why Pups Sleep So Much?
You may have already concluded that your loving pup requires more sleep than any average adult dog. Their tiny bodies have to grow into strong and big dogs, and they do not have much time! Therefore, they must get ample rest and be prepared for all the growing they have to do.
Below are some things that occur when your puppy is off chewing bones in dreamland.
1. Brain Development:
When your pup is asleep, its brain is processing a lot of new information that it received while it was awake and getting accustomed to life with you. It is also the time when your canine’s brain is cleaning itself and getting rid of all toxins that it accumulated while it was awake.
The clearance of brain waste and the removal of toxins aids in the development of cognitive stability. You will soon notice that your puppy can focus better and portray a happier disposition when it can get ample sleep, as opposed to when it doesn’t.
2. Energy Conservation:
All that vibrant and unflappable energy your pup exhibits must come from somewhere, right? Well, yes. You can thank its prolonged naptimes for all the love and cheerfulness you get from your little pet.
You may not be aware of this, but your puppy uses energy to strengthen muscles, build bones, and mature various systems in its body. All this growth occurs inside your furry pal’s body while asleep.
3. Immune System Development:
The immune system of your little pup will develop as time passes. You may not have known this, but dogs do not come into this world with wholly developed immune systems. As a result, they need to conserve energy, and sleep allows them to build it up.
In short, repeated or prolonged periods of sleep allow your puppy to develop its immune system, brain, and body to develop and regenerate. It takes many hours of sleep to grow into that loving tail-wagger you have always envisioned having by your side.
Can Puppies Sleep Throughout The Night?
Just like human babies eventually learn to sleep throughout the night, your fur baby will get too. However, it will involve some training in this particular process.
Think about when you were a baby. Did you ever wake up in a new and strange environment without your mom and siblings? If you did, you could easily understand how your pup feels if its sleep is disturbed.
So, the key to ensuring that your canine sleeps throughout the night would be to keep it close. You can help it adapt to its new home by giving it space and enough love that it comfortably sleeps until the sun rises.
Another way you can aid your puppy in this situation is by helping it develop a proper sleep schedule.
Tips To Establishing An Effective Sleep Schedule For Your Pup
The tips below will allow you to make it easier for your canine friend to settle into their new home and have a proper sleep routine. Consequently, you will have ample time for snuggles and play!
Create A Comfortable Sleeping Environment:
Have you thought about where you will be putting your pup to sleep? Think about setting up their bed near you or where they can easily see you. It is possible that in the beginning, your fur baby may wake up scared due to the unfamiliarity of the place.
Therefore, it is up to you to ensure that the area for its sleeping is distraction-free and dark so that it can relax and be at ease.
Potty Breaks And Hydration:
Your pup will likely experience a full night of sleep if it does not have to wake up to go for the potty repeatedly. Most young dogs usually wake up in the middle of the night after every two hours to pee; thus, it is recommended to set an alarm.
Staying close to your pup will make it easier for you to tell when it starts to get restless. You should take your fur baby for bathroom breaks before you put it down for the night and as soon as it wakes up.
Excellent Nutrition:
If you are not already aware of this, you should know that healthy dog food for puppies can give your new best friend the energy it needs to grow. It also aids in strengthening bones and boosts concentration on training.
Therefore, ensuring that your fur baby has a healthy diet is essential. After all, you want it to be able to sleep and play better, don’t you?
Routines Are Necessary:
Your puppy will adapt to a sleeping schedule faster if you follow it down to a tee daily. Keep in mind that, like humans, dogs thrive on routines as it helps reduce anxiety. Try to maintain the same schedule every day but be mindful of making adjustments well in advance if you have to.
For example, if you have to travel, ensure that your fur baby receives the same amount of sleep as it usually does.
In Conclusion
It may seem like your canine friend is sleeping way too much. If you have ever searched online for how much puppies sleep, this guide should have washed away all your worries. It is usual for your pup to doze off while you cuddle with it.
Be sure to appreciate how adorable it looks with its nose in the air, enjoying dreamland. It is the most precious part of parenting a precious fur baby!