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Despite being tiny balls of energy, puppies spend a lot of their time asleep. But just how much do puppies sleep? It’s not uncommon for new owners to worry about how much their puppy sleeps.
Your new furry friend is a heavy sleeper and needs plenty of rest to get the best out of their time awake. Your puppy also needs plenty of rest for their physical and mental growth. The exact amount of sleep your pup needs ultimately depends on their age, breed, and activity levels. Read on to answer the question, “how much does a puppy sleep?“
How Much Time Should a Healthy Puppy Sleep?
So, how much should your little one rest? It’s important to keep in mind your puppy’s age, breed, and activity levels when asking this question. While a newborn puppy sleeps for 90 percent of their day, the amount of time spent asleep gradually decreases as your pup grows older.
0 to 8-Week-Old Puppy
Your newborn puppy needs the most sleep of all. In their first week of life, a newborn puppy sleeps for 22 hours, spending most of their time awake nursing. Over the next few weeks, your puppy should gradually spend less time sleeping each day. By eight weeks old, your furry friend might sleep for 18 hours to 22 hours per day. In contrast to a newborn puppy, an eight-week-old puppy spend their time awake playing, eating, and going to the toilet.
10 to 18-Week-Old Puppy
Similarly to an 8-week old puppy, your 10-week old pup can sleep for 18 to 20 hours per day. This pattern continues until your puppy is 12 weeks old. Your 14-week old to 18-week old puppy typically spends 18 hours asleep every day. From this point onwards, the amount of time your puppy spends asleep should gradually decrease even further. As an adult, your dog will sleep a mere 12 to 14 hours per day.
Tips for Improving Your Puppy's Sleeping Habits
Has your puppy been waking up at night? Do they seem to struggle to sleep? Your puppy can sleep anywhere from 18 to 22 hours per day, there are still plenty of measures you can take to ensure that they get every precious hour they need.
Schedule the Day Appropriately
Puppies thrive on consistent routines. Planning and sticking to a schedule will help you and your new pup to have a healthy sleeping schedule! This might involve waking up at the same time each day and encouraging regular toilet breaks. It’s also important to make accommodations in your own schedule too!
Just like in humans, your dog’s sleep cycles are influenced by melatonin, which is affected by the amount of light in the environment. Melatonin production increases when the lights go out. So, if you normally watch TV or use your phone in bed near to your puppy, consider turning down the screen brightness and volume to reduce the risk of disturbing your pup. You may even want to install blackout shades if your room lets in the early morning light.
Never Wake up a Sleeping Puppy
It’s important that you don’t wake your furry friend unless absolutely necessary. Like us, puppies rest best when they’re relaxed and feeling secure in their environment. So why does it matter so much if your puppy is woken up during the day? Whilst asleep, your puppy is undergoing important brain development as well as physical growth. They will also consolidate learning and memories whilst asleep. As a result, waking your puppy can affect their memory and ability to learn.
Disrupting your puppy’s sleep often can also cause anxiety. Your puppy needs to feel safe and secure whilst in this vulnerable state, and being regularly awoken might convey to them that it’s not safe to sleep around you. To prevent any rude awakenings, be sure to keep your puppy’s crate in a safe, quiet area, away from children and other animals. It’s best to teach children early on to not disturb a sleeping puppy, both for the wellbeing of your puppy and the safety of your child.
Creating a Safe Space for Sleep
Your puppy needs to feel safe and secure in their sleeping quarters. Make sure that your new arrival has a safe place to sleep where they won’t be disturbed. To achieve this, most puppies sleep in crates until they can be left alone without having accidents or chewing furniture. Many owners keep their puppy’s crate beside their dog bed at night to give extra security.
To ensure the best night’s sleep for your puppy, their crate must be comfortable and secure. You can line the crate with a soft blanket or two for comfort. Be wary of wool blankets or mats that may pose a choking hazard if chewed. If possible, bring home a blanket or toy that smells like your puppy’s dam for additional comfort. Wherever you place your pup’s crate, make sure that it’s away from drafts, direct sunlight, and heat sources like radiators and fireplaces.
Puppy Sleeping Pattern FAQ
So, how much do puppies sleep? If we haven’t answered all of your questions, feel free to browse our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details. If in doubt about your puppy’s health, always ask your vet for advice.
Your two month old puppy should sleep for 18 to 22 hours per day. By your puppy’s second month, their senses are well-developed and they are ready to explore the world around them. A good night’s sleep is crucial for processing the new information that they learn. As well as this, your 2 month old puppy needs plenty of rest in order to grow and to recharge for more fun and games later on!
Because your puppy is likely to wake up in the night, their 22 hours of sleep are spread out across the day as well as at night. Your puppy is likely to take naps every hour or so, taking power naps of 30 minutes to deep sleep for as long as two hours. These naps are most likely to happen after a vigorous play session, or after eating a filling meal. If your puppy falls asleep where they were playing, try not to move them around, but do make them safe and comfortable.
Your three month old puppy should sleep for 18 to 20 hours per day. At this age, your puppy’s growth and development is in full swing during sleep. Because of this, it is especially important that your pup sleeps well and without frequent disruptions.
At three months old, your puppy is experiencing rapid brain development due to their socialization period. The precise age for the beginning and end of the socialization period is debated, but it may begin as early as three weeks and end at 16 weeks. Alternatively, some experts state that it ends at 12 weeks. This places your three month old puppy close to the end of their socialization period. At this point, your puppy needs plenty of time and rest to process what they’ve learned.
Generally speaking, puppies are unlikely to sleep throughout the entire night. This is because puppies often need to go out for toilet breaks in the night. You can expect your puppy to wake up for a toilet break at least once, but the amount of times varies depending on their age, how much water they drink, and any difficulties with anxiety that they might have. By the time your pup is 16 weeks old, they should begin to sleep through the night as they gain more control over their bladder.
While your puppy may sleep for up to 22 hours a day, they don’t get all of this sleep in one long stretch. Your pup will take several naps throughout the day. These naps, coupled with their longer periods of sleep at night, can total anywhere from 18 to 22 hours depending on your puppy’s age.
Your puppy’s sleeping habits are crucial for their learning. Because your young puppy is exploring the world, learning new routines, and meeting new people, much of their energy is spent trying to understand and remember these new things. Sleep is the key to processing this new material. Not only does it allow them to rest up for their next adventure, but it helps their brain to store the information too!
Adding to this, your puppy will undergo critical periods as they grow, which sleep significantly aids with. Your puppy will undergo a socialization period between 3 and 16 weeks old, and a fear imprint period between 8 and 11 weeks old. Without enough restful sleep, your puppy cannot store the new information that they learn, which can potentially complicate the hard work you have done as a keen owner.
So, how much do puppies sleep? To conclude, a puppy can sleep for 18 to 22 hours every day. This depends on their age, breed, and activity levels. Your new arrival needs plenty of rest for their physical and mental growth. Overall, sleep is a vital part of your puppy’s development, so let sleeping puppies lie.