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Dogs sleep almost 12 to 14 hours a day. Puppies can sleep up to 17 to 18 hours a day because they are in a growing stage and being very active while awake, they also need more rest. The older a dog grows the more sleep it needs. However, older dogs may also sleep more because they are bored and there is nothing else to do. So if your dog (assuming it has no medical ailment) is sleeping too much, you might want to take him out on a walk or play with him. Generally speaking, a dog is active only about 20% of the day. Also, large-sized breeds often need more sleep than the smaller ones that are very active such as terriers.

Another factor that influences sleep is the level of activity of the dog. The more physical activities the dog experiences such as playing, running, exercising, the more sleep it will need. Medication and diseases can also lead to more sleep. Do ask your vet if the medication prescribed to your dog will lead to more sleep or in general a change in sleeping patterns. Last but not the least, DO NOT confuse sleepiness with dullness. If your dog remains dull/groggy even after getting up from sleep, this could be a sign of a serious illness. A healthy dog becomes alert and ready-for-action once it gets up from sleep, so if your dog is not showing this behavior, it might need medical help.  

Like humans, dogs also experience REM (rapid eye movement) while sleeping and they also dream while sleeping. Nobody knows what they dream about though I am sure they dream of bones in their sleep! A dog can whimper, howl, run (move its legs as if running), twitch while sleeping and all this is normal sleep behavior.  Very often older dogs tend to become deaf and so they do not immediately get up from their sleep when the owner walks into the room. In fact, you might have to call out your old dog’s name or even nudge him to get up from his sleep.

Sleeping positions

a) If your dog sleeps between your feet/legs, it shows he trusts you and is very affectionate towards you. It is a good sign. Your legs also provide him warmth.

b) If you see your pooch sleeping on its back with its feet up in the air at a certain angle, it shows he is totally relaxed and is well cared for. He is happy and has no worries or anxieties. It also shows you are a good dog parent. However, if the legs are spread out totally towards the sides (not pointing upwards), it means that the dog is feeling hot.

c) Dogs that sleep on their belly with their legs spread out forward do not want to miss out on any fun and are ready to jump up at a moment’s notice. This is also known as the ‘Superman’ position. Actually dogs take a nap in this position and do not really sleep. This posture is seen during day time only when the dog is ready to get up at a moment’s notice.

d) Sleeping on the side is the normal sleep position. The dog is relaxed and comfortable in its surroundings. In this position the dog may move its legs as if running when it is sleeping. A dog that sleeps mostly in this position is affectionate and shares a close bond with its owner.

e) The curled up position is also a normal position that provides the dog warmth and security. In this position, however, the dog’s movements are restricted when it is sleeping. In this position, the dog is conserving body heat. This posture also protects vital organs.

f) If your dog sleeps with you it shows it wants to get close to you and accepts you as a part of its pack. It is a sign of trust. However, my personal opinion is that you should not allow your dog to sleep with you on your bed but get him a separate comfortable doggy bed – there are plenty available in the market. Remember dogs love comfort.  

g) If your dog sleeps on your clothes, it shows that it loves you very much. Your clothes have your scent so your dog feels close to you when it sleeps on your clothes.

Lastly, most of us have seen that dogs do not experience deep sleep like humans. This is because they have descended from wolves who are wild animals and hence always have to be on alert from various dangers in the jungle and also need to be alert for smelling prey. A ‘light’ kind of sleep helps dogs (like their ancestors, the wolves) to stay alert.

Article Author: Manish Jaitly

Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash

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Manish Jaitly

I am a dog lover and creator of this site. I am also the author of ‘Keep Sleeping Keep Missing- if only you knew’ (available on Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo, Google Store, etc.).

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