How Long do Puppies Sleep at Night?

Even though puppies have tonnes of energy to expend, and it might seem like it is never-ending, they do also get really sleepy. You will usually find that they will run around like crazy until they finally get worn out and find themselves getting really tired. While they have their crazy moments, puppies do spend a lot of extra time sleeping to restore their energy.

If you are none the wiser, you might think that they are actually sleeping too much, but most of the time, this isn’t the case. Puppies need more sleep than adult dogs to keep them going throughout the day as they like to keep active. However, this leaves us wondering how much sleep is too much sleep, and how much is not enough. If you are curious about your puppy’s sleeping routine, we will explain everything that you need to know here. 

It is important to know all about puppy routines, so we can learn what is normal and what isn’t. We are going to explain all about their sleeping habits so that you can get answers to all of your questions and find out what is best for your pet. 

Puppy Sleeping Routines

All dogs are different, but when they are puppies, they all like to do lots of running around and then lots of sleep when they get worn out. This is why they need a lot of sleep to balance out the amount of energy that they have. 

How Long Do Puppies Sleep at Night?

Just like with newborn babies, puppies have irregular sleeping routines, and it takes a while for them to get settled. They probably won’t sleep through the entire night, but they will sleep for most of it. They will usually get up during the night, maybe even multiple times, if they need to go to the toilet. As a general rule, your puppy should be getting anywhere between six to ten hours a night. It is usually when they get to around four months old that they will start to regularly sleep all the way through the night. The amount of time that they spend sleeping in the night can also depend on how much sleep they are getting through the day. 

How Long Do Puppies Sleep in the Day?

Just like at night time, puppies also like to do a lot of sleeping in the daytime. This will usually be for shorter periods of time and typically happens after they have had a major bout of energy. If your dog is running around or playing and burning off energy, they are likely going to need a nap afterwards to recuperate. When they wake up, they will be much more refreshed and full of energy again. These are naps rather than long periods of sleep, and these naps can last from anywhere between half an hour to two hours. It all depends on how tired they are. Leave them to it if they do fall asleep, and try not to disturb them. If they have fallen asleep, it is because they need to, so don’t bother them by waking them up. 

The Benefits of Sleep in Puppies

Lots and lots of sleep is really important in terms of your puppy’s development. Their sleeping habits are actually an important part of their learning. They are constantly learning new things when they are puppies by exploring new environments, engaging in play with their owners, and other general puppy training activities. They are learning to use their senses and learning what behaviour is good and what behaviour is bad. This can all be very energy-consuming. 

Sleeping even helps them to store the information that they have learnt in order to remember it better. It allows them to process everything that they have discovered on their little adventure, and their mind doesn’t stop even when they are sleeping. 

Is My Puppy Sleeping Too Much?

The amount of sleep that your puppy needs will depend on the breed of dog that they are. Most puppies will typically sleep for around seventeen hours of the day, which might seem like too long, but it is completely normal. 

If you think that your puppy is getting too much sleep, and it is more than twenty hours out of the day, then you should take them to the vet. This is even more important if when they are awake, they are lethargic and lacking in energy, with no desire to move around or play. This could be a dangerous sign in rare circumstances, so it is something to be mindful of, but it could also be something less serious. They could find themselves sleeping too much if their diet is incomplete, if they are not drinking enough water, or if they are generally just feeling under the weather. If you think that something might be wrong, you can always take them to the vet just to be sure. They will be able to either put your mind at ease or let you know what you can do to solve the problem. 

Tips for Sleeping Puppies

It is really important to make sure that your puppy is getting enough sleep throughout the day and night, and there are some things that you can do to encourage this or make the process more comfortable. 

To help them get the best sleep that they can, you can create a schedule for the day and stick to it. Most puppies will need a nap after around an hour of playtime, and once playtime is over, they can go and do so. Try to schedule playtime or time to run around outside, or go for a walk in times where they are most alert. Having a regular daily routine can help with this by making it a normal daily occurrence. Never try to make your puppy play for longer than they want to, and if they are tired, you should let them wander off and go to sleep. 

You might have heard the saying ‘never wake a sleeping baby’, and this rule also applies for puppies. If your dog has gone down for a nap, you shouldn’t wake them up and try to get them moving around. This will only result in disturbed sleep, and your puppy needs these extra hours of sleep to regroup. If you have any children, try to help them understand to not wake up your puppy when they are sleeping. 

You can also create a safe space for your puppy to retreat to when they are tired so that they can get some much-needed rest. This could be a crate, a bed, or a comfy corner in a certain room, but make sure that this area is comfortable and inviting. You can introduce them to this area, and more often than not, they will make use of the space when they want to relax. Putting this space in a quiet area of the house is usually a great option, but some dogs will just naturally prefer to be around family, even when they sleep. This will help them to get efficient and fulfilling sleep that allows them to wake up feeling refreshed. 

Conclusion

All puppies require a large amount of sleep to help them to regain their energy by the time that they wake back up again. It is an important learning experience, and it can even help them to absorb the information that they have received during their awake periods. There are some things that you can do to help with their sleep patterns like creating a daily routine, and you can also help them to get comfortable by creating a safe space for them to sleep in. 

If you think that your puppy might be getting too much sleep, you can take them to the vet to find out if there is a problem. Other than this, you should leave them to it when they get tired. Lots of sleep is completely normal for puppies, and they will grow out of it eventually.