How dogs and puppies sleep
Does your dog sleep a lot, sometimes restlessly, or does your puppy seem constantly tired? Then it's worth taking a look at the natural sleep patterns of our four-legged companions. Dogs – whether Chihuahua, Labrador, or German Shepherd – have fascinating, highly specialized sleep strategies that differ significantly from our own.
While we humans usually sleep for 7-9 hours straight, dogs choose a completely different rhythm: They sleep several times a day, alternating between dozing, light sleep and intense dream phases – and orient themselves strongly towards their surroundings and their pack.
But what does that mean for everyday life with a dog? And what can... we Can we learn from dogs' sleeping habits to better regenerate ourselves?
Let's take a look together at the world of dog sleep.
Table of contents
- How do dogs actually sleep?
- Why dogs sleep differently
- 5 amazing sleeping strategies of dogs
- What we can learn about sleep from dogs
-
Conclusion
1. How do dogs actually sleep?
At first glance, dogs seem to sleep a lot – but they do sleep differentAn adult dog spends an average of:
-
12–14 hours per day with sleep and rest
-
Senior dogs often 16–18 hours
-
puppies even 18–20 hours
Unlike humans, dogs rarely sleep through the night. Their sleep consists of many short periods: sleeping, dozing, waking, and then sleeping again.
Why do dogs sleep in such fragmented ways?
This stems from their evolutionary past: As predators, they had to be able to react at any time – to prey, rivals, or dangers. Their bodies have learned to make intensive use of short recovery periods.
Sleep phases in dogs
Dogs, much like us, have two important sleep phases:
-
Light sleep: This is where dogs spend most of their time. They are still aware of their surroundings; their ears move, their breathing is shallow.
-
REM phase (dream sleep): This is when the dog processes experiences and learns. You can recognize this phase by the typical twitching of the paws, eye movements, or soft growling, whining, or whimpering.
Puppies have significantly more REM sleep than adult dogs. Their brains are still growing and processing everything they learn during the day.
Why do puppies sleep so much?
Puppies grow rapidly – physically, emotionally, and mentally.
During sleep:
-
nerve cells are connected
-
Commands and experiences saved
-
Stimuli processed
-
immune system strengthened
Lack of sleep can lead to hyperactivity, bite inhibition problems, and learning difficulties in puppies.
2. Why dogs sleep differently
race & genetic predisposition&
Some examples:
-
Herding dogs (Border Collies, Aussies): They are often awake, attentive, and need slightly less sleep because they react strongly to stimuli.
-
Molosser & Bulldogs: Rather quiet sleepers who like to sleep deeply and for long periods.
-
Greyhounds: Surprisingly sleepy, often real couch potatoes.
Age: Puppy, Adult or Senior
-
puppiesThey need an extremely large amount of sleep because they process everything.
-
Adult dogs: mostly stable rhythm.
-
seniorsThey sleep longer, but more shallowly.
Movement & mental stimulation
Well-exercised dogs sleep more soundly. But beware:
Overstimulation leads to restless sleep – especially in puppies and sensitive breeds.
Daily routine & Pack bond
Dogs are very much attuned to humans. They adapt their rhythm to us – remarkably flexibly. If you sleep longer, your dog usually sleeps with you.
Vicinity & Security
Your dog's sleep is massively affected by:
-
noises
-
temperature
-
brightness
-
Odors
-
Closeness to people
Dogs sleep soundly when they are resting. secure They feel. In unsafe environments, they remain in a lightly alert state.
We humans are also familiar with these mechanisms – our bodies also sleep better when we feel protected.
3. Five amazing sleeping strategies of dogs
Here are five fascinating aspects of dog sleep – and what they mean for us.
1. Segmented sleep instead of sleeping through the night
Dogs sleep in many short intervals throughout the day. This pattern is extremely efficient because they regenerate quickly while remaining alert.
Learning effect for us:
Power naps and short rest periods are also very effective for humans. A 20-minute nap can significantly improve concentration and mood.
2. Intense dreaming with visible body movements
Paws twitching, eyes rolling, a soft growl or whine – dogs dream intensely.
Dream research shows:
During REM sleep, dogs process experiences, learn commands, and strengthen emotional bonds.
Learning effect:
We humans also store learning and emotions during REM sleep. Good sleep quality improves memory. & emotional balance.
3. Sleeping near the pack
Most dogs prefer to sleep near their humans – whether in a dog bed next to the bed, in the living room or even in the bedroom.
Proximity means safety.
Safety means deep sleep.
Learning effect:
A sense of security is also an important sleep enhancer for us humans. The feeling of safety – both emotional and spatial – promotes deep sleep.
4. Adaptation to the human daily rhythm
Dogs are masters of adaptation. Despite their own internal clock, they can adjust their rhythm to ours – for many, a crucial advantage of domestication.
Learning effect:
People also have individual chronotypes ("early bird vs. night owl"). Sleep improves when we respect our natural rhythm.
5.Puppy sleep as a learning tool & Development turbo
An incredible amount happens during a puppy's sleep:
-
New impressions are being sorted
-
Rules and training are "saved".
-
The bond is strengthened
-
The brain literally grows while you sleep.
Learning effect:
Sleep is also crucial for learning processes, creativity, and growth in humans.
4. What we can learn about sleep from dogs
The sleep biology of dogs reveals many fascinating parallels to our own sleep. Here are four insights that can directly help us:
1. Quality beats durability
A dog needs many short, but high-quality sleep phases.
We humans also benefit enormously from:
-
Power naps
-
quiet sleep phases
-
clear sleep rituals
➡ Good sleep quality is more important than the sheer number of hours.
2. The sleeping environment is crucial
Dogs seek out safe, quiet places to sleep – often the same place again and again.
We also sleep better when:
-
Light is reduced
-
The temperature is pleasant.
-
Disruptions are minimized
-
we feel safe
A good sleeping environment is the strongest lever for restful sleep.
3. Rituals provide calm and structure
Dogs love routines:
Fixed bedtimes, same routines, same places.
The same principle applies to humans:
-
Evening rituals
-
Relaxation methods
-
fixed times
They stabilize our biorhythm and sustainably improve sleep quality.
4. Exercise promotes deep sleep
Dogs that are physically and mentally stimulated sleep more deeply and peacefully.
The same applies to us:
Daily exercise – especially in the fresh air – improves the time it takes to fall asleep, the duration of sleep and the proportion of deep sleep.
5. Conclusion
-
Dogs and puppies sleep in many short phases., adapted to safety, environment and their pack.
-
Puppies need a lot of sleep., to optimally support growth, learning and the immune system.
-
Breed, age, activity & Routine significantly influences sleep quality a dog.
-
We learn from dogs that sleep quality is more important than quantity. – Safety, rituals and relaxation count more than hours of sleep.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.