My Dog Is Sleeping A Lot - How Much Is Too Much?

If you think your dog is sleeping a lot, then it is important to know how much is too much. A dog's sleep cycle on a normal day is more or less half the time. However, not all sleep is the same. Dogs will have a time period where they will sleep deeply, potentially for consecutive hours. The rest of their sleeping pattern is made up of short naps. While they are resting, their sleep may not be as deep. They may not be dreaming and are likely napping to conserve energy.

You can tell whether a dog is in a deep sleep by different factors. If they are in REM sleep, you may see their eyeballs move under their eyelids. While it might look disturbing, it is normal for dogs to move their limbs or even tremble when sleeping. Research suggests, this is the dog dreaming. The dog's body posture also changes depending on their quality of sleep. For example, dogs lying in a curled up position are more likely to be in a deep sleep than dogs which are lying flat on the floor or have their paws in front of them.

While an average dog will sleep 12 - 14 hours a day, the stage of a dog's development will affect their sleep cycle. Here are the main stages:

• Newborn puppies: newborn puppies will not yet have opened their eyes, so it can be difficult to tell if they are alert at all. They will be asleep for most of the day, but you can see them breathe and suckle for milk.
• Puppies: during the puppy stage, a dog will sleep around 18 to 20 hours a day. They may be energetic when not sleeping, but they need a lot of rest to keep their developing bodies healthy.
• Adult dog: a dog is considered an adult between 1 and 2 years of age, although some larger breeds may take up to 3 years to fully develop. At this stage, a healthy dog will sleep between 12 - 14 hours.
• Senior dog: when a dog enters old age (after the age of 7 years, depending on individual), their body will start to slow down and they need more sleep to conserve energy. Depending on their well-being, they may return to sleeping 18 - 20 hours a day.

If a dog sleeps a lot during the day and even falls asleep during situations where they should be alert, they may be suffering from a disorder called hypersomnia. This is a neurological disease which result in excessive sleepiness. While there are various causes, there appears to be a genetic basis as some breeds are more prone than others. These more susceptible breeds include the Poodle, Labrador Retriever, the Beagle and the Miniature Pinscher. .