How much sleep does a puppy need changes through each of the puppy’s developmental stages. On average, a 3 month old puppy will sleep around 16-18 hours a day – or sometimes even more!
The first year of a puppy’s life is a critical time of development. Just like how a human toddler needs a sleep schedule, so too does a puppy.
If you are having trouble getting your puppy to sleep and need some helpful tips, click here.
In the beginning, your puppy will need a lot of sleep. However, as they grow older, they’ll be able to stay awake longer and will require fewer daytime naps.
Puppies need a lot of sleep for development, but occasionally too much is not a good thing.
Here, we’ll discuss how much sleep does a puppy need for each growth stage.
Newborn
A newborn puppy sleeps 22 hours a day or more. During this period, your puppy is developing both physically and mentally and will need its mother to help see, hear, and regulate its body temperature. A puppy does not normally open its eyes until 12-15 days old.
If you are buying or adopting a puppy, you won’t see it when it is first born, as it is recommended that a puppy stays with its mother for the first 8 weeks.
8 Weeks
An 8-week-old puppy will sleep 18-20 hours a day or more. This is usually the earliest veterinarians recommend separating your puppy from its mother.
They may experience confusion, loss, and regression during this time. You will notice behavior changes during this period,until your puppy settles in and knows its place in your family.
Don’t yell at your puppy – they’re still in “kindergarten” and are learning.
12 Weeks
From 12 to 16 weeks, your puppy will spend 15-20 hours a day sleeping. By this point, your puppy should be vaccinated.
Once they have had their first vaccinations, they will be ready to go out in public and meet new dog friends.
Six months
At the 6-month-old stage, your puppy is halfway to being their adult size and will get 14-16 hours a day of sleep.
They will be playful and energetic by this age. It is a good idea for owners to have some training in place by now.
Sleeping Patterns of Puppies
Depending on the life cycle your puppy is in, it may have different sleeping patterns.
Day
How much sleep does a puppy need during the day? A newborn puppy will sleep for most of the day during its first couple of weeks of life.
However, since a newborn puppy will need to nurse every two hours, it is essential to ensure they do not miss a feeding.
Once a puppy is one month old, they will begin to show their individual personality.
If they start acting out, such as chewing on things or being unruly, that is a sign that your puppy needs a nap.
Just like how humans babies who have missed its nap can become overstimulated and grumpy, so too can your puppy.
If your puppy is sleeping too much, it is probably normal – your pup is logging some extra Z’s for an upcoming growth spurt or other developmental change.
However, if your pup is oversleeping and also exhibits signs of low energy, anemia, or injury, you should seek veterinary care.
Night
A newborn puppy will sleep for most of the night in the beginning but will wake (or need to be woken) to nurse from its mother every two hours.
As your puppy grows older, ensure your puppy’s sleep environment is friendly, such as a crate or a special puppy space dedicated just to them that is quiet and stress-free.
Make sure to allow for naps if you take your puppy on a new adventure. Exercise is good for growing dogs.
Not only so they remain healthy, but it will enable them to burn off enough excess energy during the day and in the evening to ensure they will be ready to sleep at night.
A 6-month-old puppy will be able to hold their bladder for 6-7 hours, and at this point will probably be able to sleep through the night without needing to go outside.
But be patient with accidents as its bladder grows.
Do different dog breeds need more sleep than others?
An adult dog will spend 12-14 hours a day sleeping, as well as being able to sleep through the night.
On average, a bigger breed of dog like a Great Dane will sleep more through the day than smaller dogs, like a Chihuahua.
Some dogs are notorious for their laziness (like pugs), and some of the sleepiest dog breeds include:
- Beagles
- Labrador Retrievers
- Bulldogs
- German Shepherds
- Boxers
- Golden Retrievers
Conclusion
There is nothing more exciting than a new pet for your home.
Young puppies in particular, watching them exploring and playing/destroying is great fun, but they rapidly run out of energy and need a snooze.
A nap in their bed will give you a chance to tidy up the destruction behind them or have a rest yourself.
The amount of sleep a healthy puppy needs generally decreases over time with the occasional long nap due to a high level of activity.
But as an owner, you should pay attention to your puppy’s sleeping routine.
If you worry they are sleeping too much, a visit to your local veterinarian will be able to put your mind at rest.
I hope you have enjoyed our article and found it helpful. If you are looking for information on training your new furry friend, click here or if you are having trouble getting your puppy to sleep, we have useful tips that work, which you can read about here.
