How Much Sleep Is Your Dog Getting? And Is It Enough?

BY | December 14 | COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY
How Much Sleep Is Your Dog Getting? And Is It Enough?

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Dogs are precious creatures. They are our furry best friends and one of the most loyal creatures you can find on earth. Sleep plays a very important role in overall health. Whether itโ€™s for humans, dogs, cats, or any other animal, sleep is equally important. For humans to feel rested, it takes an average of about 8 hours. For dogs though, sleep is a completely different story.Dogs canโ€™t really be classified as either nocturnal or diurnal. The dogs that live with us, tend to sleep when we go to sleep. In a way, they can be seen as social sleepers. Just like how an average human needs at least 7 hours of sleep per day, an average dog would need 10. This varies with age as younger and older dogs tend to sleep for longer. Here are some things you should know about your canineโ€™s sleeping patterns and what you can do to better them.

What Are The Signs That My Pooch Is Not Getting Enough Sleep?

Thereโ€™s not a lot of research that has been done on the subject of sleep deprivation in dogs but the symptoms and signs of sleep deprivation are similar to those experienced in people. If your dog is behaving a little odd by being grumpy, disoriented, and forgetful, or if he has a hard time staying focused on everyday activities, then thereโ€™s a good chance that heโ€™s sleep deprived. You should get him checked out by a vet as soon as you can as any of these symptoms could also be an indication of an underlying medical condition.

What Are The Things That Could Disrupt His Sleep?

Older dogs tend to have a harder time getting to sleep when compared to adult dogs and puppies. Dogs also have an equivalent to Alzheimerโ€™s, itโ€™s called canine cognitive dysfunction. Dogs who have been diagnosed with this condition often go through a state of confusion late at night. As night begins to fall, they grow more and more restless and confused. This makes it harder for them to drift off to sleep.Dogs who have experienced or gone through a traumatic experience may be suffering from PTSD and that would make it harder for them to fall asleep. Sleep troubles are something all dog owners should know about. Especially when youโ€™re planning on adopting a dog and donโ€™t know much of his past.

How Can You Help Your Dog Get A Good Nightโ€™s Sleep?

AS sleep is very important for dogs, we should do everything we can to make sure that heโ€™s getting enough of it. If you notice your dog having an especially difficult time getting to sleep and staying asleep, try regulating his exercise. Take him on a walk sometime during the day. Avoid doing anything engaging like playing an exciting game with him right before bedtime. All this does, is rile him up even more.Just like people who work out, run, or go to the gym regularly get better sleep, tiring him out by doing physical activities and activities that require mental stimulation can help him get a good nightโ€™s sleep.

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