Do Puppies sleep a lot when they are growing?

If your puppy is spending hours and hours snoozing, it’s not a warning sign. Your puppy might need 18 hours or more of sleep every day to grow into a happy, healthy adult dog!

You’ve finally brought home your new puppy, and you can’t wait to spend lots of time with your new love. But, surprise! This little bundle of joy sleeps a lot. Is this normal?.

The majority of new puppy owners are curious about how much their pet should sleep. Let’s look at a typical puppy sleep schedule and the advantages of squeezing in a few extra hours of sleep to determine how much is too much and how little is too little.

2 Adjust for changes in routine.

Predicting a puppy’s sleep pattern takes some trial and error. Expect your dog to require a longer than usual quiet rest period to calm down if you take them out of the house for an unfamiliar experience.

3 Burn off excess energy.

Playing with you is a great way to exhaust your dog. Consider dog toys and food puzzles, provide an outdoor view for entertainment, or arrange for a pet sitter to come over for a play session if you aren’t at home during the day. Anything that makes them more active during the day will probably make it easier for them to fall asleep at night.

Before bedtime, if your puppy is thirsty, go ahead and give them a small drink. However, try to stop drinking a lot of liquids an hour before bedtime. This provides them with the chance and time to empty their bladder so they can get comfortable and take a long nap. (If you’re potty training, don’t forget to take your puppy outside frequently, especially when they wake up. ).

Sample puppy sleep schedule

Here’s a simple sleep schedule to get you started. Remember that every puppy is unique, so keeping track of your puppy’s sleeping patterns will help you respond to their needs.

Morning:

  • Wake up and take a potty break
  • 15 minutes of play
  • Breakfast time!
  • Allow 30 minutes for their food to process
  • Take them out for another bathroom break
  • Naptime

  • Wake up
  • Take a potty break
  • No meal during this time. Just provide 15 minutes of healthy play or a brief training session for basic commands
  • Afternoon

  • Potty break upon waking up
  • A longer walk or activity/play to tucker them out for their afternoon nap
  • Lunch

  • 30 minutes to process food
  • Potty break
  • Naptime

  • Your pup will snooze in the late afternoon
  • After all naps, immediately take your puppy out to potty and play for a while afterward
  • Do some short training sessions
  • Evening

  • Potty break every time your puppy wakes up
  • Dinner time with a 30 minute food processing time
  • Play or a take long walk to tire your pup out in time for bed
  • Quiet time

  • Give your puppy cuddles galore to relax them before bedtime
  • Potty break right before bedtime
  • Bedtime

  • When it’s bedtime, place your puppy in the crate, offer them a treat, and say goodnight
  • During the early weeks with your puppy, have patience. There is a lot to discover about you and their new environment. As time passes, your puppy will sleep through the night. We promise!.

    Do Puppies sleep a lot when they are growing?

    FAQ

    Do puppies get sleepy when growing?

    In a healthy puppy’s life, there are anticipated times when they will typically require more sleep. For instance, during growth spurts.

    How do you know if your puppy is going through a growth spurt?

    Increased appetite and sleep are indicators that they may be about to grow, so watch out for those things. Always keep in mind that as your puppy grows, their joints and growth plates are also developing. Therefore, any joint pain should be reported to your veterinarian to prevent long-term problems from getting worse.

    Should I be worried if my puppy sleeps a lot?

    The short answer is no, a puppy cannot sleep excessively. Young puppies require between 18 and 20 hours of sleep per day, with variations depending on age, breed, and level of activity. (As a comparison, adult dogs typically sleep about 14 hours per day. ).

    What ages do puppies have growth spurts?

    Dogs reach adolescence between six and 18 months. Your dog will experience rapid growth spurts during adolescence, which could cause some minor discomfort.