Is Your Dog Sleeping Too Much? Labrador Sleep Secrets Revealed!
Labs sleep a lot, and although you will probably expect a puppy to nap frequently, you may be surprised by how much your adult dog sleeps during the day.
My own Labs love a lie in and tend to go back to bed for a nap after an early morning bathroom break! Today I share what you should expect from your dog’s sleeping patterns as they grow and develop. And help you to understand the changes that occur in different stages of their lives.
- Dog sleep patterns
- How many hours a day do dogs sleep?
- Changes in dog sleep patterns
- Where do dogs sleep?
How Long Do Dogs Sleep?
Dogs have a sleep pattern known as polyphasic. This means that they have multiple periods of sleep scattered throughout the day and night. A feature that they share with many other mammals.
Dogs have better night vision than we do. So their ancestors could hunt both by day and by night, if necessary. In fact, hunting at night may have given them some advantages. It is easier to creep up on your victim under the cover of darkness.
Dog Sleep Patterns
Sleeping all night had no advantage for dogs, so dogs did not evolve a natural tendency to sleep for a single long stretch of time like we do. Instead, they acquired the useful ability to get as much sleep as possible, often in short stretches, whenever there is nothing much going on.
I love the way that my dogs are able to go from fast asleep to ‘ready for action’ in an instant. Something we humans tend to struggle with.
You may have noticed that your dog wakes up instantly and is ready for action right away too. This ability evolved so that dogs can defend the pack from a threat at a moment’s notice.
How Dogs Adapt to Different Patterns of Sleep
Dogs are adaptable creatures. Although your dog’s ancestors may have hunted at night, modern dogs have learned to live by our clocks. My dogs sleep well at night, and living with humans means that most dogs do learn to sleep the night away without disturbing their human family. They may wake and move around briefly during this period of time, but I don’t hear them unless they are unwell. If your dog is not sleeping through the night and disturbing your sleep, consider whether he is getting enough daytime activity and stimulation.
Dogs have retained their ability to sleep whenever life gets dull. Studies of guard dogs have shown that dogs are not disadvantaged by being woken up frequently or working in changing shifts. They simply sleep when they get the chance. But how many hours sleep does a dog need during each 24 hour period?
How Many Hours a Day do Dogs Sleep?
Just like humans, sleep needs vary among individual dogs. Sleep needs may also vary between different dog breeds. Adult Labradors will sleep for well over half of every 24 hours, and puppies under four months old may sleep as much as 20 hours a day.
The reason for all this sleeping may have to do with a special type of sleep called rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep during which dreaming takes place.
Do Dogs Dream?
Dogs certainly appear to dream in the same way that we do. And their brains behave in a similar way to ours during the sleep cycle. REM sleep is just one phase of the sleep cycle that both dogs and humans experience. A study published in 2008 showed that REM or dreaming sleep decreases as dogs get older. So it looks as though puppies dream more than adult dogs.
I find it fascinating to watch my dogs make little twitching and running movements with their paws while they are snoozing, and some dogs will give little yips and barks. This is a normal part of deep REM or dreaming sleep.
Studies have also shown that if the part of the brain that de-activates movement during sleep is removed from a dog, the sleeping dog will actually carry out the behaviors that he is dreaming about. So while I can’t tell you for certain that dogs dream just like we do, it seems quite likely that they do.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!
We know that in humans, REM sleep is important. Being deprived of REM sleep can cause unpleasant effects, and I don’t believe there is any reason to think that dogs are any different. It is important to allow your dog to sleep deeply when he wants to and to not interrupt his sleep when he starts dreaming.
Some veterinary specialists speculate that dogs sleep more than humans because their REM sleep is often interrupted due to their ability to wake easily and quickly and be ready for action. Because of that wakefulness, dogs need more periods of sleep in which to get an adequate amount of REM sleep.
Should I Worry about Changes in Sleep Patterns?
If you are worried that your dog may be ill because he is sleeping so much, ask yourself what has changed. Is he sleeping a lot more than he was just last week? Or has he always slept this much? Is he bright and bouncy when he is awake? Does he have a good appetite? Or does he seem lethargic or uninterested in food?
Excessive sleeping in a dog that is eating well and full of energy when awake is unlikely to have any significance. It’s just what dogs do. I find my elderly dogs tend to sleep more than they did when they were young. But if your dog’s sleeping patterns have changed recently, especially if he seems lacking in energy or his appetite is poor, have your vet check him over.
Make a Special Sleeping Space
Your Labrador, like all dogs, is able to awaken quickly from sleep and be ready for action, whenever an opportunity presents itself. However, constantly interrupting his sleep is not a good idea. While many confident dogs will sleep pretty much anywhere, it is important that every dog has his own sleeping space. A place where he can go and relax when he wants to. My dogs have baskets in the rooms that they have access to, and I provide more baskets than dogs, though they tend to all pile into the same one.
Even if your dog shares your bed at night, he should still have a bed somewhere in the house that he can call his own. It needs to be somewhere free of drafts and comfortable, preferably lined with a cozy mat or blanket.
Elderly Labradors may need thicker padding to support their joints. Orthopedic dog beds can provide extra comfort. It is here, in his special space, that your dog can relax fully and sleep deeply.
(paid link)Sweet Dreams
Dogs naturally sleep for long periods of time, and sleeping a lot is nothing to worry about in a dog that is active, enjoying his food and living life to the fullest. Just like people, dogs need deep REM sleep, and constantly interrupted sleep can be harmful. So keep your dog’s sleep space free from disturbances.
Placing your dog’s bed inside a crate is a good idea in families where there is a lot going on during the day. This helps prevent toddlers from climbing on the dog when he is trying to sleep and makes sure older children don’t trip over him.
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My 16 month old Fox Red Labrador called Koopa sleeps around 15 hours in a 24 hour period. I always feel guilty in the day time as I always thought he slept through boredom he has lots of exercise and playtime etc… but as we are a big family (7 of us in total) and we all have jobs or at school, we don’t always have the time to give him 100% attention. I have changed my working hours so I am at home with him all day and my partner is with him in the evenings so he always has someone home with him. But it is still hard to devote constant attention to him as I also have chores to do at home ie cleaning, washing and preparing dinner etc… plus I also like to have a rest during the day due to working nights. But after reading this article I feel more at ease knowing he isn’t sleeping just through boredom.
My family’s dog Tucker is 16 months, and he usually gets around 5 hours of exercise per day, but he tends to sleep for only 5-6 hours a night, and this is regular. Is it normal? It’s starting to get exhausting and he’s starting to get very antsy and even bark when we’re all trying to go to sleep at around 23:00. Is there any way to get him to sleep longer???
Hi my 6 month lab has started to become unsettled at night, she barks all night and has started to want to bite everything, even me. I try to ignore her but she still intends on jumping up and trying to bite. She gets half an hour of exercise running about park around 7pm. She tends to go to sleep around 9pm but will weaken within a few hours, between 11pm and 2am and that is her up. She sleeps in my sons room on his bed, she has never been crated. It’s as if she thinks it’s playtime. She has totally destroyed my sons bedside cabinet with chewing. Will she ever settle down?
I crate trained my boy and swear by it. It helped with a lot of things. He loves his crate and sleeps in there in his thick bed and with a blanket. I keep the door open always and i cover it at around 8 pm at night and he goes in there when he’s ready to sleep. I just cover the top/sides. It’s his safe compfy quiet space. Even during the day he goes in there to sleep as well but is free to sleep anywhere. He lives to sleep by my feet on our carpet too. My boys 2 and he’s still energetic but he can also be calm and settled.
Murphy is 12 weeks. He has 2 long naps in the day, sleeps from 930pm until 730am and plays and chews like crazy when he is awake. We crate him at night. Daytime, usually sleeps on his bed beside the fireplace while I work.
Yes! Crate training is awesome ! I did the same for my boy when we first brought him home. It’s their quiet safe and compfy space. I also cover his crate at night but just top and sides. He lives his crate that has a thick bed and blanket in there. I leave the door open now always bcuz he’s not puppy anymore. It’s awesome to keep them safe and also for potty training .
Our 3 month old red fox Lab Ted has 2 x 15min gentle walks per day and started weekly 45 min puppy training classes yesterday evening. Last night he slept 9.5 hrs (he sleeps in a crate downstairs) – we were beginning to think there was something wrong with him! Firing on all cylinders as normal today! He will sleep on and off for hours during the day too!
Our 4 month old fox-red lab sleeps happily from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., but I’m a little envious of people who say that their puppies sleep around 16 hours a day. Apart from her excellent 8 hours at night, she sleeps for only 2 or 3 hours at the most during the day – at least when we’re in. Maybe she sleeps more if we’re out – who knows?
Our girl “Taylor” ( a yellow 7 year old) … probably gets all total, about 12-14 hours ?. The wife and I are both “retired – disabled” (in our mid to late 60’s) and therefore we don’t do much during the day, and we ourselves have been guilty of sleeping longer and at odd times … so our girl has, I think, picked up on our pattern ?. Although there are those times, when our great-grandkids come to visit and because they range in age between 8 mons. and 6 years … we have a lot of activity going on and none of us gets to have any sleep !!. After she “check’s them out with her nose” and finds that their all ok … she gets in on whatever activity their doing and they all romp til they drop !.
But, because me and the wife aren’t busy every day, she has picked up on that and we 3 will sometimes sleep the day and night away !.
Her favorite place to sleep (besides our bed and hers) is in the hallway, where she can see every move we make and still be out of the way and in a darker, quiet place ?.
I have a 5 month old chocolate lab that seems to only sleep during the day if I put him in his crate. When he’s free to roam around the house, he just wants to play and doesn’t ever stop and lay down on his own. And the more we play, the more hyper he gets to the point that we have to make him nap. I usually keep him in the crate for about 1/2 hour and then let him out and he plays again, even if just for a short time, then becomes all worked up and can’t calm down, so back into the crate he goes. This goes on all day, every day and quite honestly, it’s exhausting for ME. Our last lab would tire out after playing and would nap. This one doesn’t seem to understand that method.
My 1 year old lab likes to sleep in the end of the sofa with a little pillow under her head, if the pillow is not there… then she sits in the sofa and stares me down until I go put the little pillow there. If I happen to fall asleep on the sofa I usually have her sleeping next to my legs and she uses my butt as a pillow instead.
She sleeps a lot on and off during the day (my toddler and her play fetch a lot so they both tire each other out, along with that they have tea parties etc).
The funniest I hear is when my toddler do obidience training, i can be doing dishes and I can hear my toddler say: sit! Good. Lay down! Good. Etc, so that my 1 year old lab loves to hug the pillow a lot I always had a understanding for (I got a crate for her to hide in from my toddler).
Thanks so much for this information, I thought my lab was getting lazy because she was sleeping a lot but now i know this is not the case. She has two nice dog beds and a choice of a double bed if she wants to look out a window, I notice REM sleep in all beds. During the night she prefers the dog bed in the room my husband and I sleep in.
Hi, I have a 10 yr old rescue black Lab mix. He sleeps right by me at night on the floor, and btw he loves small places. he puts his head under the bed, and has always been like that since we go him. he will move around during the nite in the bedroom, but is always close. in the morning, after going outside, he comes in and eats his breakfast, and knowingly goes into my bedroom and lays down because he knows I will be leaving soon for work. He knows I come home for lunch and he is waiting by the door. I ask if he wants to go out, which 90% of the time he doesn’t, he just lays down and watches me. When I come home after work, he is waiting because he knows its time to go out and play a little ball. when I tell him its time to cook dinner, he puts the ball down and in we go. I believe he made his schedule according to mine.
My chocolate boy sleeps through the night right on my bed with me. The thing I feel awful about is while at work 8+ hours he likes to have either my bed, or my daughters, but he has ripped sheets, blankets, and mattress covers so many times he’s been banished from the bedrooms when we are not home. He has an L.L.Bean bed, but prefers “his” love seat with one side reclined, and that’s where he begrudgingly spends my work hours. I always leave the t.v. on for him and if it’s hot a fan – but I still feel absolutely awful when he asks to go in on the bed and I have to tell him no. Wish I knew how to break him of ripping at the bedding – we assume he’s trying to bunch the covers into a “nest-like” spot, but we can’t have him tearing the bedding up, and he’s proven time and time again that he can’t be trusted! 🙁
Hi Jen, Dogs often display behaivoral problems if they are isolated for long periods of time on a regular basis. Using a dog creche or a dog walker may well be helpful. Check out this post for more information on keeping a dog when you work full time: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/combining-a-labrador-puppy-with-full-time-work/
My Maggie is a three and a half yr old yellow lab. She loves playing football and we usually take her to the playground in the evenings when it’s not raining. She has become our clock and sharp at 7 am and 5 pm she is ready with her leash in her mouth. Even though she has her own space to sleep, she rarely sleeps there except when she has received a scolding. Usually she sleep close to wherever I am. If I am at my desk or dining table, she will be under it. If I am in the bedroom she sleeps either at the foot of the bed or under it. She sleeps when she has nothing better to do but keeps following me every where throughout the day.
It’s great to read all these comments on here. I have a rescue lab cross beagle around 10-11 months old. I think her sleeping patterns are normal, though I work for myself so every day is different for us. She sleeps on my bed and has started to sleep in more in the mornings with me, wakes up around 8 for wee wee then comes back to snooze until I’m up. In the daytime, we’ll either walk then she’ll rest or go in and out whilst I work, or I take her to doggie daycare to play whilst I’m busy. In the evening, she eats (a lot) and then snoozes or goes out to bark at the cows in the field for a bit.
I have been worrying lately as she had food poisoning twice a few weeks ago (something she picked up in the woods, where I haven’t taken her since) so just tonight I was worried as she is so sleepy. She has been on my bed since around 7:30pm and it’s now 11pm. However, she’s responsive when I call her name so I’ve stopped interrupting her and worrying that I’ve either fed her too much or she’s somehow poisoned herself again by snorting something up on the walk (she’s such a scavenger!)
Anyway, reading all of your posts is great as I’ve realised that today she was probably active for around 10 hours with the doggie daycare, then a walk, then barking excitedly in the garden. No wonder she is tired! I’m going to let her snooze and try not to worry!
My Maggie girl is about 6 or 7 years old. Im not sure because she is a rescue form a kill shelter. I can’t believe someone was ready to let her leave. Anyway she is part of my family nowandIm not sure howled she really is, but when i got her the shelter said she ws 10 months old and a different vet said she was 1&1/2 yrs old in 2010. when i want to take her with or out to play or on a ride…she is ready an running! We play fetch everyday, but other than outings and playing she pretty much sleeps on her planet onthecouch or her fluffy bed! Im guessing thats normal.
Feel free to share your input. !!
thanks T
My 5 month Labrador sleeps almost the entire day (about 1.5 hours of excercise per a day) but when she is wide awake she still doesn’t seem very playful. Should I be worried?
At 5 months a Labrador should only have 25 min exercise ~ 5 minutes for each month.
Hemi, chocolate adorable, has a den in the space under the stairs which we still choose at this time (she is 7 months old) to secure shut with a mesh door so it acts as a crate. We have recently extended it into the under stairs cupboard so she has ample room as she grows to stand, curl up, stretch out ..and everything in between. Although she dozes on the sofa, I know the den provides her with quality downtime and deep sleep. I am not sure she would have had so much of this otherwise as she is pretty keen to be part of everything most of the time 😉
Our three Labs seem to sleep a lot but I think they just enjoy sleeping! Our 8 year old choccy boy take every opportunity to fall asleep, usually on the sofa or a pile of dogs beds (the comfier the better!). Our 5 1/2 year old yellow girl loves following you about, but if you stop in one place for more than a few mins, she’s asleep on your feet 🙂 Our 3 1/2 year old black girl is the most active, loving to poke the other two and try to get them to play with her. She often sleeps with her head on the back of the sofa, so that when she wakes, she can look out of the window 🙂 And at night, all three of them curl up on the bed with us! They get more room than we do 🙂
My lab is 1&1/2 years old, and until last week was quite active and bouncy. He used to sleep during the day a lot, which was fine, since he would always, wake up at around 5 in the evening. We would play fetch with his favorite ball, but now he just sleeps all the time, except for when I call him. We used to play fetch for about 15 mins everyday, but now, all of a sudden, after the first two throws, he just picks up the ball , and goes to his favorite spot and sleeps…
Also, now he doesn’t finish his food( he never used to leave a crumb in his bowl!)
Is he ill? Or is this normal?
my almost 8 yr old lab has not moved off my bed in about 36 yrs. not to eat , drink or go outside. What shall I do?
Nothing, you’re doing fine Bob, it all seems to be going well.
hi
I bought luffy yesterday 24april 2015.m new regarding pets.can u suggest me the things to be done initially to protect luffy frm diseases.
Hey my Dog Snoopy is about 48 todaysdaysand i have given him vaccine canigen L amd canigen DHPPi.and he is having some cough, but most important thing is that is sleeping more than 20 hours is there is any problem with more sleep?
Manish Goplani no it is fine for your dog to sleep more then 20 hours a day since he is only a puppy. But when he’s awake always take the chance to play!
My family adopted a 3 yr old chocolate lab. He wont do anything unless its eat or go outside. He is used to being an outside dog and we have brought him in our home. Is he pouting? Upset, or may need time to adjust?
Why does my black lab, onyx, like to sleep under our bed? Whenever he is in our bedroom goes under the bed. There is nothing under there….
Debra it is his homing/feeling safe instinct. Our dog sleeps in his travel box with a lambs wool carpet and rugs over the top, so it is like a little dark cave, of all the places he likes to sleep in our house, that is the one he retreats to most, when tired, when it is too noisy because of guests or just to chill. We are not strict on sleeping places, he’ll roam has a few favorite spots, but always end up back there. When he was a puppy he liked to snuggle under the living room coffee table as it was enclosed, until he got too big for it.
My Leroy sleeps at least 14 hours daily. He’s 7 1/2 years old. I just bought him an awesome bed that ‘s 8 inches thick & made of memory foam & shearling!!!!! He loves it!!!!:)
Sam, now three and a half years old , has two speeds , comatose and flat out with enthusiasm ! I used to worry about the amount of time he spent asleep, even had him examined by our Vet who declared him to be in fine fettle ! Whilst out walking or training, he is always on the run , would go all day for sure , we often walk for several miles so Sam must do at least twice as much as me . I now believe that whilst resting, he is secretly building his energy and stamina up for round two ! What amuses me is that he can be fast asleep and snoring, until he hears me get his lead ,instantly awake and ready x
annie is 24 months and relaxes for at least ten hours a day! She has a run with her friends each day from 7-30 till 9-00 breakfast then sits on me until 10-30. While I do housework she is found on the couch in the bay window watching the world. 12-00 playing ball in the park for 30 mins, back to sit on mummy! Small little naps, playtime with her blankets interspersed with more naps, if dad is hone she demands more walks! Until 6-00 when its tea time, more naps until 8-00 when she sneaks upstairs to warm my bed up, 11-00 she’s called to go to bed which she responds immediately going to her place under the stairs. She snores, dreams, snorts, appears to suck whilst dreaming, and looks generally adorable
Hi, i have a 1.5 year old male choc Labrador Opie. He loves his sleep i reckon he could sleep on a bed of nails. If he’s not in his bed (or mine) on hot days he will first dunk his head fully into his water and gets on the outside table to catch any breeze about. Oh and he has his own pillow that he carts with him and uses it like we do, i often remind him that he’s not human like he thinks he is. 🙂
I have just adopted a lovely 3 year old castrated male called Bailey. He’s well trained but out on a walk he seems to have no get up and go. He lazily walks behind me if we walked slower we would literally stop. Also he’s taking or leaving his food. Is this normal or could it be he’s a bit homesick if that’s possible
I just got a lab puppy 7.5 weeks old, and was told to not let the puppy sleep on the floor ever. I was also told to not turn on the ceiling fan in the monsoon and winter. I tried putting her in her crate but she keeps shouting and i even tried covering the entire floor of my room with blankets but she just pushes them aside and sleeps on the marble floor. So, my question is…. can i allow her to sleep on the floor? And can i switch on the fan?, i live in navi mumbai and its above 25 degrees celsius here even at night time. Please advise.
Labs feel the heat – they prefer cooler weather. We also live in a hot climate but usually only about 20 deg at night and I always sleep with the ceiling fan on and even then they get too hot. I would say you should definitely have the fan on!
HELLO
I have a yellow lab named Jimmy. He is 6 months old.. Sleeping pattern of my dog is quite abnormal.
He sleeps whole day and wakes up for peeing and goes back to sleep again.
And at evening he goes for a 25-30 min walk and comes home and sleeps..
At night after taking his dinner he becomes active for about 1 hour and goes back to sleep again..
And he sleeps all night from 9-5 am..
how do i prevent this problem??
i am frustrated seeing my dog sleeping for a long period of time…
does this habit of my dog affects his health?
does this affect his growth rate??
HELP ME GUYS..!!
PLEASE
Young labradors need lots of sleep 16 – 18 hrs a day is standard
The other thing to ask yourself is: How much exercise if my Lab getting? These are energetic dogs and require much exercise. Mine NEEDS at least 2 miles of running twice a day, plus frequent sessions of tennis ball retrieval. Luckily, I have a treadmill, so I can exercise him (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia – my Lab is my Mobility Service Dog). On nice days, I can take him for runs while I ride my mobility scooter.
He takes several naps, and sleeps deeply at night.
Cheerio!
When we got Dexter in March at 7 weeks old, he was very, very active at all hours, and his sleep pattern totally unpredictable, but what’s amazed me is how he’s settled into our routine within the last 6 months. None of us (except my husband) are really morning people, so he likes to take it easy in the mornings, happy to jump on anyone’s bed and get an extra few “Zs”. However, late in the evening – that’s when the “puppy crazies” hit, and he’s super-active from about 8 – 10 pm before settling down for his nighttime sleep.
Our lifestyle means that we’re often out and about and we like to take our lab with us much as possible. This means she often doesn’t really get chance for much good sleep during the day. We do worry that she perhaps needs to nap more regularly and is missing out a bit but we’re loathe to leave her at home when she seems to love being with us. In fact we can always tell if she is a bit overtired as she does turn into a difficult and beligerant child again. We had a full day out yesterday at corfe castle and walked quite a few miles and she probably did not sleep for more than 10 mins all day until we got home, and today she does seem to be catching up – having some good dreams too it seems! Hopefully we’re not depriving of sleep too much as she always gets her 8 – 10 hours each night.
I have a 34 days old Lab Puppy. He is sleeping pretty much the whole day. Wakes up at times to pee plays for 10 minutes at the most and goes back to sleep.
After each meal he will pass stool and play for another 10 minutes, and sleep off again.
Is this normal ?
its 100% normal puppies are like small infants they both do the same.
Hello my 9 year old yellow lab is sleeping so deeply its hard to wake her up! Is this a horrible sign???
But its not a puppy,Bunny! Sorry Meleny but i cant help you their. My puppy sleeps alwell but…. Dont know about an adult!
My chocalate lab is 3 1/2 years old. I am home most of the time right now. He is everywhere I am and he sleeps on the floor most of the time during the day when i’m inside. During the night if he hears something, he is out the doggy door fast and then comes right back in and goes to sleep. He seems very energetic when he is awake though. He licks his front paws alot, is this normal.
My 17 month old Lab now refuses to walk outside. He was great up until a week or so ago. Nothing seems to get him going. I have two dogs, Zeus my Lab and Athena, my Pit Bull. Athena loves being outside and Zeus used to but now I can rarely get him out the door and when I do he lies down on the ground and doesn’t want to move. It’s driving me crazy and he’s missing out. PLEASE HELP!
Hi i have got a 10 month old female black retriever labrador called skye & i have found all your information really very helpful.
Skye had her 1st season when she was 2 months ago when she was 8 months old & i always check her over every week & when i was checking her over this week she has a yellow dicharge coming from her virgina & i have made an appointment with the vet 2moro the 25th march so should i be worried or is this a normal thing that happens when their this age & after their 1st heat season.
Ty
anne-marie
Hi Anne-Marie, you need to take Skye to the vet to have her checked over. It isn’t normal, and needs looking at. Pippa
My 10 month old Labrador wakes at 4 am and cries for attention even though she is with her 6year old brother …any ideas how to encourage her to have an extra hour .could you also advise on how much exercise she should be having as I think three times a day out with her brother is to much .
Kind Regards
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia, there’s an article on night waking in the puppy section above, and on exercise in the health section under diet and exercise. Pippa
I have an 11 week old puppy Kairo and being retired I am home all day with him and has he hasn’t had all his shots yet he doesn’t get to go out and socialise although we went along to pre-school.Kairo sleeps a lot which is good as it gives me time to myself for around 2 of every 4 hours but I do tend to try and wear him out with fetch about a 1/2 hour after each meal which I am giving him 4 small meals a day.He sleeps in his crate in my bedroom and sleeps through the night for 8+ hours which is good but if I try to contain him in a crate in my lounge during the day he howls and barks so I have not persevered,any suggestions on this Pippa although it doesn’t worry me too much although he is a wee bit destructive at times.He seems to like sleeping behind the wood burner as it is Summer here in New Zealand and he seems to like the coolness of the tiles but he is in for a shock when Winter arrives.I love this web page and as been a good source of information.
Max wakes up in the middle of most nights ( usually between 2.30am and 3.30am). We have to get up and let him out but on his return he will go back to bed (yes, ok I admit it! It’s the bed I share with him) and will go straight back to sleep. He’s snoring and I wide awake.
He worked for a few months as a drug detection dog in the night clubs before we took him on and we wonder if this has brought about his nocturnal activities!
I’m not sure about the total hours asleep, but Lady’s favourite spot during the day is on the sofa in the drawing room where she can keep a watch on the street. Her self appointed day job is head watchdog letting us know if anyone moves outside. She naps during the morning and is completley out of it for the whole afternoon.
Evening is more active until around 9 o’clock when she’s out of it again usually somewhere on the drawing room floor. Lots of REM and running in her sleep plus occasional vocals.
At night her bed is under the kitchen table, but she alternates beteen that and an old sofa we let her sleep on in a family room adjoining the kitchen.
In the summer her day spot is often the conervatory where she cn keep an eye on the garden, or if sunny and warm, under a favourite apple tree in the garden.
What amazes me is how quickly she can go from awake to asleep and back again. She seems to put her head down and immediately her eyes roll up and she’s out! She’s got her head on my knee now as I type this and she’s just slipped off straight into REM with much twitching!
Lovely – Lady sounds like a very contented girl 🙂
Hi David,
Thanks for that info, I too was thinking my 19 month Lexi Honey girl was sleeping too much but having read your post I see all is fine as her mannerism appear identical to your Lady. Thank you for the input.
While I am here, may I ask you if you have had any ear problems with your gal such as yeast infection or such like? Has been the bain of my life this past couple of months and has cost me considerably too. No swimming for a while.
Cheers, Alex.
Hi Alexander
My little girl Sasha loves swimming in the lake of our local park. She has had a yeast infection but my vet has now put her on ear cleaner drops called Sancerum. You put 7-8 drops once a day for the first week and once a week thereafter to hopefully stop infections.