How Many Hours Do Dogs Sleep? What's Normal by Age and Breed
If you've ever looked at your dog in the middle of the afternoon and thought "all he does is sleep", you're not wrong — but you're probably not wrong to worry either. Dogs sleep a lot, but knowing what "a lot" means for your dog is what matters.
Average sleep hours for dogs
| Life stage | Average daily sleep |
|---|---|
| Puppy (under 6 months) | 16–20 hours |
| Young adult (1–5 years) | 10–14 hours |
| Active working dog | 8–12 hours |
| Senior (7+ years) | 14–18 hours |
The average adult dog sleeps 12–14 hours a day, spread across the night and several naps. Unlike humans, dogs don't have one long consolidated sleep period — they cycle in and out of sleep more readily, which is why they can be alert in seconds.
What affects how much your dog sleeps
Breed
Large and giant breeds (Saint Bernard, Great Dane, Mastiff) typically sleep more than small or working breeds. Greyhounds, despite their explosive speed, are one of the champion nappers of the dog world — built for short bursts, long rests. A Border Collie without enough stimulation, by contrast, may show anxiety rather than sleep more.
Age
Puppies need massive amounts of sleep because their brain and body are developing rapidly. Sleep is when learning consolidates and muscles grow. If your puppy sleeps 18 hours and wakes up alert and hungry, it's completely normal.
Senior dogs sleep more because their metabolism slows and exercise tires them faster. A dog that goes from sleeping 12 to 16 hours a day as they age may simply be getting older — but a sudden shift in an otherwise healthy adult dog is worth investigating.
Activity level
A dog that's had a good run needs more recovery than one who's barely moved. Post-exercise sleep is healthy and expected. What's unusual is a dog who barely moved and is sleeping far more than normal.
Boredom
Dogs with insufficient mental or physical stimulation sleep more because there's nothing else to do. This isn't illness — it's understimulation. A well-exercised, mentally engaged dog tends to sleep more deeply and on a more regular schedule.
Warning signs that your dog's sleep isn't normal
Sleeping a lot isn't always a problem. But these signs — especially in combination — warrant a vet call:
- Lethargy during normally active periods: won't greet you, no interest in food, refuses to go for a walk.
- Sudden change in pattern: your dog always slept 12 hours, now it's 18, and nothing in their routine changed.
- Difficulty waking: takes longer than usual to respond, seems dazed.
- Accompanying symptoms: appetite loss, weight loss, vomiting, coughing, breathing difficulty.
Conditions that can cause excessive sleepiness: hypothyroidism, anaemia, diabetes, heart failure, infection, chronic pain (arthritis), depression, and Cushing's disease.
What if my dog isn't sleeping enough?
Restless nights, repeatedly getting up, panting in the early hours — causes to investigate:
- Pain (arthritis, digestive discomfort)
- Anxiety or stress
- Need to toilet more frequently (possible kidney or digestive issue)
- Cognitive dysfunction in older dogs (canine equivalent of dementia)
- Environment too hot, cold, noisy, or bright
Dog sleep cycles (they dream too)
Dogs have REM and non-REM sleep phases, just like us. During REM sleep they dream — you'll see paw twitches, soft whimpers, eye movements under closed lids. This is normal and you shouldn't wake them from it.
The difference: dog sleep cycles are about 45 minutes (vs. 90 minutes for humans), meaning they cycle more often and are readier to snap awake at any sound. This is why a dog can go from deeply asleep to fully alert at the sound of the postman in two seconds.
How to support good sleep in your dog
- Give them a comfortable, consistently placed bed that's their own space.
- Maintain a regular routine — dogs are creatures of habit and predictability reduces stress.
- Appropriate exercise for their age and breed — too little leads to restless nights, too much can cause soreness.
- Mental stimulation: sniff games, food puzzles, short training sessions.
- If you suspect pain or anxiety, speak to your vet before assuming it's normal ageing.
Track changes with Purzi
Noticing that your dog "seems to be sleeping more" is hard to quantify without a baseline. With Purzi you can note observations about behaviour and activity so that when something changes, you have concrete data to share with your vet — rather than relying on fuzzy memory. The expert chat can also help you decide whether what you're describing warrants a visit.
FAQs
- Is it normal for my dog to sleep all day?
- For a puppy or senior dog, yes. For an active adult, it depends — if they're energetic and engaged when awake, it's probably fine. If they seem lethargic even when awake, a vet check is wise.
- Do dogs dream?
- Yes. During REM sleep dogs process the day's experiences. Paw movements and soft vocalisations are normal — do not wake them.
- Does my dog need their own bed?
- Not strictly, but a dedicated comfortable spot improves sleep quality and gives them a safe reference point. Orthopaedic beds matter more as dogs age.
- Can dogs have insomnia?
- Dogs don't have insomnia in the human sense, but sleep disturbances do occur — often due to pain, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, or needing to toilet more often. Multiple disturbed nights in a row deserve a vet conversation.