Nap time is just as important as Play time!
At Out of the Crate Doggie Daycare, we believe nap time is just as important as play time! If it were up to the dogs, they would surely play all day! But to remain happy and healthy, dogs need their sleep too. Throughout the daycare day, our dogs rotate between the play areas and our designated naptime room. The amount of sleep each dog needs can vary by breed, age, activity levels and health. This is why we want to make sure every dog receives ample opportunities to rest.
How much sleep do dogs actually need?
Puppies can sleep between 18-20 hours per day. Just like human babies, their brains are developing, and their bodies are growing, and it doesn’t take much exercise at all to tire them out. Due to adjusting to a new environment as well as not being able to hold their bladder very long, Puppies can take up to 12 months of age before they are sleeping more throughout the night.
Like puppies, Senior Dogs may also require more sleep as their bodies are starting to slow down and activities start to require more energy than they used to.
Most Adult Dogs require around 12-14 hours of sleep per day. Large Breeds require closer to 18 hours of sleep per day.
Just like humans, dogs have a circadian rhythm that regulates their sleep – meaning they fall asleep and stay asleep easier at night. However, dogs have a polyphasic sleep pattern, meaning they sleep multiple times throughout a 24-hour period in comparison to humans who typically sleep during one long 6-8 hour stretch. This is why dogs can be found catching some Zzz’s in the middle of the afternoon.
