Sometimes it might seem as if your Labradoodle is just sleeping its life away before your very eyes. You might be concerned about how much sleep your dog seems to need, or indeed you may be worried they aren’t getting enough of it. How much sleep is normal? In this article, we are going to explore the world of doggy sleep from puppyhood through to adulthood.
During the puppy stage, Labradoodles will sleep for up to 20 hours out of a 24-hour period. Adult Labradoodles can sleep anywhere between 12 and 14 hours a day and senior dogs can sleep for longer periods the older they get.
Who knew dogs can suffer from actual sleeping problems as humans do? Insomnia, sleepwalking, and sleep apnea all exist for dogs too. Let’s explore more and remember each dog is unique and no two dogs will have the same sleeping pattern.
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Sleep Requirements for Puppies
You might be excited to welcome your new puppy to their forever home but wait a minute, they’re sleeping, and you just want to play! When you first get your new pup, you can expect them to sleep, a LOT. Puppies can sleep up to 20 hours a day which is pretty amazing when you think about it. At this stage, it’s important to remember that dog sleeping patterns are completely different from that of humans.
Have you ever noticed how quickly a dog wakes and leaps into action? It’s quite mind-blowing how they can be asleep one minute then up and at it seconds later. There is no desire to hit the snooze button in the doggy world.
Although they sleep for up to 20 hours a day, much of this is light sleep and not a deep sleep. Their sleep pattern is called polyphasic which means scattered periods of sleep.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is part of the cycle in which you reach the deepest stage of your sleep. This goes for dogs too but dogs do not get as much REM sleep as humans do, in fact only around 10% of their sleep is REM. Dogs sleep much lighter and in shorter bursts which can perhaps date back to their wolf ancestors where they were on alert all day and all night. Often a dog’s natural instinct is to protect which can account for this lighter sleep.
Puppies may sleep for up to 20 hours a day until they are around 4 months old. After this time the amount of sleep they have will depend on many factors including routine, personality, how active they are, and how quiet their days are.
Adult Labradoodle’s Sleep Needs
You can expect your Labradoodle to need less sleep once they are a bit bigger. The world is an exciting place and your dog will likely find more ways to keep themselves entertained (chasing that pesky fly on the window for instance!).
They may still sleep for around 12 to 14 hours a day which can still seem a lot but remember a lot of this is light and scattered over the day. There are many factors which need to be taken into consideration when pondering a dog’s sleeping pattern:
- How long your dog is home alone for – If they are in a noisy household, they may be less inclined to sleep as much.
- Dog sleeping arrangements – Where your dog prefers to sleep will be a contributing factor to how well and often they sleep.
- What their personality is like – Some dogs generally have more energy than others.
- Anxiety – Whether you have an anxious dog or a laid-back dog can affect their sleeping patterns.
- Daily Exercise – How much exercise and playtime your pooch gets will help to determine how much sleep they have.
- Age of your dog – Puppies and senior dogs tend to sleep a lot during the day whereas younger dogs will be more active.
- How big – The size of your dog will factor into their sleep requirements.
- You are what you eat – Diet can also affect sleeping patterns, a poor diet can lead to issues including sleep.
- Weather – The temperature can play a role in your dog’s desire to sleep. Those thick balmy days may mean your pooch is too tired to do much.
Why Has My Dog’s Sleeping Pattern Changed?
Labradoodles, like all dogs, can have a very flexible approach to sleeping. Some days they will seem more active than others and this is completely normal. After all, we are much the same, and some days we just feel more tired than others.
However, if your dog’s sleeping pattern changes quickly and dramatically then you may need to investigate. Your dog lacking energy and sleeping all day could point to a health problem and likewise, a dog who doesn’t seem to settle at all may also have problems that need addressing.
Sleeping Issues in Dogs
Like humans, dogs can also suffer from sleep problems and anything like this needs to be investigated further. Some sleeping issues found in dogs include:
- Insomnia – Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome can cause havoc with a dog’s normal sleeping pattern and they can often feel confused and unaware of their surroundings which means they don’t feel relaxed enough for sleep.
- Pain – It could be that your dog is feeling uncomfortable or in pain which is causing them to feel agitated.
- Sleep Apnea – This also occurs, albeit rarely, in the doggy world and it’s a condition where the airway temporarily narrows making it difficult to breathe.
- Lack of stimulation – Sometimes a dog who doesn’t get the exercise they need or the attention they need may feel low and lethargy often follows.
- Anxiety – Dogs are often very restless when they feel anxious and don’t seem able to settle. Anxiety in dogs can be worse at night and overnight, and sometimes they may not sleep much at all. This can lead to more daytime napping when they feel more relaxed again.
- Narcolepsy – This is a rare condition in dogs but it can happen. Dogs who suffer from this find their REM cycle disturbed and it can cause momentary muscle weakness and paralysis when awake.
- REM Behavior Disorder – This condition can cause dogs to move around while asleep, they can even walk into furniture or walls.
Creating A Healthy Sleep Environment
Some of the issues dogs may have with sleeping we’ve looked at will undoubtedly require medical help and examinations to rule out other issues. However, the good news is that there are some practical steps you can take to create a good sleeping environment for your Labradoodle.
Make sure your dog has its own safe, comfortable sleeping place that is there consistently. You may notice when you first bring your dog home where they are most comfortable and if practical, this may be a good place to put their bed. A crate with a blanket, bed, and a few toys can make a dog feel safe and secure and they will come to see this as their own sleeping space.
Be sure your dog is getting the exercise they need. An under-exercised dog can become depressed and may therefore sleep for much of the day. A well-exercised dog means a happy and healthy dog who will have a great balance between rest and activity. On top of exercise ensure your dog is being fed good quality food and they are having the required amount for their weight.
Creating a calm atmosphere at home can help your dog feel relaxed too, especially if they are nervous or anxious. Simply having the radio on low can help a dog feel more at ease and keeping noise levels down when possible. If you have young children be sure they don’t over-excite your dog too much as this will cause them to be hyper and unlikely to nap.
In Summary
It’s a bit like the saying how long is a piece of string. Every dog has a different environment, personality, and sleeping preferences. If your dog seems to sleep a lot, or likewise if it doesn’t sleep much at all you generally shouldn’t be concerned.
If other symptoms are accompanying the sleeping issues, then it may be something to explore further. We have learned that dogs have much fewer periods of deep sleep than we do so although they nap a lot, most of this is very light.