10/09/2026
Be sure to provide plenty of cozy spaces for your dog to get the amount of rest to be their best selves 🐶🩵
This is something that can so easily be missed as a potential cause of dogs behaving in a certain way.
Just as for us, it's vital that dogs get enough sleep and that the sleep they do get is quality sleep. It is particularly noticeable in puppies when they are overtired and in need of a nap - this is what is often causing the behaviours jokingly put under the heading of 'landshark' where the puppy can be very mouthy and nipping.
The amount of sleep needed can be surprising to inexperienced caregivers. An adult dog needs somewhere in the range 8-14 hours, while puppies and senior dogs need a massive 18-20 hours.
It's also important to remember that dogs do not get all of their sleep in one go, unlike humans. They will sleep for a time then wake up for a while before settling down again later.
Dogs are also crepuscular, meaning they are generally most active at dawn and dusk compared to humans who are diurnal, and so usually most active in daylight.
It's vital to make sure that we provide comfortable places for our dogs to sleep, preferably giving them a choice of where they want to sleep. As an example my dogs have the pick of 3 dog beds and 2 sofas downstairs. Upstairs we have 2 human beds, 2 dog crates (with the doors permanently left open) and 3 dog beds. This gives a huge amount of choice for our 2 dogs, and they usually divide the night between the 2 human beds and the dog beds, although my younger dog likes to have a little time in a crate too.
If you find that your dog is showing signs that could be linked to not getting enough sleep, take a fresh look at their sleeping opportunities.
Are they all sufficiently comfortable for your dog?
Do they have the ability to be able to find somewhere nice and quiet for a nap if the house is busy?
As with many things relating to dog behaviour, it could be well worth taking them to their vet for a checkup to make sure there is nothing else causing the issues sleeping or the symptoms being seen - it's always best to rule out anything linked to health or pain as early as possible.
