To keep your puppy healthy and obedient, you need to establish a daily routine, including feeding, walking, playing, and sleeping schedules. This article will discuss what a puppy sleep schedule should be and how much puppies sleep at different ages.
Many people don't know how long puppies should sleep during the day. And lack of sleep negatively affects the nervous system, causing various behavioral problems.
How long do puppies sleep?
According to the AKC, puppies at 8 weeks to 12 weeks old should get 18-20 hours of sleep per night! Most puppies are weaned from their mother and brought to a new home at this age. This puppy sleep schedule persists until about 20 weeks of age. As the dogs get older, sleep time is reduced to 13-15 hours.
Thus, little puppies are awake for only 4-6 hours. This time is divided into different short chunks of time during which the puppy has time to play, eat, and do other things.
Take a look at the puppy sleep chart by age for more specifics below:
Why do puppies sleep so much?
Some new dog owners mistakenly believe that their puppy sleeps too much. They purposely wake the pet during the day so that it "sleeps better at night." Others interrupt sleep for playtime and petting. However, puppies sleep so much for a reason. During puppyhood, their bodies develop at a breakneck pace. It takes a lot of energy for the bones, muscles, and brain (and therefore the nervous system) to develop properly. The consequences of sleep deprivation in dogs can be stress, anxiety, aggression, and other behavioral disorders.
Just imagine, a dog develops in one year like a human develops in 18 years!
How to set a sleep schedule for a puppy?
Determining how many hours of the night your puppy can sleep uninterrupted is the first part of creating a new puppy routine. Typically, puppies between 7-16 weeks old can sleep 6-8 hours straight, but will still need to take a potty break at night. If your puppy is waking up during the night, they most likely need to use the bathroom. In order to keep your puppy’s schedule on track, don’t use this time for any extra playtime or stimulating activity outside of a potty break.
The remaining amount of hours your puppy needs to sleep can be integrated throughout the daytime in the form of naps. Although the daytime sleep schedule will be flexible, it's advisable to make sure that your puppy has several two-hour naps. Their number depends on age, as does the total amount of sleep in a 24-hour period:
- Puppies at 8 weeks need about five naps
- Puppies after 12 weeks may need four naps
- Puppies after 16 weeks may need three or less naps
How to get a puppy to sleep through the whole night?
Setting a solid puppy sleeping schedule relies on a few other factors to ensure they are getting consistent and quality sleep. Here are some tips to help you solidify your new puppy’s routine:
- Going to bed at a consistent time. Getting your puppy into a recurring routine relies on a reinforced bedtime. This is beneficial to puppies as they are still developing their circadian rhythm.
- Provide all the conditions for a peaceful sleep. To do this, you need to arrange a calm, quiet, and dark place to sleep with a comfortable bed. Check out the Snuggle Bed from P.L.A.Y. for the ultimate comfort for your new puppy.
- Make playtime during daytime a priority. In order for your puppy to be tired out by the time bedtime rolls around, it’s crucial to make sure you’re providing enough stimulating activity and playtime during the day. Try one of P.L.A.Y.’s mentally stimulating Enrichment Toys or Outdoor Toys to encourage more physical movement.
What time should the puppy go to bed?
Going to bed one hour after meals and an evening potty walk is advisable. Specific times don't matter; you have to build a schedule to suit you. Although tiny puppies can't sleep as long as humans, after 16 weeks, you can train your puppy to go to bed and get up with you.
Sample Puppy Daily Schedule
According to all the advice in this article, let's make a rough daily schedule for a 12-week old puppy:
To summarize
- Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day for normal mental and physical development. Therefore, you should not interrupt their sleep.
- The second main point is to accustom the puppy to fall asleep at the same time. To do this, try crate training.
- Puppies up to 16 weeks can sleep 7-8 hours a night, but with potty breaks. After 16 weeks, your puppy probably won't bother you at night.
Ensure your furbaby has a comfortable, quiet place to sleep and stick to its routine. Then everyone in the house will sleep peacefully!
About the Author:
Anastasia is the author of trainingyourpuppy.net, a blog with dog care and training tips. Anastasia has been writing useful articles for five years. She has experience in raising cats and dogs of different breeds. At the moment, Anastasia has a pug and 2 cats that she loves very much.
