Puppies' Sleep: What's Normal And What's Not?

Puppies require a lot of sleep, typically between 16 and 20 hours per day, to accommodate their rapid growth and development. This sleep is critical for their cognitive and physical development, including brain development, energy conservation, and immune system development. As such, it is important to establish a healthy sleep schedule for your puppy, including regular habits of eating, playing, sleeping, and going to the toilet. While it is normal for puppies to sleep during the day, they should also be getting plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and socialisation to ensure they grow up to be healthy and well-rounded.

Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day

Puppies need a lot of sleep—about 18 to 20 hours a day. Just like human babies, they need plenty of sleep for their cognitive and physical development. Puppies that get enough sleep tend to focus better and have a happier disposition.

When they are awake, puppies are bundles of energy, burning a lot of calories through play, running around, and exploring. All that activity takes a lot of energy, and sleep is the best way to recharge their batteries.

Sleep is also when puppies do a lot of their growing. When they sleep, their bodies are busy building muscle, bone, and tissue, all essential for good health. Deep sleep is especially important for growing puppies, as this is when growth hormones are released.

The amount of sleep puppies need varies as they get older. Newborn puppies sleep almost all day, around 90% of the time. As they start to become more active, they still need 18-20 hours of sleep each day. From 4 to 12 weeks old, they need slightly less sleep, around 15-20 hours each day.

From 3 to 6 months old, puppies will start sleeping less, requiring 14-16 hours of sleep per day. Beyond 6 months old, puppies will start to move to a more adult-like sleep schedule, sleeping around 12-14 hours each day.

How to get your puppy to sleep at night

Just like human babies, puppies will eventually sleep through the night, but it may require some training. Here are some tips to help your puppy establish a good sleep routine:

• Create a sleeping area: Set up a quiet place near you where your puppy can relax and adjust to their new home.
• Potty breaks: Most puppies need to go out every few hours, so you may need to set up puppy pee pads if you can't take them outside during the night.
• Good nutrition: Healthy dog food gives your puppy the energy they need for growth and ensures they play and sleep better.
• Routines are important: Your puppy will learn a sleep schedule faster if it's part of their daily routine.
• Crate training: Providing a calm, safe, and consistent environment for sleep can help your puppy establish a sleeping routine and keep them out of mischief!

Sample puppy sleep schedule

• Morning: Take the puppy outside to go potty, then feed them breakfast. After eating, they will likely need another potty break.
• Spend 30-60 minutes playing, socializing, and taking a walk.
• Nap time: Your puppy may sleep from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• Afternoon: After lunch, give them a potty break, then play for up to 1 hour.
• Nap time: After playtime, they will likely need another nap.
• Evening: Feed your puppy dinner, then take them for a walk.
• Bedtime: After some playtime and interaction with family members, give them a quick bathroom trip before settling them into their crate for nighttime sleep.

Remember that every puppy is unique, so you may need to adjust this schedule to meet your puppy's specific needs.

Sleep is essential for development and growth

Sleep is essential for a puppy's development and growth. Puppies grow and develop very quickly when they are young, and their bodies need downtime to repair and regenerate. Puppies are also taking in a lot of new information, and sleep is essential for their cognitive development.

Puppies need a lot of sleep, with sources saying they sleep anywhere from 16 to 20 hours per day. This is because their bodies are working hard to build muscle, bone, and tissue, all of which are essential for maintaining good health.

Puppies' brains are processing new information while they sleep, and those who get enough sleep tend to focus better and have a happier disposition. Sleep also conserves the energy levels needed to build bones and strengthen muscles, as well as helping body systems mature.

Deep sleep is especially important for growing puppies, as this is when the growth hormone is released, an essential part of their physical development.

Puppies also need good quality sleep. This means giving them their own cosy corner, which is quiet, safe, and comfortable. It is also important to establish a bedtime routine and a regular daily routine that includes eating, playing, going to the toilet, going for a walk, and sleeping.

The amount of sleep puppies need varies as they get older. Newborn puppies sleep almost all day, around 90% of the time. As they get a little older, they start to become more active but still need 18-20 hours of sleep each day. This continues until they are around 12 weeks old, when they will sleep for around 16 hours per day. From 3-6 months, puppies will start sleeping less, requiring 14-16 hours of sleep per day.

By the time they are over six months old, puppies will start to move to a more adult-like sleep schedule, sleeping around 12-14 hours each day. However, this varies between different dogs, and some adult dogs can sleep up to 18 hours a day.

Routines are important for puppies

Benefits of Routines for Puppies

A routine will help your puppy sleep better at night. By giving your puppy a routine right from the start, you'll teach them that nighttime is for sleeping, and you both will get a better night's sleep. Routines are also important for reducing anxiety and helping your puppy thrive.

Sample Puppy Routine

• Morning: Take your puppy outside to go to the potty, then feed them breakfast. Puppies usually need to relieve themselves after eating, so give them another potty break. Spend 30-60 minutes playing, socializing, and taking a walk. Then it's time for a nap, which may last from 30 minutes to two hours. Give them another potty break as soon as they wake up.
• Afternoon: After lunch, give them a potty break. Play with them and let them explore for up to one hour. Then it's time for another nap. Take them outside for a bathroom break when they wake up, and then it's playtime again. They'll likely settle in for a nap after they play, so be prepared for another potty break afterward.
• Evening: Feed your puppy dinner before you sit down or give them a stuffed chew toy to enjoy in their crate while you eat. After dinner, take a walk. Let them spend time playing and interacting with family members. Give them a quick bathroom trip before bed, then settle them down in their crate for nighttime sleep.

Adapting the Routine

This routine can be adapted to fit your lifestyle and your puppy's needs. The length of time a puppy needs to sleep doesn't change, but you can tweak bedtime a bit as long as they make up the sleep at other times. For example, if you get home from work at 6 pm, you can take your puppy for a short walk and then put them to bed for the night.

Bedtime Routine

A recommended bedtime routine for puppies is to take them for a short walk at 6 pm (if they can go outside) or play some games for around 10 to 15 minutes. Then give them their last meal, followed by a trip to the garden for the toilet. Put your puppy into their bed and leave them alone to sleep – this can be in the living room with you or in their own place, but they should be in their own bed, not on your lap.

Crate Training

Crate training can help your puppy establish a sleeping routine by providing a calm, safe, and consistent environment for sleep. It also keeps them out of mischief in the middle of the night! When they wake up during the night, calmly carry them outside, praise them quietly when they go, and put them right back in the crate for sleeping.

Potty Training

Puppies need to go out every few hours, so set up puppy pee pads when it's not possible to take them outside during the night. You may need to get up once or twice for a potty break until they are fully house-trained and their bladder is ready for longer stretches.

Playtime and Socialization

While sleep is important, so is exercise, mental stimulation, and socialization. Make sure to provide enough stimulating activity and playtime during the day so that your puppy is tired by bedtime. Puppies need playtime and socialization to grow up to be healthy, happy, and well-rounded.

Puppies need playtime and socialisation

While puppies need lots of sleep, they also need playtime and socialisation to grow up to be healthy, happy, and well-rounded.

Puppies require more sleep than adult dogs, with their sleeping patterns varying as they get older. Newborn puppies sleep around 90% of the day, while 2-4 week old puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep each day. From 4-12 weeks, puppies need 15-20 hours of sleep, and from 3-6 months, they require 14-16 hours. After the 6-month mark, puppies will start to move towards a more adult-like sleep schedule of around 12-14 hours each day.

Despite their high sleep needs, it's important to ensure that puppies get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and socialisation. Playtime is crucial for puppies to burn off energy, and it also provides necessary mental stimulation and helps with their socialisation.

Puppies that don't get enough playtime and socialisation may develop behavioural issues. Lack of sleep can also contribute to these problems, as it can lead to stress, anxiety, and aggression. Therefore, it's essential to balance their sleep with adequate playtime and socialisation opportunities.

The amount of playtime a puppy needs will depend on its age, breed, temperament, and surroundings. For example, a 12-week-old puppy may need several two-hour naps throughout the day, with active playtime between sleep cycles.

To ensure your puppy gets enough playtime, it's recommended to establish a daily routine that includes dedicated play and socialisation periods. This routine will help your puppy understand that there's a time and place for everything, promoting a well-rounded development.

Additionally, creating a consistent bedtime routine will help your puppy develop a healthy sleep schedule, which is crucial for their growth and cognitive development.

In conclusion, while puppies need plenty of sleep, they also require sufficient playtime and socialisation to grow into healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dogs. Establishing a balanced daily routine that includes both sleep and active playtime will set your puppy up for success.

How to get your puppy to sleep at night

Puppies need a lot of sleep—around 18 to 20 hours a day—to support their rapid growth and development. While it's normal for puppies to sleep all day, they should also be sleeping through the night once they're old enough. If your puppy is struggling to sleep at night, there are several things you can try:

• Make their crate comfortable and appealing. Line the bottom of the crate with soft, felted blankets. Avoid wool blankets, which can be chewed into long strings that could cause choking.
• Include a soft toy or baby blanket that smells like the puppy's mother in their crate.
• Place the puppy's crate in your bedroom so they feel close to their family.
• Establish a bedtime routine. This will teach your puppy that nighttime is for sleeping.
• Restrict food and water for several hours before bedtime.
• Take your puppy outside to potty before bedtime.
• Keep their sleep area quiet and dimly lit.
• During the day, ensure your puppy has had enough physical and mental exercise, as well as opportunities to go to the bathroom.
• Teach your puppy to associate their crate with positive experiences, such as treats and playtime.
• Be prepared for interruptions. Puppies may need a potty break during the night, especially when they are very young.
• Enforce daytime naps. Puppies can only stay awake for about an hour at a time, so help them get used to a regular sleep schedule.
• Put your puppy to bed in a quiet room, away from distractions, and leave them alone to sleep.
• Adapt your routine to fit your lifestyle. While the amount of sleep your puppy needs remains the same, you can adjust their bedtime slightly as long as they make up for it at other times.

Frequently asked questions