Why Do Dogs Nap 

Why Do Dogs Nap? 

Have you ever heard of the term, “let sleeping dogs lie”?  Well, it is an old piece of wisdom that holds a lot of truth!  This means that you should not revisit or disturb a matter or a conflict that has quieted down.  Have you ever taken a quick notice at how your dog sleeps?  It is no surprise that a dog’s sleeping patterns are much different than ours.  Naps are not required for people, but they are for dogs!

People tend to sleep in long intervals – think 7 to 8 hours.  Dogs get their sleep in short bursts, spending most of their time napping.  Fun fact: some larger breeds such as the Great Dane may sleep up to 18 hours a day!  Oddly enough, the stages of sleep are the same when comparing dogs to humans.  The first stage is when the sleeper begins to lose consciousness and control of their limbs.  The next stage is when the sleeper’s pulse and respiration rate slow down significantly.  During the next stage, the heart rate slows down, and blood pressure and body temperature drop.  Finally, stage four sleep (known as REM sleep) is when people and dogs start to process information that they have received throughout the day.  It is interesting, isn’t it?

Studies show that dogs sleep an average of 12 to 14 hours a day.  There are some things that you can do as a dog owner to ensure that your pup is receiving the best sleep possible.  Ensure that they have comfortable sleeping spots, take time away from the house or go into another room so that they can get peaceful rest, and put a few toys by their bed to make them feel at home.

We hope that you learned more about why your dog loves to nap.  Sleep is very important to their mental and physical health so please take it seriously!