The Sleeping Habits of Adult Dogs

You may be wondering how much should my adult dog be sleeping each day or why he is spending each day sleeping. The simple answer to this is that he spends his night acting as a guard dog. This is probably something that you have become dependent upon without even realizing it. As for the simple answer to the question, "How much should my adult dog be sleeping each day?" He should actually be sleeping as much as 14 hours per day and there are even some dogs that will sleep more than this. For instance, large breeds of dogs such as mastiffs, St. Bernards and Newfoundlands may sleep as much as 18 hours per day, which is why they are oftentimes referred to as "mat dogs." Nevertheless, this means that your adult dog is sleeping more than half of his life.

Your dog's sleeping pattern will depend upon his environment. For instance, domesticated dogs will sleep a lot more than working dogs will. This is because they are comfortable, have a soft bed in a cozy corner and nothing much to do. Of course, a working dog really couldn't sleep all day since he has a task to perform. Working dogs also have the opportunity to roam, run and wander, which they prefer to do.

While you may think that your adult dog is sleeping too much because he is lazy, but he is actually awake much more frequently than you are. This is because dogs have heightened senses, which makes them always alert and aware of even the slightest sound or movement. Dogs are lucky too in that they can easily adjust their sleeping pattern. As such, they can stay awake whenever there is something for them to do and sleep whenever the task is done, regardless of what time, day or night, it may be.

Sleeping is definitely beneficial to your dog in that it allows him to replenish his energy. If he is bored and inactive, he will sleep a lot more than he needs to though. This can be dangerous if it is coupled with too much to eat and too little to do. Usually this is seen in pampered pets. You can help keep this from happening by providing your dog with a stimulus that will cause him to be active. For instance, if he will be home alone all day, then make sure that he has plenty of toys to play with. Whenever you are home, make sure that you take him for plenty of walks and get him involved with your family's activities.