Oh don’t we get jealous of those little puppy naps that they take. Sleeping and snuggling while we have work to do and errands to run. But sometimes it can seem like your puppy is sleeping a lot more than expected. Naps every hour? That seems a little excessive doesn’t it? Well here is why it is not a huge concern.
Reading: Why does my puppy sleep so much
A normal sleeping schedule for a puppy is 18 to 20 hours a day. That means, puppies should be sleeping more than anything else they do. Even the average adult dog usually sleeps for 14 hours a day when full grown. The reason puppies need to sleep so much is they are still growing, and at a extremely fast pace too. Since puppies grow very quickly (most are full grown at 18 months), their bodies need to rest and recuperate frequently.
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Your puppy is not only growing very fast, but his day to day activities use up a lot of energy. When he is awake, he is constantly being taught new things about life, such as where to go to potty, what he cannot do, what he is expected to do, and how he fits into the new family. If this wasn’t enough, he is also exploring the world outside and meeting new animals and people all at once. It’s like being born and going to preschool all within the first few months of being born. Imagine the learning curve!
Many puppies don’t even know when they are getting tired, or what it means. So you may find him falling asleep in random places or in the middle of play time. If this happens, just let him rest. It is good for him to realize what it means when he is tired so he can learn to pace himself.
Most people are glad to let their puppy sleep, but are concerned when it comes to him sleeping through the night. The best way to avoid a sleepless night is to establish a bedtime routine right from the start. Even though he is probably not going to sleep through the night right away, if you stick with the routine, within a few months of age, he should be sleeping like a pro. One tip is to not let him sleep in the evening. After 6 o’clock, try to keep him awake and active, whether it’s taking him on a short walk, including him in a family activity, or throwing a toy for him. Giving him some light stimulation and exercise will make him very sleepy toward bedtime. But don’t get him too excited. You want to make sure the adrenalin will wear off before it’s time to snuggle up for bed. If you can, avoid giving him food and water 2 hours before he goes to sleep. This will alleviate his need to get up and have a potty break (or two or three) in the middle of the night.
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Think of your puppy’s sleeping time as a positive in your life as well. If he gets overtired, just like a toddler, he will start to misbehave and not learn as well as he could. So create a little daytime sleeping area for him, and enjoy watching him cuddle and snooze. Hey, maybe you could even join in on the nap too.
Because your new fur baby is growing so much, it is also essential that he gets the proper nutrition to give him the best start in life. Try adding a superfood boost to their kibble to keep their tails wagging and bones growing. TruDog Boost Me will give your puppy the nutrients and energy to get up and go explore his new world.
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