{"id":9931,"date":"2022-10-19T13:02:15","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T13:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/blog\/uncategorized\/how-long-do-puppies-sleep\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T10:56:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T10:56:05","slug":"how-long-do-puppies-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/en-us\/blog\/puppy-behavior\/understanding-your-puppy\/how-long-do-puppies-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does a Puppy Sleep? Dog Sleeping Habits Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sleep deprivation and puppies kind of go hand in hand. Are you a sleep-deprived new puppy owner? You might be wondering how much your puppy is supposed to sleep. Or perhaps you\u2019re tearing your hair out, wondering if your puppy will ever sleep through the night? We get you, there is pretty much nothing worse than a lack of sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly though, there is good news, your puppy will learn to sleep through the night<\/a>, it just takes time. We completely get it’s really tough but your puppy\u2019s natural sleeping patterns are just different to ours. Despite what you might think, they aren\u2019t crying all nigh<\/a>t just to spite you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Don’t sleep on your training – Download Zigzag <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We\u2019re here to help everyone get a great night’s sleep. We\u2019ll give you the lowdown on puppy sleep. We\u2019ll help you understand how long a puppy generally sleeps for, how long a puppy sleeps at night, when you can expect your puppy to sleep through the night, why your puppy might not be sleeping for very long and how you can help your puppy to sleep more. Sounds great right? Well don\u2019t nod off just yet keep reading\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re here and still awake have you downloaded the Zigzag Puppy Training app<\/a>? Puppies are always learning, even when they\u2019re sleeping, yes, really. Download a trial and teach them all of the life skills they\u2019ll need to learn, yes sleeping through the night is one of them. We even have a team of puppy trainers<\/a> on hand at all hours of the day and night, so you needn\u2019t be alone during those sleepless nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Ayla Verschueren<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How long does a puppy sleep on average?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You probably don\u2019t believe it right now but your pup will sleep up to 20 hours a day. It\u2019s amazing how much puppies sleep, not all in one go though. They\u2019ll nap through the day<\/a> and go from crazy zoomies to snoring in a second. They really can sleep anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason your puppy sleeps so much is that they\u2019re physically growing at a fast rate. \u2018Growing like weeds\u2019 is no understament. Your puppy will sleep more <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sleep easy with Zigzag!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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when they\u2019re having a growth spurt. You might even find you get your puppy up from a nap and they seem bigger than before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not just bodies, puppy brains are also growing and developing; they need plenty of sleep to recharge those batteries. Sleep helps your puppy to not only have a physical rest, but they are also learning all of the time, so they need a mental break too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long does a puppy sleep at night?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, a puppy sleeps anything from 6-10 hours a night in the beginning. Your puppy\u2019s circadian rhythm, will be different to yours, so they\u2019ll be awake at different times. As your puppy matures, their internal body clock adapts, and starts to mirror your behavior and sleep longer at night. Yippee!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 When will my puppy sleep through the night?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we had a pound for everytime we were asked this! In general, puppies will start sleeping through the night from around four months of age, but don\u2019t be surprised if it lasts a while longer. Some puppies will sleep through the night straight away, but most puppies will wake up several times, they\u2019ll need the toilet or they\u2019ll need to know they\u2019re not alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first few weeks of owning a new puppy, you should expect them to wake up at night, early night and morning coffee will become your friend! You\u2019ll need to wake up and take them out to the toilet<\/a> as they don\u2019t have much bladder control. It\u2019s also quite an emotionally challenging time for them, being away from their mother and littermates is hard and they\u2019ll wake up and realize they\u2019re alone and cry out for you<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We suggest a nighttime routine<\/a>, including letting them sleep near you first. You need to hear when they wake up so you can take them to the toilet as this will help to prevent accidents like peeing in the crate, and you\u2019re also close by to comfort and reassure them to go back to sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Bonnie Kittle<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why doesn\u2019t my puppy sleep for very long?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There can be a few factors as to how long your puppy sleeps. Dog sleep cycles are very different to humans, even if their body clock adjusts to our human time zones, the cycles are much shorter, lasting only around 45 minutes, so naps will be frequent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppies will also surprise you with how quickly they wake up and are raring to go. This is normal. Any small noise or chink of light and they\u2019re up and ready, this can be challenging in the summer when the mornings get light so early and is often a reason for people struggling to work out why their puppy doesn\u2019t sleep at night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition<\/a> will also be a factor in how long a puppy sleeps. Make sure you\u2019re feeding them a balanced diet and the right amount of food<\/a>. Many puppies will sleep longer overnight if you adjust their feeding times. No one wants to wake up hangry, do they? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your puppy\u2019s general health is good. Any signs of parasites like worms<\/a> or fleas<\/a>, or illness like sickness<\/a> or diarrhea<\/a> are going to make them uncomfortable and should be looked at by a vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, if you spot signs of pain that make your puppy irritable and fractious, they’re not going to be likely to sleep long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As your puppy gets older, they\u2019ll need less sleep during the day but will sleep longer at night, phew. Dogs generally will still sleep a lot. Expect 15 hours of sleep, depending on the breed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to help my puppy sleep longer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To help your puppy sleep through the night and sleep for longer, we suggest these tips<\/p>\n\n\n\n