Everything About Puppy Sleep
Sleep in puppyhood is essential for young dogs. After hours of playing, new discoveries, and training sessions, your little furball needs bedtime to recharge and process experiences.
As important as sleep is for puppies, you may feel uncertain about certain questions on this topic. To ensure your nights go as smoothly as possible and both of you get the sleep you need, we will answer the most important questions:
- How long does your puppy sleep during the day?
- How long does it take for your puppy to sleep through the night?
- Where should your puppy sleep?
- How can you get your puppy to sleep?
How long do puppies sleep?
To give your furball enough rest, you need to know how long a puppy actually sleeps. On average, the sleep duration is 16-18 hours per day. Newborn puppies can sleep up to 22 hours daily. The older your little four-legged friend gets, the less sleep he needs.
If you pick up your puppy at 8 weeks →from the breeder or shelter, he will need about 20 hours of sleep. From the age of 12 weeks, your puppy sleeps up to 18 hours daily. Depending on breed, size, and activity, these hours may vary.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Manche Welpen müssen erst lernen, gut zur Ruhe zu finden und somit ausreichend Schlaf zu bekommen. Deswegen ist Ruhetraining besonders am Anfang sehr wichtig.
When will my puppy sleep through the night?
Your little four-legged friend is driving you crazy at night, and you wonder when he will finally sleep through? It would be nice if your puppy could catch up on his daily required amount of sleep at night. Unfortunately, the reality often looks different, as →puppies frequently sleep restlessly, need to go to the bathroom, and find it hard to sleep for several hours straight.
So, how long does it actually take for a puppy to sleep through the night? Mainly, your puppy wakes up at night because he cannot hold his bladder for an entire night yet. At first, he will need to go out several times during the night, as the bladder sphincter can only be controlled from the 14th to 16th week. From this point on, it becomes easier for them to need to go outside less often at night. With consistent →potty training**, you can help your puppy sleep better through the night.
Is your little puppy constantly having stomach issues and needs to go outside all the time? For healthy digestion, it is important to feed a →high-quality puppy food. An initial indication of good dog food is that not everything that goes in the front comes out the back. If your puppy struggles with potty training for an extended period, it’s best to have it checked by a veterinarian just to be safe.
Für die Kleinen das Leckerste - unser Welpenfutter
Help, my puppy sleeps too little, what can I do?
You’ve learned that your puppy should sleep about 18 hours a day, but your little rascal is running and playing around the apartment and keeping you on your toes? For many dogs, settling down is not a given at first, but something that needs to be taught to them. Therefore, you should start with your puppy's arrival by →practicing less fun tricks and focusing on calm training**.
If your dog has difficulty calming down on his own and just lying down in a designated spot for a while, a crate, puppy gate, or another enclosed bed can help limit his space and thus find calmness more easily. The walls of a dog crate, for example, shield him from stimuli and he doesn’t constantly see exciting things.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Der passende Ort für das Körbchen ist sehr wichtig, damit dein Welpe gut zur Ruhe finden kann. In der Nacht kann er neben deinem Bett in seinem Körbchen schlafen, vielleicht in einer Zimmerecke?
The right place for the (puppy) bed
In general, you should ensure that your puppy's bed is not placed directly next to a door or in a spot where people constantly walk by or he can always keep an eye on you. Some dogs tend to want to watch you constantly and not miss anything, becoming restless if they miss something. The same goes for you: Let your puppy be in peace!
A somewhat shielded retreat, perhaps in a corner of the room where he has 1-2 walls behind him, is more relaxing. Some dogs also like cave-like spaces or a →cozy dog crate. These are quite practical, as you can fold them up and take your four-legged friend's sleeping place anywhere, such as on trips later.
Where should my puppy sleep at night?
The question of where your puppy should sleep is easily answered: In a designated sleeping spot. This serves not only as a fixed retreat when your little four-legged friend has had enough. Much more, a cozy spot near you allows your puppy to be with you and sleep, and you can send him there if needed.
The rule is: Your puppy should sleep where it is comfortable for him. Whether that’s a bed, a soft blanket, a cave, or a crate is up to you. It’s good if your puppy can sleep near you at night, such as in a cozy basket next to your bed. You can also set up multiple sleeping spots in the apartment.
If you’re not a fan of your dog sleeping in your bedroom, you can also get him used to a fixed sleeping spot outside your bedroom. However, especially in the beginning, you should leave the doors open and expect that your little four-legged friend will miss you a bit. The older he gets, the easier it will be for him to sleep without you and to be alone for a while.
