How long should a 5 month old puppy be awake between naps?

Just like human babies, puppies seem to spend a lot of their time sleeping. Adults sometimes can’t understand why they sleep so much and assume that their fur babies are just bored. This is not the case.

The truth is that they really do need that good night’s sleep! How much puppies sleep depends on their age and activity level.

In order to help you get a better understanding of your pup’s sleep schedule, let’s talk about how much puppies sleep and why they need it.

Why Sleep is Important

Sleep is a vital part of your puppy’s routine. You would think that getting active would be the best way to help him develop, but at this stage in his life, sleep will help him more than exercise can! To train a puppy properly, he should have a good mix of exercise as well as enough hours of sleep per day to rest his little body.

When your dog dozes off, it is because his body is working incredibly hard to assist him in both physical and mental development. The brain and nervous system use this time to grow and get stronger. The muscles are growing and toning up to allow Spot to run when he is up for it. This is also the time where he is building a strong immune system.

So without sleep, your puppy may be at risk for actual health problems and disabilities when he gets older. That is why a long, long nap should be in order for these young dogs.

Who Sleeps the Most?

Newborn puppies need the most sleep of all. They usually sleep for about 22 hours and spend the other time nursing. Since these fresh furballs can’t do much else, it makes sense that they would spend 90% of their time dreaming! Newborn pups also have the most growing and developing to do.

Older Puppies and Sleep

As your puppy gets older, he will need less sleep. However, that does not mean that he should be up for most of the day! Puppies at 3 months old still need around 15 hours at minimum to rest and recharge. At no time should a growing pup be getting less than that amount.

Pups do not stop growing until they are about a year old. Depending on the breed, the growth spurts could last even longer. Keep track of your pup’s sleep schedule and take note of when he sleeps for a longer period of time than you think he should. Spot may be napping more because he is going through a growth spurt! This is entirely normal. Just leave him be and let him bloom.

When Puppies Don’t Sleep Enough

If your puppy is not sleeping as long as he should, he will begin to act out. You may notice that your nicest pair of shoes has been chewed to bits or that your pup is barking or growling at the slightest annoyance.

This means that it is time for a much-needed nap. Puppies are just like human toddlers in that way, and it is your job to help both your child and your pup go to bed on time. This leads to a very important question – when should puppies sleep?

When Should Puppies Sleep?

Past the newborn stage, your puppy will begin to spend longer periods of time awake and running about. When this happens, it is the best time to start giving your pup a sleep schedule. This will give him structure and a routine to follow (and routine is what dogs like most of all!)

Let’s break down how this sleep schedule should work.

Daytime Napping

Puppies should have several naps during the day. He may just fall asleep without prompting and that is okay. If he doesn’t, though, follow these guidelines. Encourage your pupper to “paws” and take a nap when:

• He has eaten his breakfast
• He has eaten his lunch
• You are done with training or playing outside
• You are done taking him for a walk

A good time schedule to follow is to let him sleep every hour if needed.

Sleeping at Night

Your puppy should go to bed for the night at the same time every night if it can be helped. Establish a routine that will encourage the pup to relax and settle down at a certain time. At first, he may not actually go to sleep. He will probably need a bathroom break in the middle of the night; that is all okay! It’s normal. It’s good to give your fur baby structure now so that he will get used to it more quickly.

How to Help Your Puppy Sleep

Sometimes your pup may have a hard time relaxing and nodding off. Because you need him to get adequate sleep to grow up big and strong, you can do a few things to assist him.

• Give your puppy a set place to sleep. This could be a crate or a dog bed, whichever is most suitable to your lifestyle. Whatever you may choose, make sure that you guide the pup to that spot when it is time to go to bed. For information on how to crate train, read about it here.

• Make the space quiet. Loud talking, TV noises, and irritating background sounds will distract the pup and make him restless. For the best sleep possible, give him a space that is peaceful and away from the sources of the noise.

• Burn off any excess energy he may have. If he is practically bouncing off the walls, take Spot out to play before going to bed! Getting rid of his “wiggles” will allow him to drift off faster.

• Keep the schedule. When you set a puppy’s bedtime, stick to it. The more erratic the schedule is, the less he will wind down when it’s time to catch some Zzzs. Give your pup some consistency and security, and he will be out like a light before you know it!

Your puppy depends on you to take care of all of his needs. They are called “fur babies” for a reason! Be the best owner you can be and ensure that your pup is well-rested each day. It makes all the difference in his life.

Bringing a new family addition into the home is extremely exciting! Becoming a new puppy parent comes with a ton of new joys, challenges and responsibilities. PupBox was created to help new puppy parents like yourself, by providing all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you need, when you need it. CLICK HERE to learn more about PupBox.

And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!

As with human babies, puppies need quite a bit more sleep than adult dogs. Very young puppies (less than 2 weeks old) sleep around 90% of the time. That’s almost 22 hours out of a 24-hour period. As a veterinarian, I have had more than one little pup fall asleep on the exam table during a puppy checkup.

As puppies get older, they sleep less. The average 4-month-old puppy sleeps a little over 11 hours in a 24-hour period, and the average adult sleeps 10-11 hours in a 24-hour period. While the total amount of sleep for older puppies and adults seems roughly the same, keep in mind that naps are a bigger portion of a puppy’s sleep schedule. Adult dogs tend to sleep longer at night, with short naps during the day, whereas puppies tend to nap more and for longer periods during the day and sleep less at night.

How much and when do puppies sleep?

Napping during the day is near constant in puppies less than 2 weeks of age and averages around 3.5 hours spread out in multiple naps throughout the day in older puppies (i.e. those around 4 months of age). Adult dogs may nap for up to 3 hours total during the day, depending on their age and activity level. More frequent nap times in puppies are likely caused by the hard work of growing, learning new skills, and adapting to the life of a well-cared-for and loved family dog. The more excitement and stimulation a puppy experiences, the more sleep he might need. It’s not uncommon for a puppy to fall asleep right after playing, eating, or visiting with other people and animals.

How do I help my puppy sleep through the night?

When trying to help a pup sleep through the night, remember that bathroom habits are a big factor in when and how often he wakes up. By 4-5 months, most puppies are able to get a good night’s sleep without having to use the bathroom. Until then, puppies may wake up with an urge to go out more than once a night. To encourage sleeping through the night as much as possible, consider the following:

• Provide a comfortable, sleep-friendly environment. A crate or sleeping area that is kept in a quiet region of the house is a great place for sleep as it will minimize distractions that might keep your pup from sleeping well. Soothing music or white noise may also be helpful.

• Offer a puppy-safe chew toy to snuggle with and bedding that is not easily torn up. In very young puppies, a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel can mimic snuggling with littermates.

• Make sure the puppy gets plenty of activity and stimulation throughout the day to help encourage resting at night. This includes playing with toys, teaching simple commands, and introducing him to new things. Be aware that too much activity can be harmful- young puppies are not ready for the types of exercise an adult can do. Further, do not prevent your pup from napping during the day altogether- frequent rest is needed to help him grow and adapt to his environment. When he is tired, let him sleep, but encourage him to play and learn when he is awake.

• Offer a good quality puppy diet and ensure your pup is eating well. Many new puppy parents wonder how often they should feed their puppies. Puppies up to 3 months of age usually need to eat 3-4 times a day. By 3-6 months of age, they only need 2-3 meals a day.

• Don’t encourage bad habits. If your puppy wakes up at night, giving in to too much cuddling, chatting, and playing might teach your puppy that waking up a lot is fun. Try to keep interactions to a minimum if your pup won’t sleep. If he needs a potty break, take him outside, let him do his “business,” and put him quickly back to bed. Avoid checking on him too often as he may see this as an opportunity to play.

• Establish a routine or schedule. Consistency in the environment helps puppies develop their own inner schedule and keeps them more comfortable in their environment.

Get Your Puppy on a Consistent Schedule

Although puppies thrive on consistency, keep in mind that they won’t follow a strict day-to-day schedule. A cycle of Sleep - Eat - Play with regular bathroom or potty breaks in between tends to be the most common and easiest-to-follow schedule:

• Sleep - Wake up from evening bedtime or nap

• Potty break

• Eat - Feed a meal or snack

• Another potty break - 20-30 minutes after eating

• Play - This can be teaching a new trick, meeting new people or pets, exploring his environment, or playing with a toy; encourage playing for at least 30 minutes, although older puppies may be able to play for an hour or more

• Sleep (Naptime) - While you can’t make a puppy sleep, you can put him in his kennel or a quiet environment to encourage rest; puppies can nap for as little as 20 minutes or as long as 2 hours; just let him rest and wake up when he is ready

• Sleep (Evening bedtime) - If your pup is not yet sleeping through the night, avoid playing or offering meals between bathroom breaks to hopefully encourage sleeping through the night

Sleep Patterns Vary

Sleeping patterns in dogs, especially those less than 12 months of age, vary quite a bit. Few veterinary studies have been done on sleeping habits of dogs to help us fully understand why that is. While veterinarians have a general understanding of average sleep times (often based on pet owner reports), each individual dog’s sleep pattern can be quite different from one dog to another’s and can change from day-to-day. What veterinary scientists do know is that changes in sleep patterns and amount of sleep a dog or puppy gets influences them while awake affects how comfortable they are in their environment and daily activities. In other words, if dogs/puppies don’t get enough sleep, they may struggle to adapt well to their surroundings, poorly affecting how they learn and grow.

Quirky (and often cute) Sleeping Habits in Puppies

• Sleep Position. Studies on sleep habits have shown that the majority of dogs prefer to sleep stretched out while laying on their sides or curled up; however, a large number of dogs also prefer sleeping on their backs (i.e. with their legs splayed out or curled up on their tummies) or with their heads propped up (e.g. on a pillow).

• Dreaming. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in people also happens in dogs. REM is the phase of sleep in which dreaming occurs. In dogs, REM sleep looks more like twitching or running in place. Very intense movement can even look similar to seizures! What kind of rabbits is Fluffy chasing in these dreams?

• Snoring. Yep. Some dogs snore. Breeds most commonly reported to snore when sleeping are the pug, bulldog breeds, Clumber spaniel, Labrador retriever, English cocker spaniel, border collie, and Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Usually snoring is not a big deal. Sleep apnea is fortunately, not very common in dogs.