Dream On
<strong>The</strong> old saying is let sleeping dog’s lie, but should we wake them? When we go to bed at night and suggest our dogs do the same, is that the right thing for them? Those with young pups will definitely wonder about their pups sleeping needs. Are we right to expect dogs to follow our sleeping paJerns? ‘<strong>The</strong> <strong>Aussie</strong>’ asked Verity Ramos at Hook Norton Vets to explain how a dog’s sleep paJern differs from a human’s? We are not the same Though dogs and humans are both mammals and social creatures, dogs and humans don’t sleep the same. But you might not really no?ce, because dogs have such adaptable sleep paUerns, they may sleep when you’re asleep, not at home, or otherwise not likely to engage with them. Dog sleep needs. Dogs sleep much more than humans, typically about half the day. Most dogs will sleep an average of 12 to 14 hours. But like humans, age and health can play a factor. Even the breed can make a difference. Puppies may sleep up to 20 hours a day (that’s basically all day if you’re coun?ng), and elderly dogs might sleep more than other adults. How much a dog sleeps generally depends on their age, size, breed, ac?vity, and health. A large breed or sedentary dog might sleep more than a smaller breed or working dog. How you can help your dog sleep healthily. Generally, dogs will figure out how to get the sleep they need all on their own. As they are flexible sleepers, they can sleep at night and add on ?me during the day with naps. And as they can enter a stage of deep sleep almost immediately, it’s not unusual for dogs to sleep in short spurts throughout the day to get the sleep they need. Of course, some dogs can struggle with sleep, just like humans. If your dog seems unusually ?red or unable to sleep well (or sleeping much more than usual), they could be experiencing health issues. If you’re no?cing changes in how your dog sleeps, it’s a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about your concerns. But if your dog is otherwise healthy, you can support good sleep habits by giving your dog a healthy place to sleep, offering them a healthy diet, s?mula?on, and ac?vity throughout the day and maintaining regular vet checks to rule out major health issues. When dogs sleep. You might think dogs just sleep at night, since they probably sleep when you do. <strong>The</strong> fact is, dogs can be fairly flexible in how they get their sleep. Typically, pet dogs will sleep at night while their owners are sleeping. But that’s only about eight hours. <strong>The</strong>y can make up the rest of their remaining four to six hours of sleep needs by res?ng while you’re otherwise engaged. You might be out at work, running errands, or relaxing at home. But typically, they’ll find addi?onal ?me to sleep during the day to add to their night ?me sleep and take care of their full sleep needs. Dog sleep stages. Dogs don’t always get to sleep in long stretches like humans do, so they get to REM sleep (deep sleep) in a hurry. Humans enter REM sleep about 70 to 90 minutes a\er falling asleep. In dogs, REM sleep occurs about 10 minutes in. You may know when your dog is in REM sleep, as this is when they dream, some?mes with outward signs like barking or running in their sleep, twitching, or moving their eyes. But don’t be fooled into thinking dogs are in an especially deep state of sleep and aren’t likely to wake up. Dogs are almost always sleeping in a state of readiness, so they’re ready to wake up quickly for defence.