Get The Scoop On Why Dogs Sleep So Much

If you have ever owned a dog, then you have no doubt noticed that man's best friend seems to spend a lot of time sleeping. This can sometimes be disconcerting for first-time dog owners. But rest assured, heavy sleep is simply a natural part of a canine's lifestyle.

Sleep Variables

While the average dog spends about fifty percent of its time sleeping, it can be more or less depending on a few unique factors. Different breeds are more prone to dozing than others, and the environment that a dog lives in can have a significant effect on its sleeping patterns. The number one determining factor for how much a dog sleeps is entirely dependent on the individual animal itself.

For example, dogs that live inside tend to sleep more than dogs that live outside. In addition, working dogs sleep less than dogs that are simply pets. So if you want your dog to spend a little less time catching z's, give it something to do. Dogs often turn to sleep when they're bored, which is why you should give your pet a reason not to feel that way.

Other Factors

Although most of your dog's excessive sleeping can be pinned down to one of the explanations above, there are a few other legitimate causes of excessive sleep in a canine. If a dog is ill or has some kind of a disease, then that dog will no doubt spend an inordinate amount of its time sleeping. Severe diseases like rabies will often cause a dog to spend almost all of its time sleeping.

A good rule of thumb is that if you try to encourage your dog to be active, and it still doesn't want to do anything but sleep, then there may in fact be something wrong with the dog. If this is the case, the best thing that you can do is to get that dog to a vet immediately. From there you can figure out what is wrong with the dog and treat it accordingly.

The Bottom Line

There is a ninety-nine percent chance that the reason your dog spends so much time sleeping is simply because he or she is in fact a dog. If you want your dog to be more active, then you are going to have to put in the work to make the dog more active. A big part of this is to keep your dog as happy and healthy as possible.

Just like humans, dogs are what they eat. If they eat nothing but low quality food, than they are going to be more lethargic than if they were eating a great diet. You can ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs by switching to a Pet Wants dog food blend.