Almost everyone knows how important a good night's sleep is these days. If you haven't slept well, it can work against you all day long. The same goes for your dog, but how does a dog's sleep work?
The importance of sleep
A dog processes all the stimuli he has received during the day in his sleep. He does this during his REM sleep, one of the phases during a nap. When a dog is dreaming in his REM sleep, he can be busy. You have probably experienced it before, your dog is sleeping soundly and suddenly starts running with his legs, squeaking or barking. Very cute of course, but actually your dog is busy processing all the stimuli of the past time.
When a dog does not get enough sleep, this can affect its behavior. In addition to the stimuli that are processed, the stress level of the dog also decreases. When your dog does not get enough sleep, it is possible that at some point 'the bucket overflows'. This can lead to depression, excessive barking and irritable behavior. Insufficient sleep can also affect the physical health of your dog.
The sleeping place
In general, a dog likes to sleep in company. In addition, a dog likes to lie on a nice soft, warm spot. Of course, this differs per dog, there are also dogs that prefer to lie on a cool spot because they already have a lot of heat of their own. The last criterion for your dog to find his perfect sleeping spot is overview. Dogs like to keep a close eye on everything. A raised spot is extremely suitable for this, which is also the reason why your dog likes to lie on the couch so much!
Some dogs like to sleep in your bed. If you like this too, this is not a problem. Research has even shown that sleeping with your dog causes less stress! It is important that you decide for yourself whether you always want and can sleep with your dog in bed. For example, if you get a partner, will he or she agree to this? Do you think it is okay for your dog to sleep with you during the hot summers? If your dog is no longer allowed to sleep in your bed in the future, this can be difficult for him.
How much does a dog sleep
Where a person generally sleeps through the night, this is a bit different for your dog. Adult dogs sleep about 12 to 14 hours a day. Senior dogs often need a bit more sleep, they usually sleep 16 to 18 hours. Puppies even need 18 to 20 hours of sleep to be well rested.
Now that you know how much sleep your dog needs, it is important to know that a dog can also sleep too much! When a dog sleeps excessively, this can be a sign of boredom or depression. Physical problems can also be a reason for a dog to sleep extra. If you think that your dog really sleeps too much, do not hesitate and call the vet!
The sleeping behavior
Where humans sleep for about 8 hours straight, dogs divide their sleep over the entire day. When a dog takes a number of naps in a row, he or she likes to stretch his legs in between. He can do this lying down, but sometimes a dog likes to change sleeping places. It is therefore important that your dog has the opportunity to find a different sleeping place.
Just like humans, a dog's sleep consists of 5 different phases. The phases of sleep are light sleep (phase 1 and 2), deeper sleep (phase 3 and 4) and REM sleep (5th phase). The last phase is the most important. In this 5th phase, stimuli are processed and dogs come to rest. Where a human spends 20 minutes in their REM sleep, a whole sleep cycle for a dog is already about 20 minutes. This could be an explanation for the fact that dogs need a lot more sleep.
Conclusion
Now that you know a little more about the importance of sleep and the sleeping behavior of dogs, there are a few points that are important to remember.
- Dogs are long sleepers: they need a lot of sleep, even during the day;
- On average, an (adult) dog sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day;
- During REM sleep, a dog processes the stimuli of the day and its stress level decreases;
- Dogs are social sleepers;
- Insufficient sleep can lead to mental and/or physical problems.
Of course, it is important that you do something with this knowledge. With the following tips, your four-legged friend will be wonderfully rested for the day:
- Give your dog the opportunity to rest;
- Create some nice places to sleep; Dog bed
- Prevent sleeping out of boredom and give your dog enough attention;
- If your dog is suffering from any complaints, always consult your vet!
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