How Much Do Labradors Sleep?

Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard

According to scientific data, dogs sleep frequently but in bursts. The duration of deep sleep, which is necessary for the body’s recovery and cell renewal, accounts for only 10% of the total sleep time. In comparison, humans spend up to 25% in deep sleep.

According to scientists, this is associated with natural instincts that keep the body alert in case of sudden attacks by other predators and increase the chances of survival in the wild.

How Much Do Labradors Sleep?

To calculate how many hours your dog should sleep, consider its age, lifestyle, and external factors!

How Much Does an Adult Dog Sleep?

Labradors sleep a lot because they are a large breed of dogs and have high energy expenditure to maintain their physical and mental activity. Additionally, a large dog eats more, so it requires additional time to digest nutrients and convert them into energy. On average, an adult Labrador sleeps for 14-16 hours per day.

How Much Does a Labrador Puppy Sleep?

Newborn puppies can sleep all day long. This is necessary in order to save energy and direct all forces towards growth and weight gain. At 3-4 months, the puppy begins to sleep for 16-18-20 hours a day. Their sleep duration gradually decreases as they mature. In six months and the rest of adulthood – 16-18 each.

If the puppy sleeps all the time, but otherwise his condition does not cause concern (good appetite, playfulness, etc.), then this sleep pattern is the norm. On average, babies sleep more than half of the day. However, when a pet shows lethargy, decreased appetite, or any other unusual signs, it is necessary to contact a veterinary clinic.

 

When a dog reaches the age of 7-10 years, he starts sleeping 2-3 hours more than usual. This is due to a slowdown in metabolism and other aging processes. If the dog has never slept that much, but there are no other changes, there is no need to worry – the body is adjusting to the newly changed needs and requires more time to recover and digest food. If there is general lethargy, stool disturbance, vomiting, or fluctuations in body temperature, contact a veterinarian.

Dog Sleep Phases

To relax and fall asleep, the dog goes through 3 phases: drowsy, superficial (slow) and deep (fast). If you track them by changing the behavior of the animal and calculate how many hours dogs sleep, it turns out that out of 24 hours a day, 50% is spent on sleep, 30% on naps and 20% on physical activity. A complete dog sleep cycle looks like this:

Phase 1. Drowsy. The dog assumes a comfortable position in which it can relax his muscles and remain in a sleeping state, but at the same time remain mobile and quickly jump to his feet when a stimulus appears. At the moment of immersion in a slumber, the eyes keep closing, but the ears remain in tension and turn in the direction of the noise sources. The pet responds to the nickname, known commands and the smell of food. At the same time, it remains on the verge between sleep and wakefulness.

The drowsiness phase is needed so that the dog sleeps and takes off the load from the nervous system, but does not sink into a deep sleep and easily jumps up from its seat at the slightest danger.

Phase 2. Surface (slow). The dog breathes deeply and completely relaxes the body. At the moment of transition from slumber to superficial sleep, the metabolism and activity of the nervous system slows down: the heart beats less often, blood pressure is reduced. In this case, the dog continues to respond to stimuli. For example, loud noises or bright light.

The surface sleep phase lasts the longest. No matter how much the dog sleeps, it still comes back with each new cycle or before waking up.

Phase 3. Deep (fast). The dog breathes intermittently and noisily, while it may snore, whine or touch with its paws. Eyeballs twitch, eyes slightly open. There is no reaction to the nickname, external noises and even touches.

The fast sleep phase lasts no more than 10-15 minutes. But at this time the complete relaxation of the nervous system and muscles occurs. The brain processes the information received during the day. Presumably the dog is dreaming.

What Affects Labrador Sleep?

How long your dog sleeps is influenced by various factors: stress, daily routine, age, physical activity, health.

Animals that do not get enough exercise during the day may store extra energy before bed and find it difficult to calm down. They become agitated and anxious, creating additional problems for the owner.

The environment also affects how long a dog sleeps. Pets can be nervous for a variety of reasons: new family members or pets, a change in living conditions, separation from a companion, loud noise from a party or fireworks. Because of this, they either fall asleep at the wrong time, or their sleep becomes intermittent.

Various health problems (frequent urination, itching due to fleas, pain, etc.) can disrupt sleep patterns and make your pet restless.

Sleeping Place For a Dog

The sleeping place should correspond to the size of the dog – for this you should first measure its height at the withers and the length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. The length of the bed should be about 15 centimetres longer than the length of the pet, and the width should be twice its height. Only in this case the dog will feel comfortable and convenient. Remember that your puppy is growing and you can buy or equip a smaller bed for the first time, so that later you can change it to an “adult” bed.

Dog handlers note that a sleeping place for a dog should be located at a height of 8 centimetres from the floor and have at least low sides that will help protect the animal from drafts. It is better to place the pet’s personal area away from radiators, household appliances, windows, front doors and access to the balcony.

Summing up all of the above, it should be noted that sleep is a basic need for dogs and all living beings. The well-being, health and mood of pets depends on the quality of sleep and rest, so the owner’s task is to provide conditions for satisfying the need for sleep and recuperation. Dogs can go many days without food, endure thirst for a long time, but without sleep they risk dying within a few days. It is impossible to raise a harmonious, well-mannered dog or re-educate an aggressive one if it does not get enough sleep.

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Also interesting to read: How Often To Bathe a Labrador?

Linda Richard

I know that all dog breeds are different, but Labradors exude a special energy, don’t they? I believe everyone deserves the unconditional love of a pet, so my main goal is to make sure you can experience it.