Did you know that dogs spend 50% of their lives sleeping? There’s a reason for that, and it’s important to let your dog get its sleep.
Although 45% of dog owners admit to sharing a bed with their dog, human and dog sleeping habits differ.
A primary reason that dogs sleep so much is that they spend 10% of their slumber in REM or the “deep sleep” stage. The less time a dog stays in REM, they more sleep they’ll need throughout the day to get an adequate amount of rest. Compare this to humans who spend 25% of their sleep in REM. Depending on the breed, dogs can sleep up to 18 hours of the day.
The more active a dog is, the less sleep they require. Service animals or police dogs are working around the clock, so they don’t get as much sleep as other dogs. You can keep your dog active by trying tricks such as stimulating toys, play dates with other pups, and scavenging games.
At the end of the day, dogs need sleep. Sleep allows dogs to stay well-rested, energized, and ready for the next day. Are you having trouble sleeping? Here are ten ways that you can improve your sleep.