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Raising a puppy is a super rewarding and fun experience. That is, until your puppy starts acting out.
One major reason why your puppy isn’t behaving as he should is that he doesn’t sleep enough. So how can you make sure that your puppy is getting all the rest he needs?
Keep reading for some advice.
How much sleep does a puppy need?
If your puppy isn’t getting the sleep he needs, then you’re pretty likely to see some behavioral problems.
Puppies need way more sleep than you might think they do. And if they don’t get it, they’ll have a harder time growing up into a healthy adult dog.
But it’s hard to make sure your puppy gets the sleep he needs when he refuses to settle down! The problem is that even though you know he needs sleep, your puppy doesn’t think so.
While this can be pretty frustrating to deal with, the good news is that there are ways to help. Before we start getting into it, make sure you check out these related articles:
- How Long Do Puppies Sleep at Night?
- Can Puppies Sleep Through the Night?
- Do Puppies Sleep A Lot During Growth Spurts?
Puppies need a lot of sleep
In a lot of ways, puppies are really similar to human babies. And you might already know that babies need lots and lots of sleep every day.
The same is true for your puppy. He’s doing a ton of growing at this stage in his life. All of that growing can be pretty exhausting, and your puppy needs lots of rest.
Sleep is also a chance for your puppy to do a lot of the developing that he needs to do. So you can see why it’s so important for your puppy to get enough sleep!
So exactly how much sleep does your puppy need? Your puppy needs around 18 to 20 hours of sleep for every 24-hour cycle.
If your puppy doesn’t get this necessary sleep, then you’re likely to run into some problems as he gets older.
How much do puppies sleep at 14 weeks?
Very young puppies need the most sleep. That’s when they’re doing most of their growing! During this stage in his life, you’ll need to make sure that he’s getting the rest he needs.
The older your puppy gets, the less sleep he’ll need. Most adult dogs sleep between 12 and 14 hours each day.
When your puppy is 14 weeks old, he’s going to need a lot of sleep to grow into a healthy, happy dog.
Make sure that your 14-week-old puppy is getting around 18 to 20 hours of sleep every day. And remember that every puppy is different. Some puppies may need a little more sleep than this, others a little less!
How much should a puppy sleep at 4 months old?
The older your puppy gets, the more time he’ll start spending awake. That said, even older puppies will likely need more sleep than an adult dog.
While your puppy may have spent around 18 to 20 hours sleeping, once your puppy reaches around 3 to 4 months old, he’ll need a little less.
At 4 months old, you can expect your puppy to need at least 15 hours of sleep. You’ll want to make sure that your puppy isn’t getting any less than that.
He’s still got some growing to do and he might be going through some pretty major growth spurts. He’s going to need plenty of rest.
Rest will prevent a lot of behavioral problems that puppies may show when they’re not getting enough sleep.
How much do puppies sleep at 8 months?
Most breeds reach their adult sizes by the time they are 8 months old. So if you’ve gotten to this point, congratulations! Your puppy is done most of his growing by now.
Now that your puppy is a little older, you can expect him to need slightly less sleep. At 8 months, you can expect your puppy to sleep around 12 to 14 hours each day. Of course, some dogs will need a little more than this, and others a little less.
The good news about this age is that you’re in the home stretch at this point! Most breeds reach full maturity after between 1 and 2 years.
Smaller breeds tend to mature faster than larger breeds. That means that if you have a big dog, you might need to wait a little longer for his brain to finish developing!
Why is my puppy not sleeping enough?
To function properly and grow up into a healthy adult dog, your puppy needs lots of sleep. Now if only you could explain that to him!
Puppies that don’t get enough sleep can run into a lot of behavioral and health issues. For example, in both humans and dogs, a lack of sleep can affect your immune system.
There are several reasons why your puppy might not be getting the sleep that he needs. One of the biggest reasons is that your puppy just isn’t good at regulating his sleep.
Some puppies are able to recognize when they’re tired and will pass out right in the middle of whatever they were doing!
On the other hand, some puppies seem to think they’re the opposite of tired. You need to teach them why sleep is so important!
Other reasons why your puppy doesn’t sleep include an uncomfortable crate, or the household being too noisy during naptime.
Crates offer your puppy a safe, comfortable place to sleep that’s away from the business of the rest of the house. Haven’t crate trained your puppy yet? Here are a few articles that might be helpful:
- How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night
- My Puppy Is Throwing a Tantrum in the Crate—Help!
- Help, My Puppy Hates His Crate!
Sleep deprived puppy symptoms
If you want your puppy to grow into a healthy adult dog, you need to make sure that he’s getting enough sleep every day. If you don’t, that could weaken his immune system and he might get sick more easily.
You’re also likely to run into some behavioral issues. A puppy that’s getting enough sleep is much less likely to act out because he’s overtired.
If your puppy doesn’t get enough sleep, you might run into some of the following issues.
Do puppies get cranky if they don’t sleep enough?
Do dogs get cranky when tired? Even though we’re different species, dogs and humans can be pretty similar in some ways.
When you have a sleepless night, you probably feel pretty grumpy. Your attention span might be shorter, and you might feel pretty irritable!
The same is true for your puppy. And remember, puppies are a lot like little kids. When kids don’t get enough sleep, they get pretty cranky too. And unlike adults, kids may not know how to regulate what they’re feeling and express their tiredness in healthy ways!
So yes, your puppy might get cranky if he’s not getting enough sleep.
The thing to bear in mind is that there are also other reasons why your puppy might be getting so cranky. For example, being under stimulated can also cause grouchiness.
That can make it confusing to find out what your dog needs. Most of the time you can use context clues. Is your puppy getting his 18 to 20 hours of sleep? If not, he’s probably overtired.
If he is sleeping enough, then he might just be bored during his waking hours. That might call for more exercise, especially mental stimulation!
Mental stimulation can also be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackr’s review first to see if it’s a fit for you and your dog!
Sleep deprived puppies tend to act out
One issue that you are likely to run into if your puppy isn’t getting enough sleep is behavioral problems.
Puppies that don’t get enough sleep are likely to act out. So what exactly does that mean?
Different puppies may express their exhaustion in different ways. Some puppies start barking or crying a lot, and you might not immediately know why. Other puppies chew things they know they’re not supposed to.
Regardless of how your puppy is expressing it, acting out is a huge sign that he isn’t getting the sleep that he needs. If you want a well-behaved puppy, you need to make sure that he gets enough sleep every day.
There are a lot of different ways your puppy might be acting out because he’s overtired. Here are a few articles about it that you might find helpful:
- Overtired Puppy Biting—Change Your Little Shark into a Loving Puppy
- 7 Tips for Overtired Puppy Aggression
- 10 Overtired Puppy Symptoms and What to Do About It
My puppy doesn’t sleep enough, what can I do?
Your puppy needs those 18 to 20 hours of sleep every 24-hour cycle to stay healthy and in a good mood.
Unfortunately, your puppy doesn’t necessarily know that! It’s your job to make sure that he gets the sleep he needs.
If this is something you and your puppy struggle with, here are a few tips to help you out.
Should I force my puppy to sleep?
As you already know by now, you need to make sure that your puppy is getting the sleep he needs every 24-hour cycle. But what if your puppy simply refuses to sleep?
Is it okay to force your puppy to go to sleep?
The answer is yes! In fact, you should be forcing your puppy to sleep if he isn’t regulating his own sleep cycle.
Some puppies just don’t realize that they’re tired and need to rest. As a dog parent, it’s your job to make sure he gets the rest he needs.
Crate train him
Many people avoid crate training their dogs because they think it’s cruel. But crates are actually really useful tools. It all comes down to how you use them!
When you crate train your puppy properly, his crate will feel like a safe, comfortable space for him to relax in. It will also be a designated place where he knows he can get a little quiet.
Wondering where to start when it comes to crate training your puppy? Here’s how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
Make sure he gets the right amount of physical and mental stimulation
One really important way to help your puppy rest more easily is to make sure he gets the right amount of daily stimulation.
This means neither overstimulating nor under stimulating him. When your puppy gets the right amount of both mental and physical stimulation, you’ll find that he has a much easier time settling down for sleep.
Wondering how much exercise a puppy should get? The answer to this question depends on a few factors.
You can find a little inspiration for things to do with your puppy in these articles:
- 21 Fun Things to Do with Your Dog at Home
- 10 Brain Games for Dogs to Play at Home
- 11 Tips to Tire Out a Dog (Quickly)
Set up a daily routine
If you and your puppy don’t have a daily routine in place, then now’s the time to set one up!
A routine will be beneficial for both you and your puppy. Your puppy will start getting used to his schedule. He’ll understand when it’s time to run around and play, and when it’s time to settle down to rest.
A routine will also help you ensure that you’re meeting all of your puppy’s needs throughout the day!
Coming up with a solid routine will help you and your puppy. You can use this free daily puppy schedule to track your puppy’s sleep.
Conclusion
A puppy that isn’t getting the sleep he needs can be pretty tough to deal with. You’ll likely come up against a lot of behavioral problems when your puppy isn’t getting enough rest.
But there are plenty of ways you can help your puppy. Try them out to see what works, and enjoy a well-behaved, well-rested puppy!