Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much?

By Jerry Welsh

Question: Why is the dog sleeping all day long? Answer: Because he guards at night. Actually the idea is correct. Most of us depend on our dogs to guard us as well as our properties. But dogs do sleep anytime of day and night. They actually sleep as much as 14 hours a day. This means that they sleep more than half of their life. Some dogs even sleep more than others do. Large breeds of dogs like the mastiff, St. Bernard and Newfoundland sleep from 16 to 18 hours everyday. They are dubbed as the mat dogs because they are fond of lying and sleeping in front of the fire like a furry rug.



The sleeping pattern of the dog depends on the activity and environment. Domesticated dogs sleep more than working dogs do. Who would not if you are comfortable, you have a soft padded and cozy corner to sleep in and most of all you have nothing to do. People would sleep a lot too if they are left at home with nothing much to do. On the other hand, it would be impossible for a working dog to sleep most of the time given that they have a task or a duty to perform. Dogs working in a farm are all-around dogs, meaning they are given varied tasks to do. Apart from this, dogs have the opportunity to roam and being highly energetic, they would prefer to run and to wander rather than curl in a corner to sleep.



One may think that the dog is lazy because it is always asleep. The fact is, a dog may seem to be sleeping but they wake more frequently than people do. Dogs are always alert and they have heightened senses that make them aware of the slightest sound and movement. But dog are lucky too as they can easily adjust the sleeping pattern. They wake easily but the sleep easily too. They have the ability and the stamina to stay awake when they have something to do and would fall asleep easily no matter what time of day or night once the task is done.

Sleeping, no doubt is beneficial. It allows the dog to rest and to replenish the energy. Bored and inactive pets may sleep a lot, much more than they need to. Excessive sleeping when coupled with too much eating and very minimum exercise can be dangerous to the health of the dog. This is most common in pampered pets. Excessive sleeping can be avoided by providing the pet with stimulus to be active. Give the dog toys if they are going to be left at home all day. Take the dog walking and allow your pet to join in the activities of the family.

Learn more about why dogs sleep all day long at Sarah's Dogs, http://www.sarahsdogs.com/qa/why_do_dogs_sleep_so_much.html At Sarah's Dogs you can also find answers to many other common and not so common questions about dogs.