If you've recently gotten a dog and are surprised that it sleeps almost all day, don't worry. This is completely normal. Veterinarian Ben Simpson-Vernon, who is popular on TikTok for his professional advice, explained exactly how much sleep a dog needs and why it's important.
“How much sleep should the average dog get each day?” he asks in the video. “It’s easy to assume that eight hours, like a human, would be enough. But in reality, dogs need 12 to 14 hours of sleep per day,” the vet notes. And some even need up to 18 hours.
Especially sleep a lot:
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puppies,
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giant breeds,
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very active dogs that quickly expend energy.
Unlike humans, who typically sleep in one long block at night, dogs divide their sleep into several periods. They are also mostly diurnal, but they “catch up” some of their sleep during the day with short rests.
“It’s not laziness or boredom — it’s a natural need,” Simpson-Vernon says. He says that if a dog doesn’t get enough sleep, it can lead to behavioral problems, decreased well-being, and sometimes anxiety or aggression.
So if your dog spends a lot of time curled up in a ball, don't wake him up unnecessarily. Sleep is the foundation of his health.
By the way, Axel Lagercrantz, CEO of the popular pet store Pets4Homes, previously recommended four dog breeds that are easy to care for at home. If you are just planning to get a four-legged friend, you may want to pay attention to those that do not require complex care - and therefore will give you a little more time to adapt.
