Does your dog get enough sleep? Dogs require a vast amount of sleep during the day. Dogs require a vast amount of sleep during the day. Whether your dog is young and old they need up to around 18 hours in a 24 hour period.
Chronic sleep deprivation will impact your dog in the same way as it impacts us and lack of sleep causes them to be grumpy – just like us! If you are home a lot and your dog likes to keep one eye open for fear of missing out, your dog may not be getting adequate sleep during the day. For some dogs who sleep when left alone, purposefully leaving the house so that your dog gets a decent uninterrupted daytime nap can do wonders for their emotional health. If you are unsure whether your dog sleeps when left alone, video them on a few separate occasions to get an accurate representation of their behaviour when left alone.
The same goes for doggie daycare. If your dog attends doggie daycare – the provider should be actively encouraging periods of rest throughout the day, for the welfare of the dogs in their care. Here at Ringwood Dogs, we implement a structured rest routine throughout the day. After a long morning walk followed by lunch – the dogs find their favourite place to bed down and sleep for a couple of hours before the afternoon activities. If a dog or puppy finds it difficult to settle down for a nap in a group environment, they are moved to a quiet place – kitchen or snug behind the stairgate, in their crate or puppy pen, so that they are given the opportunity to settle themselves down for a good quality nap.
So remember to give your dog plenty of opportunities to nap throughout the day…..
Isabelle Adams-Papé IMDT
Ringwood Dogs, Three Legged Cross on the Dorset, Hampshire and New Forest border.
Dog Training, Dog Day Care, Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking
            |