Dogs often sleep more than humans do throughout the day. But much like people, different dogs have different sleeping demands. Different dog breeds have different sleeping requirements. Labrador puppies under four months old may sleep as much as 20 hours a day, while adult Labradors will sleep for over half of every 24 hours. Keep reading to know more about the sleep (and sleeping patterns) of Labradors.
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Is it Normal for Labs to Sleep All Day?
You might wonder whether other pet owners’ dogs also snooze all day when you hang out with them. Unfortunately, comparing your dog’s actions to those of other dogs may not be the most accurate method of determining what is typical.
The American Kennel Club advises that if your Labrador typically sleeps between 12 and 14 hours a day, you shouldn’t be concerned (AKC). There may be a lot of causes, though, if your dog sleeps more than 15 hours each day.
Age, breed, amount of activity, and environmental circumstances are just a few of the multiple variables that affect how much sleep your dog needs. If your dog appears to be sleeping more than usual, analyze any environmental changes. Minor lifestyle adjustments for your dog might have a major impact on how they sleep.
Why is My Labrador Sleeping Too Much?
You might be curious as to why your Lab sleeps so much. If you have a smaller dog, it could seem like they are sleeping more or more than you are used to. The following are some reasons for changes in the sleeping pattern of your Labrador.
Diet
If your pooch has begun sleeping more since changing its food, nutritional variations could be the problem. It may be eating too much, too little, or stuff it shouldn’t be consuming, depending on the situation.
Nature
Your Labrador’s tendency to sleep a lot is probably a result of the way it naturally operates. Large dogs like Labradors typically sleep for 12 to 14 hours each day (source). Your Labrador will probably sleep even longer if it is a puppy or an older dog.
Weather
It can be the case that the hot temperature has been making you feel exhausted if the weather has gotten hotter where you are. In this situation, providing it with access to shaded areas, water, and a cool room throughout the day would be beneficial. It would also be beneficial to walk it in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Aside from that, it would be beneficial to keep it out of the sun as much as possible to prevent heatstroke.
Illness
It may have been sleeping more recently due to a disease. That would be more likely if it had more recently started to sleep and had been displaying other symptoms of illness, such as weariness while up. It would be better to take it to the vet in this situation.
Boredom
Its tendency to sleep more might be because of boredom and lack of stimulation. A lot of daily activity is suggested for the breed of Labradors. If yours hasn’t been exercising much, making sure it does might be beneficial. It is often advised that they exercise for an hour each day.
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Activity Level
Does your dog like frequent strolls across the park? Or does your dog prefer to sit on the couch? The American Kennel Club (AKC) estimates that a puppy that is highly active when awake may require up to 18 to 20 hours of sleep each day. Less active dogs, on the other hand, often sleep for just around 14 hours daily.
No matter how active your dog is, the best strategy is to spread their exercise throughout the day. Dogs often want to snooze frequently to rejuvenate.
Aging
Puppies and senior dogs typically sleep even more. Puppies sleep more because they are quickly growing and because sleep is when their muscles are rebuilt. Older dogs sleep more because getting around takes more energy and they become weary more quickly.
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Do Labradors Sleep Through the Night?
The Labrador Retriever puppy won’t sleep through the night when you first bring them home. Since they are young, being separated from their mother may make them feel lonely and afraid. Throughout the night, they could also need to feed or go outside a few times. Before assuming that the dog can sleep through the night, you will need to allow them some time to acclimate.
The good news is that they won’t continue to behave in this manner indefinitely.
They will eventually quit complaining and keeping you up at night so they can sleep through the night like everyone else. But you might be wondering when this is going to happen for those new pet owners who are sick of waking up in the middle of the night. When a Labrador Retriever reaches the age of around four months, pet owners may anticipate that they will begin to sleep through the night.
They have reached an age where they can successfully sleep through the night and are less likely to need to get up in the middle of the night to obtain attention or for any other reason. The simpler it is to encourage the puppy to accomplish this milestone, the more of a foundation you provide for them early on. Each puppy may react differently to being in your house, and some may take a little longer to sleep through the night.
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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.