Just like you, your pawsome buddy also has a biological sleeping pattern. A pet sleeping pattern is defined as a biological rhythm that automatically guides the body when to sleep and when to wake up. A 24-hour sleep cycle of pets is abundantly noticed, which develops naturally from birth. The vital pet rest needs have been illuminated later on.
What Should My Furry Friend’s Natural Sleep Pattern Look Like?
You might already be surprised by your pet’s superpower to fall asleep in a matter of seconds and for how long they can sleep. Through years of research, it has been found that an adult dog’s natural sleeping duration should be around 10-12 hours a day.
Puppies and dogs above 5 years of age tend to require greater hours of sleep. The phases of getting total hours of sleep are very different in your pawsome buddy than in humans. The average uninterrupted sleep time for a dog is found to be just 45 minutes. Humans can get uninterrupted sleep for seven to nine hours a day.
Dogs can only sleep short at a stretch, so you will find them sleeping multiple times throughout the day. So it’s common to find them snoozing in different parts of the house, making you laugh at their quirky sleeping posture. According to Canagan, on average, dogs spend 20% of the day being active, 30% lying awake, and 50% living in a dream world with occasional body twitches.
Your pet’s sleeping pattern is directly intertwined with its overall well-being. It’s concerning if you notice your dog sleeping more than 14 hours daily. Similarly, if their behavior during sleep is unusual, it shouldn’t be ignored. Like humans, dogs can exhibit multiple sleeping disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and pet sleeping schedule disturbances.
These are the following pet sleep cycle disruption signs that you should be looking out for
- Violent movements during sleep
- Waking up within a couple of minutes
- Urinating during sleep
- Restlessness before bed
How to Establish a Healthy Sleeping Schedule for Your Pet?
You have the unwavering responsibility to develop a healthy sleeping schedule for pets or training pet to sleep through the night. These are the following ways you can become a successful pet parent through healthy sleeping schedule practices:
- Pooch Play– You must allocate your pet dedicated playing and exercise time every day. This should be anytime during the day, at least before the sun goes down. Exercise is crucial to drain your pet’s energy so they get rich sleep at night. The most common way is to take your dog for a walk or gentle run. If you don’t get time, evening time can also be utilized after you return from work.
- Routine development– Establishing a routine throughout the day that gets followed consistently can slowly make your pets identify when it’s time for bed. This includes maintaining almost the same time for food, outdoor running, indoor play, and other activities. Ensure your pet gets dinner a few hours before bed; otherwise, comfortable digestion might be difficult for that cute belly. Before your pet resigns to bed, the last hour should be kept as relaxing as possible; avoid screen time for the pet and yourself!
- A separate bed– Hosting an individual dog bed can help train pets to sleep through the night. Whenever during the night your furry friend takes this bed, they would know it’s time for some good old rest. Certain research suggests that pet owners who sleep with their dogs in the same bed experience poor sleep quality.
- Check for medical ailments– As a pet parent, you would have the best judgment to identify if your pooch might have a medical problem. Not sleeping at night could be a sign of injury or illness. Monitor their walking ability and eating desire to gain a better understanding. Take your dog to the vet when you think medical intervention is required.
Common Factors that Can Disrupt Your Pet's Sleep Cycle and How to Address Them?
How to Address Your Pet’s Sleep-disrupting ‘Ghosts’?
You have the power to make improvements to almost all of the factors mentioned above:
- Noise can be controlled by not watching television or scrolling reels while your pet sleeps. You can also keep their bed in the quietest corner of the house.
- Choose a cozy bed for your pet to help them relax their joints and stretch, considering your pet’s size.
- Go for healthy home-cooked meals with the right dose of essential nutrients.
- Pets like dogs tend to get overheated often. Provide sufficient ventilation in the room to regulate the heat.
- Form a routine for your pets with dedicated time to work, eat, and play.
- If you’re sensing any symptoms or triggers for health issues or sleep disorders, immediately take them to the vet.
The Benefits of Establishing a Regular Sleep Schedule for Your Pets
The core benefits of a regular sleep schedule for your pets are listed here:
- A consistent routine will nurture your dog’s physical and mental health. Knowing the timings for certain circumstances will reduce their stress and separation anxiety.
- The risk of catching diseases will be minimized due to a regular sleep schedule.
- A healthy sleep cycle will uplift your pet’s mood, especially in the morning.
- Their brain functionality would be more vivid, primarily benefiting watchdogs and farm dogs.
- Pets with a regular sleep schedule will also be more amiable toward unknown guests.
- Their decision-making ability will get enhanced.
- Pet’s regular sleep schedule will improve the sleep of pet parents and other house members. The question of “how to stop my dog from waking me up early” will poof away.
Woofing Away
Understanding the sleeping pattern of your pet is crucial to ensure their well-being. After analyzing their schedule for a few days, you can effortlessly improve your pet’s sleeping schedule by referring to this pooch-friendly guide. Get the right help and the right time with Petzzco. We help you better understand your pet’s sleep cycle and connect you to an ideal vet.
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