How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need? By Age, From Puppy to Senior
Updated: 3 days ago
Dogs sleep far more than we do, and it isn't laziness. Sleep is when their bodies repair, their brains sort through the day, and their emotions settle. I know I bang on about this all the time, but a dog who isn't getting enough is often a dog who's bitey, reactive or struggling with training, so "a tired dog is a happy dog" is only half the story.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Puppies need around 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. Adult dogs need around 12 to 14 hours, and senior dogs around 14 to 18 hours. Busy working breeds and giant breeds often sleep at the top end. Most of that is daytime napping, not just the night. If your dog is wired, snappy or forgetting things they know, check their sleep before anything else.
How much sleep do dogs need by age?
Puppies (up to around 6 months): 18 to 20 hours
Adolescents (around 6 to 18 months): 14 to 18 hours, and they often get less than they need
Adult dogs: 12 to 14 hours
Senior dogs (around 8+, earlier for giant breeds): 14 to 18 hours
These are rough guides. Size, breed, health and how busy the day was all make a difference. Watch your own dog: a well-rested dog wakes up bright and settles easily.
Why do dogs need so much sleep?
It's when they learn
During sleep the brain files away what happened that day. Research on dogs has found they remember new cues better when they get a good sleep after a training session. So a nap after training isn't wasted time, it's part of the learning.
It's when the body repairs
Growing puppies build bone, muscle and nerves while they sleep. Older dogs need the rest to recover from the day's movement.
It settles emotions
Stress hormones drop during good sleep. A dog who's short on sleep has less patience and less impulse control, just like a tired toddler.
How much should a puppy sleep?
Puppies need 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day, in lots of naps. A common pattern is an hour or two awake, then a long nap. Overtired puppies don't usually look sleepy. They look wild: biting, zoomies, ignoring you and getting more wound up. Read signs of over-exercising a puppy.
Help your puppy nap by giving them a quiet spot, such as a crate or pen in a calm corner, after play, training and walks.
How much should an adult dog sleep?
Adult dogs need around 12 to 14 hours. Most of that is at night, plus naps through the day. Dogs who are busy all day, with lots of visitors, walks, training and noise, can end up short on rest without anyone noticing.
How much do older dogs sleep?
Senior dogs sleep more, often 14 to 18 hours. That's normal. What isn't normal is a sudden big change, sleeping all day and pacing all night, or seeming confused or sore when they get up. Those are worth a vet check. Read signs of dementia in dogs.
Signs your dog isn't getting enough sleep
More biting, mouthing or grabbing
Being jumpy, reactive or quick to bark
Ignoring cues they know well
Zoomies or frantic behaviour, especially in the evening
Struggling to settle, pacing or circling before lying down
How to help your dog sleep better
Give them a quiet place to sleep
A comfy bed away from the busiest part of the house, where children and other pets leave them alone.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Try not to wake them for cuddles or to show visitors. Broken naps add up.
Build rest into the day
After a walk, training or a busy spell, give them a chew or lick mat in their bed to help them wind down.
Wind down before bed
Calm sniffing and a last toilet trip, rather than wild games, in the hour before bedtime.
Watch busy days
After a day out, a party or visitors, plan a quiet next day so they can catch up.
RENEE'S TIP
If your dog is struggling with behaviour, try adding two extra hours of real rest a day for a week before changing anything else. Many people see less biting, barking and silliness from that alone.
When to talk to your vet
Speak to your vet if your dog suddenly sleeps much more or much less, snores loudly or seems to struggle to breathe in their sleep, can't get comfortable, or is restless at night. Twitching and paddling in sleep is usually just dreaming. Read why dogs twitch in their sleep.
QUICK CHECK
ā Puppies 18 to 20 hours, adults 12 to 14, seniors 14 to 18
ā Quiet bed where nobody disturbs them
ā Rest after walks, training and busy spells
ā Calm hour before bedtime
ā Sudden changes in sleep? Ask your vet
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Help with a dog who won't settle
If your dog struggles to switch off, I can help you build a daily routine with the right balance of activity and rest, in an online Dog Behaviour Consultation from wherever you are.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
How much sleep do dogs need?
Adult dogs need around 12 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours. Puppies need 18 to 20 hours, and senior dogs 14 to 18 hours.
How much sleep do dogs need by age?
Puppies 18 to 20 hours, adolescents 14 to 18, adults 12 to 14, and seniors 14 to 18. Size, breed and health make a difference.
Is it normal for my dog to sleep all day?
Long daytime naps are normal for dogs. A sudden change, or sleeping a lot along with low appetite or seeming unwell, is worth a vet check.
Do dogs need sleep to learn?
Yes. Sleep helps dogs remember what they learned, so a nap after training helps it stick.
Should I wake my puppy up?
Try not to. Puppies need lots of sleep, and broken naps leave them overtired and bitey. Wake them only for toilet trips you've planned.
Can a dog get too much sleep?
Healthy dogs rarely sleep too much. If your dog is sleeping far more than usual, or seems low or unwell, ask your vet.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
