How many hours do dogs sleep? Puppies, adults and older dogs

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Dog science for dog mums (and some dads)

How much puppies, adult dogs and seniors really sleep, what shapes a good night, and the signs that are worth a vet visit.

Last updated: 22 October 2026 By the MrFluffyFriend Dog Science Team 25 studies, all linked How we researched this 16 min read

Based on peer-reviewed science

This post is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for professional veterinary advice.

The small blue numbers in the text (like 1) link to the study behind that sentence. Tap a number to open the source. Every number in this guide comes from peer-reviewed research.

The short answer

Young dogs sleep about 11 hours in every 24, spread over the night and several daytime naps. In a large UK study, owners reported about 11.2 hours a day for 16-week-old puppies and about 10.8 hours at 12 months1.

At night, most adult dogs sleep 6 to 10 hours while their people are in bed2. Seniors often sleep more by day and wake more at night3,4.

A tan dog sleeps curled up in a light grey donut dog bed.
A tan dog curled up asleep in a light grey donut bed. In a lab study, dogs spent more than half of each day drowsy or asleep5.

Dogs are not lazy. They are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep in several blocks across the day and night6. Their sleep also looks a lot like ours on brain recordings7.

So the real question is not just ‘how many hours?’ It’s also ‘what kind of sleep, and when?’ This guide answers both, age by age.

Key takeaways

  • About 11 hours a day is typical for young dogs. Owners reported 11.2 hours at 16 weeks and 10.8 hours at 12 months, with big differences between dogs1.
  • Night sleep is the main block. Half of adult dogs slept 6 to 8 hours at night, and about a third slept 8 to 10 hours2.
  • Both ends of the range were linked to problem behaviour. Dogs reported to sleep under 8 or over 10 hours at night showed more problem behaviour2.
  • A busy day means deeper sleep. After an active day, family dogs slept more and spent more time in deep (NREM) and REM sleep9.
  • Sleep helps dogs learn. After learning a new command, dogs' sleep brain waves changed, and those changes were linked to how well they remembered10,11.
  • Seniors shift their sleep. Older dogs tend to nap more by day and wake more at night3. Big changes are worth a vet check4.

11.2 h

average daily sleep reported for 16-week-old puppies1

6 to 10 h

night sleep for most adult dogs while their people slept2

about 87%

of young dogs with night access to people chose to sleep near them1

Sleep by age

How many hours do dogs sleep at each age?

In this section you’ll learn typical sleep hours for puppies, young adults, adult dogs and seniors.

Here is what the research shows, age by age. Most of these numbers come from owner surveys, so read them as typical ranges, not targets.

How much dogs sleep, by age (typical ranges from research)
Age Typical sleep What the study measured
Puppy, 16 weeks About 11.2 hours per 24 hours: about 7 hours at night plus about 3.5 hours of naps Owner estimates for 2,332 UK puppies1
Young dog, 12 months About 10.8 hours per 24 hours: about 7.3 hours at night plus about 3 hours of naps The same dogs at one year1
Adult dog, night only 6 to 8 hours for half of dogs; 8 to 10 hours for about a third Owner survey of 1,330 dogs, while the owner was in bed2
Adult dog, at home overnight About 413 minutes (almost 7 hours) at rest during the owner’s night Activity monitors on 40 dogs sleeping in the bedroom12
Senior dog Less night sleep and more day sleep, with more night waking Lab and owner studies of older dogs3,4

Puppies

How much sleep does a puppy need?

In this section you’ll learn how much puppies sleep, why their sleep looks different, and how sleep may shape behaviour.

Puppies sleep a lot, and their sleep is still developing. In a UK study of 2,332 puppies, owners reported an average of 11.2 hours of sleep per day at 16 weeks1. The range was wide: the standard deviation was almost 3 hours.

Puppy sleep also changes in structure. In a brain-recording study of 60 young dogs, REM sleep went down from 2 to 6 months. Time spent drowsy went up from 2 to 8 months8.

The authors concluded that the dog brain is not fully mature by 12 months8. In other words, your one-year-old is still growing up on the inside.

Does puppy sleep affect behaviour?

It might. A UK study followed 145 puppies until six months of age. Puppies reported to sleep 9 hours or more per night at 16 weeks or younger were less likely to show separation-related behaviour later13.

This was a correlational study, so it shows a link, not proof. Still, it is a good reason to protect your puppy’s night sleep.

Adult dogs

How long do adult dogs sleep at night?

In this section you’ll learn how much adult dogs sleep at night and how their day is split into rest and activity.

Adult dogs do most of their sleeping at night. In a survey of 1,330 dogs, half slept 6 to 8 hours while their owner was in bed. About a third slept 8 to 10 hours2.

Activity monitors tell a similar story. Forty dogs that slept in their owners' bedroom were at rest for about 413 minutes of the owners' night. Their sleep efficiency averaged 85%12.

Daytime matters too. Dogs fit naps around their people and their routine. Activity monitors on 42 healthy adult dogs showed two activity peaks a day, with effects of age, sex and body size15.

A dog’s day in numbers

The classic lab study recorded six pointer dogs for 24 hours. They spent 44% of the time alert, 21% drowsy, 23% in deep slow-wave sleep and 12% in REM5.

Sleep episodes lasted about 45 minutes on average. Most sleep happened between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.5 That is a small, old study, but newer work agrees that dogs sleep mainly at night with naps by day6.

Small dog lying in a beige donut dog bed.
A small dog settles into a beige donut dog bed. Drowsiness is its own state between waking and sleep in dogs5.

What changes sleep

What makes dogs sleep more or less?

In this section you’ll learn how exercise, surroundings, stress, learning and face shape change how dogs sleep.

Activity and a busy day

A good day shows up in sleep. After an active day, 16 family dogs slept more, reached deep sleep sooner, and spent more time in NREM and REM sleep9.

Lost sleep shows up the next day too. In lab dogs, sleep loss was followed by more inactivity and less play and alert behaviour6.

Where they sleep, and who is there

Place matters. Away from home, dogs were less likely to enter REM sleep after their first deep sleep9. In repeated lab naps, dogs slept more by their third visit16.

People matter too. In a small study of nine dogs, dogs took longer to fall asleep and got much less deep sleep when their owner was out of the room17.

In a UK study, about 87% of young dogs with night access to people chose to sleep near them. A dog bed was the most common sleeping place at 12 months (31.7%)1.

Noise, heat and daylight

Surroundings count. In 13 lab dogs studied over eight months, night sleep fell on warmer nights and longer days. Daytime sleep fell on noisier days18.

Emotions and learning

A dog’s day changes the night. After a negative social experience, pet dogs fell asleep faster, and their sleep stages shifted compared with after petting and play19.

Sleep also helps memory. After learning, dogs had more sleep spindles, short bursts of brain activity, and more spindles went with better recall11.

Flat-faced breeds

Face shape may matter. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs spent more time sleeping. The authors suggest the breathing problems common in these breeds may increase daytime sleepiness20.

Senior dogs

How much do senior dogs sleep?

In this section you’ll learn how sleep changes in older dogs and which changes are worth a vet check.

Older dogs sleep differently. In a small telemetry study, dogs aged 16 to 18 had much less REM sleep than young dogs. They slept more by day and were awake more at night3.

Sleep and the ageing brain are linked. In 28 senior dogs, those with higher dementia scores spent less time in deep (NREM) and REM sleep during a nap21.

In a survey of 205 dogs aged 8 and over, poorer sleep went with more severe cognitive dysfunction. More than half of these dogs were most unsettled between 2 and 5 a.m.4

Pain can disturb sleep too. In dogs with arthritis pain, owners rated sleep as better while their dogs took an anti-inflammatory drug22.

For a deeper look at older dogs, read our guide: Senior dog sleeps all day: should you worry?

Too much or too little

Can a dog sleep too much or too little?

In this section you’ll learn what research links to short or long night sleep, and what ‘normal’ looks like.

Both can be a clue. In the survey of 1,330 dogs, those reported to sleep less than 8 hours or more than 10 hours at night had more severe problem behaviour2.

Dogs that were easily disturbed from sleep also showed more problem behaviour in the same survey2. This is a link from owner reports, not proof of cause.

Sleep is not a side issue. A veterinary review notes that poor sleep can affect a dog’s thinking, immune system and sensitivity to pain23.

Vet signs

When should you call the vet about your dog’s sleep?

In this section you’ll learn which sleep changes are worth a vet visit.

Speak to your vet if you notice any of these changes. Most have a simple explanation, but some point to a health problem.

  • A sudden change in sleep. A big shift from your dog’s usual pattern, in either direction.
  • Night waking or pacing in an older dog. This went with more severe cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs4.
  • Stiffness or restlessness after rest. Joint pain can disturb sleep22.
  • Loud snoring or daytime sleepiness in a flat-faced dog. Breathing problems may make these breeds sleepier20.
  • Violent movements, barking or biting while deeply asleep. These are signs reported in dogs with a REM sleep behaviour disorder24.
  • Sudden collapse into sleep while excited. Narcolepsy is one of the more common dog sleep disorders23.

Better sleep

How can you help your dog sleep better?

In this section you’ll learn simple, research-backed steps for better dog sleep, plus a free 3-day sleep log.

  1. Make the day active. Exercise and play are linked to deeper sleep that night9.
  2. Keep the sleeping spot familiar. Dogs slept less deeply in unfamiliar places9,16.
  3. Stay close if your dog prefers it. Most young dogs chose to sleep near people1, and dogs slept more deeply with their owner present17.
  4. Keep the room quiet and comfortable. Noise and warm temperatures were linked to less sleep18.
  5. End the day on a calm note. A negative experience before bed changed dogs' sleep19.
  6. Protect puppy sleep. Long nights in early life went with fewer separation problems later13.

Free checklist: your dog’s 3-day sleep log

Save a screenshot or print this card. Fill it in for three normal days.

  • Write down when your dog settles at night and when it gets up.
  • Count the daytime naps and roughly how long they last.
  • Note anything unusual: pacing, waking, heavy snoring, or stiffness after rest.

Night sleep: hours. Naps: per day.

Take the log to your vet if anything looks different from your dog’s normal.

Want your dog to use its own bed? See how to get a dog to sleep in their bed at night.

Myth vs fact

Dog sleep myths: what does the research say?

In this section you’ll learn which common beliefs about dog sleep hold up.

MythDogs sleep all day because they are bored.

What research saysDogs naturally sleep in several blocks across 24 hours6. Long naps are normal, especially in puppies and seniors.

MythPuppies need the same sleep as adults.

What research saysPuppy sleep is still developing. REM sleep falls and drowsiness rises over the first months8.

MythMore sleep is always better.

What research saysIn owner reports, both under 8 and over 10 hours of night sleep went with more problem behaviour2.

MythSleep doesn’t matter for training.

What research saysAfter learning, dogs' sleep brain activity changed, and it was linked to how well they remembered10,11.

Evidence

How strong is the evidence on dog sleep?

In this section you’ll learn what kinds of studies stand behind this guide.

Dog sleep research uses two main tools. Owner surveys give big numbers but rely on memory1,2. Brain recordings are precise but usually involve fewer than 30 dogs7,8.

Activity monitors sit in between. They measure rest objectively, but they can’t see sleep stages12,15.

FAQ

Your questions about dog sleep, answered

In this section you’ll learn short answers to the questions dog owners ask most.

How many hours a day do dogs sleep?

Young dogs sleep about 11 hours in every 24, on average. In a large UK study, owners reported 11.2 hours at 16 weeks and 10.8 hours at 12 months1. Individual dogs vary a lot.

How long do dogs sleep at night?

Most adult dogs sleep 6 to 10 hours at night. In a survey of 1,330 dogs, half slept 6 to 8 hours and about a third slept 8 to 10 hours2.

How much sleep does a puppy need?

Puppies sleep a lot, around 11 hours a day at 16 weeks in owner reports1. Puppies reported to sleep 9 hours or more per night were less likely to show separation-related behaviour at six months13.

Is it normal for my senior dog to sleep all day?

Older dogs often sleep more by day and wake more at night3. Big changes, night pacing or confusion are worth a vet check, because poor sleep is linked to cognitive decline in older dogs4.

Why does my dog sleep so much more after a busy day?

Activity deepens sleep. After an active day, dogs slept more and spent more time in NREM and REM sleep9.

Do dogs sleep better near their owners?

Many dogs seem to. About 87% of young dogs with night access to people chose to sleep near them1. In a small study, dogs got more deep sleep with their owner in the room17.

Glossary

Dog sleep science words, explained

In this section you’ll learn what the science words in this guide mean.

Polyphasic sleep
Sleeping in several blocks across the day and night, rather than in one long stretch. Dogs sleep this way6.
NREM sleep
Non-rapid eye movement sleep, the deeper, slower-wave part of sleep. Researchers measure it with recordings of brain activity7.
REM sleep
Rapid eye movement sleep. The eyes move quickly under the lids, and in people this stage is closely linked to vivid dreaming25.
Sleep efficiency
The share of time in bed that is actually spent asleep or at rest12.
Sleep spindles
Short bursts of brain activity during NREM sleep that are linked to memory11.
Correlational
Two things show up together in the data. That doesn’t prove one causes the other.

Next steps

What should you do next?

In this section you’ll learn four simple steps to put this guide to work.

  1. Track three normal days. Use the free sleep log to learn your dog’s normal.
  2. Plan an active day. Exercise and play go with deeper sleep9.
  3. Check the sleeping spot. Quiet, familiar and comfortable, ideally near you.
  4. Watch for the signs. If you notice any of the signs in section 07, book a vet check.

Related reading

Sources

Where does every fact come from?

In this section you’ll learn which study backs each number, with a link to every one.

Every source is a peer-reviewed paper. Tap a link to open the abstract (PubMed) or the publisher’s page (DOI). Labels show the study type; amber labels mark weaker or indirect evidence.

  1. 1

    Kinsman R, et al. Sleep Duration and Behaviours: A Descriptive Analysis of a Cohort of Dogs up to 12 Months of Age. Animals (Basel). 2020.

    Owner survey, 2,332 puppies PubMed 32664232 DOI 10.3390/ani10071172

  2. 2

    Tooley C, Heath SE. Sleep Characteristics in Dogs; Effect on Caregiver-Reported Problem Behaviours. Animals (Basel). 2022.

    Owner survey, 1,330 dogs PubMed 35883300 DOI 10.3390/ani12141753

  3. 3

    Takeuchi T, Harada E. Age-related changes in sleep-wake rhythm in dog. Behav Brain Res. 2002.

    Weak: 8 laboratory dogs PubMed 12385805 DOI 10.1016/s0166-4328(02)00123-7

  4. 4

    Taylor TL, Tuke J, Hazel SJ. Sleep-wake disturbance in canine cognitive dysfunction: Guardian-reported patterns and a practical screening tool. Vet J. 2026.

    Owner survey, 205 senior dogs PubMed 42571817 DOI 10.1016/j.tvjl.2026.106817

  5. 5

    Lucas EA, Powell EW, Murphree OD. Baseline sleep-wake patterns in the pointer dog. Physiol Behav. 1977.

    Weak: lab EEG study, 6 dogs PubMed 203958 DOI 10.1016/0031-9384(77)90340-7

  6. 6

    Schork IG, et al. The cyclic interaction between daytime behavior and the sleep behavior of laboratory dogs. Sci Rep. 2022.

    Observational, lab dogs PubMed 35013533 DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-04502-2

  7. 7

    Kis A, et al. Development of a non-invasive polysomnography technique for dogs (Canis familiaris). Physiol Behav. 2014.

    Lab sleep study, 22 dogs PubMed 24726397 DOI 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.04.004

  8. 8

    Reicher V, et al. Developmental features of sleep electrophysiology in family dogs. Sci Rep. 2021.

    Lab sleep study, 60 young dogs PubMed 34815446 DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-02117-1

  9. 9

    Bunford N, et al. Differences in pre-sleep activity and sleep location are associated with variability in daytime/nighttime sleep electrophysiology in the domestic dog. Sci Rep. 2018.

    Weak: sleep study, 16 dogs PubMed 29740040 DOI 10.1038/s41598-018-25546-x

  10. 10

    Kis A, et al. The interrelated effect of sleep and learning in dogs (Canis familiaris); an EEG and behavioural study. Sci Rep. 2017.

    Lab EEG study PubMed 28165489 DOI 10.1038/srep41873

  11. 11

    Iotchev IB, et al. EEG Transients in the Sigma Range During non-REM Sleep Predict Learning in Dogs. Sci Rep. 2017.

    Lab EEG study PubMed 29021536 DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-13278-3

  12. 12

    Patel SI, et al. The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017.

    Activity-monitor study, 40 dogs PubMed 28870354 DOI 10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.06.014

  13. 13

    Dale FC, et al. Canine separation-related behaviour at six months of age: Dog, owner and early-life risk factors identified using the 'Generation Pup' longitudinal study. Anim Welf. 2024.

    Correlational cohort, 145 puppies PubMed 39703219 DOI 10.1017/awf.2024.56

  14. 14

    Sokoloff G, Uitermarkt BD, Blumberg MS. REM sleep twitches rouse nascent cerebellar circuits: Implications for sensorimotor development. Dev Neurobiol. 2015.

    Animal model: newborn rats PubMed 24677804 DOI 10.1002/dneu.22177

  15. 15

    Woods HJ, et al. A functional linear modeling approach to sleep-wake cycles in dogs. Sci Rep. 2020.

    Activity-monitor study, 42 dogs PubMed 33335259 DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-79274-2

  16. 16

    Reicher V, et al. Repeated afternoon sleep recordings indicate first-night-effect-like adaptation process in family dogs. J Sleep Res. 2020.

    Lab sleep study, 24 dogs PubMed 32067296 DOI 10.1111/jsr.12998

  17. 17

    Baranyai L, et al. Family Dogs' Sleep Macrostructure Reflects Worsened Sleep Quality When Sleeping in the Absence of Their Owners: A Non-Invasive Polysomnography Study. Animals (Basel). 2025.

    Weak: sleep study, 9 dogs PubMed 41227510 DOI 10.3390/ani15213182

  18. 18

    Schork IG, et al. How environmental conditions affect sleep? An investigation in domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Behav Processes. 2022.

    Weak: observational, 13 lab dogs PubMed 35644428 DOI 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104662

  19. 19

    Kis A, et al. Sleep macrostructure is modulated by positive and negative social experience in adult pet dogs. Proc Biol Sci. 2017.

    Experimental sleep study, 16 dogs PubMed 29070727 DOI 10.1098/rspb.2017.1883

  20. 20

    Iotchev IB, et al. Sleep-physiological correlates of brachycephaly in dogs. Brain Struct Funct. 2023.

    Sleep EEG study, companion dogs PubMed 37742302 DOI 10.1007/s00429-023-02706-y

  21. 21

    Mondino A, et al. Sleep and cognition in aging dogs. A polysomnographic study. Front Vet Sci. 2023.

    Lab sleep study, 28 senior dogs PubMed 37187924 DOI 10.3389/fvets.2023.1151266

  22. 22

    Knazovicky D, et al. Initial evaluation of nighttime restlessness in a naturally occurring canine model of osteoarthritis pain. PeerJ. 2015.

    Drug study, 60 + 19 dogs PubMed 25722957 DOI 10.7717/peerj.772

  23. 23

    Mondino A, et al. Sleep Disorders in dogs: A Pathophysiological and Clinical Review. Top Companion Anim Med. 2021.

    Review PubMed 33556640 DOI 10.1016/j.tcam.2021.100516

  24. 24

    Schubert TA, Chidester RM, Chrisman CL. Clinical characteristics, management and long-term outcome of suspected rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in 14 dogs. J Small Anim Pract. 2011.

    Weak: case series, 14 dogs PubMed 21265848 DOI 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.01026.x

  25. 25

    Kovács E, Kosztolányi A, Kis A. Rapid eye movement density during REM sleep in dogs (Canis familiaris). Learn Behav. 2018.

    Lab sleep study, 31 dogs PubMed 30264371 DOI 10.3758/s13420-018-0355-9

MrFluffyFriend Dog Science Team

We read the research so you can make calm, informed choices for your dog. Every number in this guide was checked against the original study, and every study is linked above. We are dog people too, and we write for the dog mums (and some dads) who want the facts.

Last updated: 22 October 2026

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog suddenly sleeps much more or much less, seems restless at night or is hard to wake, speak to your vet.