Why does my dog sleep so much?

What it often means

• His natural rhythm: dogs sleep in short cycles, day and night, and doze between activities. A quiet house invites him to nap.
• Age: a puppy sleeps most of the day to grow and recover from everything he discovers, and an older dog recovers more slowly.
• Boredom: a dog with nothing to do sleeps for lack of anything better. More sniffing and play often make him more alert.
• Heat, a big day or his build: large breeds have a reputation for sleeping more, and short-muzzled dogs tire faster.
• Illness or pain, when sleep increases suddenly: he moves less because moving hurts, or because the illness wears him out.

Signals to read at the same time

• Waking up: if he springs up, bright-eyed, the moment you grab the leash, he sleeps by choice; if you have to insist, that is lethargy.
• Appetite, thirst and weight: a dog who sleeps more and eats less, drinks much more or changes weight needs to be seen.
• His body when he gets up: stiffness, limping, hesitating at the stairs or the car, all of which suggest pain.
• His breathing while asleep: fast, noisy or broken by pauses, especially in a short-muzzled dog or one with a heart condition.
• His day and night rhythm: if he sleeps all day, then wanders, pants or barks at night, his internal clock is going off track.

What you can do

• Compare with his usual self: for a week, note his naps, meals and walks. The change matters, not the number.
• Give him a bed away from foot traffic, where nobody disturbs him: a dog who sleeps well is often calmer when awake.
• Add a daily activity for his brain: a sniffing walk, a search game, something to chew. If he was sleeping out of boredom, he will perk up.
• With a puppy, plan quiet naps after play: an overtired puppy nips and gets wound up instead of sleeping.
• With an older dog, keep walks short but regular, and plan regular vet check-ups, even if he seems fine.

When to see a vet

See a vet if your dog suddenly sleeps much more than before, is hard to wake or listless once up, eats less, drinks much more, loses or gains weight for no reason, or has pale gums, fast breathing at rest or trouble getting up. Pain, fever, anemia, a thyroid problem, heart disease or diabetes can hide behind it. A dog who cannot stand, or whom you cannot wake, is an emergency.