Puppy sleep
How much sleep does a puppy need?
New owners often worry that their puppy sleeps too much, and a few weeks later that it never seems to stop. Both worries usually come back to sleep. This page covers how much a puppy needs and why, what an overtired puppy looks like, how to build naps into a home day, and how rest fits around a Dogtown daycare day.
How much
Eighteen to twenty hours a day, taken as many short naps
The AKC's guidance is that puppies usually sleep from 18 to 20 hours a day, with naps coming about every hour and lasting from 30 minutes to two hours. That leaves short windows of awake time for eating, toileting, play and a little training. It is far more than an adult needs: the AKC says grown dogs sleep as much as half the day, and older dogs need more again because they tire more easily.
The reason is growth. The AKC calls sleep essential to healthy growth, supporting development of the nervous system, brain, immune system and muscles, and helping a puppy recover during growth spurts. A puppy that sleeps most of the day is not lazy or bored; it is doing the work of growing. A puppy that rarely naps is more of a concern, and that is usually a sign the household is keeping it busy rather than a sign it needs less.
| Stage | Typical sleep, per the AKC |
|---|---|
| Young puppy | 18 to 20 hours a day, in naps of 30 minutes to 2 hours |
| Adult dog | As much as half the day, with about 30 percent awake but relaxed |
| Senior dog | More than an adult, because older dogs tire more easily |
Overtired puppies
An overtired puppy gets mouthier and wilder, not sleepier
Tired toddlers and tired puppies have something in common: past a certain point they stop winding down and start winding up. The AKC warns that too much stimulation and exhaustion can lead to unfortunate behavior in puppies, and suggests guiding a puppy to its crate to wind down. The ASPCA observes that puppies tend to mouth when petted unless they are sleepy or distracted, which is why a drowsy puppy is gentle and a frazzled one grabs at hands, sleeves and ankles.
Not every bitey evening is tiredness, though. The ASPCA warns that repeated bouts of biting in frustration are not something a puppy simply grows out of, and advises seeing a qualified professional if biting seems fearful or aggressive. If your puppy bites hard even after a good nap, growls or stiffens, or frightens the children, talk to a trainer. Our how-to on stopping puppy biting covers the everyday method.
- Biting harder and more often as the session goes on
- Grabbing leashes, sleeves and furniture
- Ignoring cues it knew an hour ago
- Racing laps that end in more biting, not a nap
- Calmer within minutes once settled somewhere quiet
Naps at home
Build naps into the day the way you build in meals
Puppies rarely put themselves to bed in a lively house, so naps need arranging. The AKC suggests a safe, quiet place such as a crate, a dog bed or an undisturbed room, a pattern of active time followed by quiet time, and letting the puppy fall asleep on its own rather than on your lap, so it does not depend on you to drift off. It also cautions against keeping a puppy crated from dusk to dawn after a day in the crate; rest should be spread through the day.
Night sleep improves with age. The AKC notes that night-time potty breaks are normal for young puppies and get less frequent as they grow, and its rule of thumb for how long a puppy can wait is one hour for every month of age, plus one. By that rule a two-month-old can wait about three hours and a five-month-old about six. Keep night trips dark, quiet and quick so they never turn into play.
- 01
Choose one nap spot, a crate, pen or bed, in a corner away from kitchen traffic.
- 02
After every play session, walk or meal, take your puppy out to toilet, then to the nap spot.
- 03
Offer a safe chew and dim the room or cover part of the crate.
- 04
Leave quietly once your puppy settles, and let it wake on its own.
- 05
Keep visitors and children away from the nap spot while the puppy sleeps.
- 06
Note nap times for a few days so you can see when your puppy tips into overtired.
Nap routines at daycare
At daycare, a half day keeps the big sleep at home
A room of interesting dogs makes deep sleep hard for a young puppy, which is why our half day, $33, is described as perfect for puppies and seniors. Drop off between 6:30 and 9:30 AM and collect between 12 and 1 PM, and the long afternoon nap happens in your own house. A full day, $42, includes rest breaks and water stations between play, but most young puppies do better on half days until the report cards show them coping well.
How rest is arranged for a puppy's group, and where a young pup settles between play blocks, is something we go through with you at the free evaluation, on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, rather than one arrangement printed here. Bring Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records and a current city license; in Gloucester that comes from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave. Our puppy daycare page covers groups and pricing, and the Pup Van runs for $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
- Start with half days, morning or afternoon
- Plan a quiet afternoon at home after a morning session
- Read the report card for how much your puppy rested
- Move to full days only when the evenings stay calm
When to ask the vet
Lots of sleep is normal; a dull, listless puppy is not
A healthy puppy sleeps deeply, then wakes alert, hungry and ready to play. The AKC advises checking with your vet when sleep habits change once a routine is set, because extra sleep can point to a medical or behavioral problem. A puppy that is hard to wake, uninterested in food or play, or sleepy alongside vomiting or diarrhea should be seen promptly rather than watched for another day.
Do not wait overnight to see whether a listless puppy perks up. If your own clinic is closed, Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open 24 hours, and the City of Gloucester lists local emergency veterinary offices. At the other extreme, a puppy that barely naps at all is usually being kept too busy, so add rest before you add anything else to its day.
At Dogtown
Play, rest and early lessons for puppies
Half-day puppy daycare, Tiny Tails Puppy School and the trainers who help a young dog learn to settle.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Is my puppy sleeping too much?
Should I wake my puppy to go potty?
Where should my puppy nap during the day?
Will daycare tire my puppy out too much?
How long should puppy naps be?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- AKC: how much do puppies sleep?
- AKC: why do dogs sleep so much?
- AKC: why does my puppy go wild at night?
- ASPCA: mouthing, nipping and biting in puppies
- City of Gloucester: dog licensing
- Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
- City of Gloucester: local emergency veterinary offices
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
A puppy day with rest built in
Send the training form with your puppy's age and nap routine. We reply within one hour on business days.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
