How Much Sleep Do Puppies Need?

When I posted the article New Puppy Schedule last week, I got a few replies from people asking me if their puppies really do need 16-18 hours of sleep per day. 

It may seem very hard for your new puppy to get a lot of sleep when you want to play with them all the time. I recommend short bursts of play, walks, and obedience training with a lot of rest for a puppy between 2-6 months old.

I have searched for some reliable resources to reinforce my recommendation of required sleep for puppies. Here is what I found:

"Although puppies are little bundles of energy, they usually sleep 18-20 hours a day," says the American Kennel Club.

When they’re awake, puppies burn a lot of energy – growing physically, experiencing new people and places, and learning what they can and can’t do. Because the world is such an exciting, stimulating place, they won’t always notice an internal clock telling them it’s time to rest. (1)

"Dogs of all ages sleep more than us humans (lucky dogs, indeed), but the average number of hours puppies sleep a day is 16 to 18 — or even more."  This information comes from an article from Pet Central.

Though it may not appear so, while your new furry angel has peacefully nodded off, his body is hard at work. Development of his brain and central nervous system is dependent upon these precious ZZZs. Time spent snoozing tones and strengthens your young puppy’s muscles and bones, which enables your growing pup to be your athletic companion soon, should you so desire one. Sleep even keeps your puppy’s immune system functioning at its best. Without enough sleep, your puppy will become cranky, destructive, and at risk for infections and illness. (2)

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Resources:

1: How to Make Sure Your Puppy Gets Enough Sleep

2: How Much Should Puppies Sleep?