If you've ever watched your dog sleep in the middle of the afternoon and thought, "isn't that a bit much?", don't worry: it's completely normal. Dogs sleep many more hours than we do, and that doesn't mean they're lazy or sick. It simply means that their biology works differently from ours.
But it's also true that a dog's sleep can tell us a lot about their health. A pet child who sleeps too little, wakes up startled several times a night, or suddenly starts sleeping much more than usual, may be sending us a signal that deserves attention. In this article, we explain how many hours a dog sleeps according to their age, what is normal and what is not, and why rest is much more connected to their joints than it seems at first glance.
How many hours does a dog sleep per day?
On average, an adult dog sleeps between 12 and 14 hours a day. But that number changes quite a bit depending on their life stage, so let's look at it by groups.
Puppies: up to 18-20 hours a day
A puppy is growing at full speed, and that growth consumes an enormous amount of energy. It's not uncommon for them to sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day, divided into short naps between play sessions. If your puppy suddenly "crashes" after a wild run around the living room, don't worry: it's exactly what their body needs to develop well.
Adults: between 12 and 14 hours a day
In adulthood, sleep stabilizes. Most dogs sleep between 12 and 14 hours, divided between night and several naps during the day. Breed, activity level, and size play a role: large breed dogs, for example, usually need more rest than small ones.
Senior dogs: up to 16-18 hours a day
This is where many owners are surprised. From 7-8 years old (earlier in large breeds), it is common for dogs to start sleeping more, not less. The reason is not just "they've become lazy": their body has less available energy and, in many cases, their joints start to suffer, which leads them to move less and seek rest as a way to relieve discomfort. If this sounds familiar, we recommend reading our article on arthritis and hip dysplasia in dogs, where we explain how to detect the first signs of joint pain.
Rest changes with age, but the need for good body support never disappears: on the contrary, it becomes more important.
Why your dog's sleep is so connected to their joints
It may seem that sleeping a lot and having joint problems have nothing to do with each other, but the relationship is more direct than you think.
During deep sleep, the dog's body repairs tissues, reduces inflammation accumulated during the day, and recovers muscle energy. If a dog sleeps poorly—because a certain area hurts when they lie down, because they wake up every time they change position, or because the surface they rest on doesn't offer enough support—that recovery process is constantly interrupted. The result is an unfavorable cycle: less quality rest, more accumulated inflammation, and more joint discomfort the next day.
That's why at Pethijos we insist so much that rest is not just "a comfortable bed"; it's an active part of caring for your dog's physical health, especially if they are senior, a large breed, or already have a diagnosis of arthritis or dysplasia.
Signs that your dog is not sleeping well (even if it seems like they sleep a lot)
Not everything that looks like rest is quality rest. Pay attention to these signs:
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They constantly change position before finding a comfortable one.
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They wake up with small whimpers when getting up or repositioning themselves.
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They sleep many hours but wake up just as tired, as if they haven't rested deeply.
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They avoid lying down completely and prefer to stay in half-lying positions, a sign that something bothers them when stretching their body.
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They seek hard or cold areas (tile, floor) instead of their usual bed, something many dogs instinctively do when they feel joint heat or inflammation.
If you recognize any of these signs, don't ignore them: it could be the first warning of joint discomfort that should be checked by your vet, and which can also be significantly relieved by improving the resting surface where your dog spends most of the day.
What affects the quality of a dog's sleep
The surface where they sleep
A dog spends between half and two-thirds of its life sleeping. If that surface is too soft, it sinks and doesn't distribute weight properly; if it's too hard, it creates pressure points on hips, elbows, and shoulders. Both extremes affect the quality of rest, and over time, joint health.
Undiagnosed pain
Many dogs with incipient arthritis don't limp yet, but they do sleep worse. Mild, constant pain alters deep sleep cycles long before more obvious symptoms appear.
Stress and environment
Noise, routine changes, or sleeping in a high-traffic area also fragment sleep. A quiet corner and a bed they associate with security help the dog enter deep sleep more easily.
Body temperature
Dogs regulate heat worse than we do, and many avoid beds that retain heat. A well-ventilated surface promotes more continuous rest, without waking up due to heat.
How to help your dog sleep better (and why the type of bed matters so much)
The first thing is obvious: maintain appropriate walking and activity routines for their age, and consult your veterinarian if you detect any of the signs we mentioned earlier. But there is something you can completely improve starting today: the resting surface where your dog sleeps every day.
A quality orthopedic bed is not simply "softer." The key lies in the combination of materials: a memory foam base that adapts to the body's shape and reduces pressure points, along with a layer of high-density HR (high resilience) foam that supports weight without sinking with daily use. Memory foam alone cannot offer true orthopedic support: it adapts to the body, but it needs a firm base underneath to sustain that adaptation over time. It is precisely the combination of both foams that achieves what a dog truly needs for restorative rest: stable support and pressure relief at the same time.
And this is not just for large or older dogs. The factor that really matters is weight and body structure. A bulldog, for example, is small in size but weighs much more than it seems, and needs support commensurate with that weight. At the other extreme is the greyhound: it has hardly any muscle mass or fat to cushion its bones when lying down, so it also greatly benefits from a surface that distributes pressure well. If your dog is already of a certain age, weighs more than usual for its size, or you have noticed any of the signs of poor rest we mentioned, this is exactly the kind of change that can be noticed in a few weeks, both in the quality of its sleep and in its mood during the day.
In addition to the body, the mind also plays a role. A dog with an overwhelmed nervous system—due to accumulated stress, overstimulation, or lack of clear routines—can spend many hours lying down without reaching truly deep sleep. If you want to delve deeper into this more emotional aspect of rest, we cover it in detail in our article Rest in Dogs: Why It's Key to Their Well-being.
Two foams working together to make rest truly restorative.
Frequently asked questions about dog sleep
Is it normal for my dog to sleep all day?
Yes, especially if they are a puppy, senior, or a large breed. The important thing is not so much the number of hours, but whether that sleep is deep and continuous, or if your dog wakes up frequently for no apparent reason.
How many hours does a puppy sleep per day?
Between 18 and 20 hours, divided into several short naps between periods of play and activity.
Why does my dog sleep more now that he's older?
It's common and normal to a certain extent: metabolism slows down with age. But if you also notice that they move with more stiffness when getting up, it's worth checking if there's an underlying joint discomfort.
Can my dog's bed affect their rest?
Absolutely. A surface that does not distribute body weight well can create pressure points that interrupt deep sleep, especially in senior dogs or those prone to joint problems.
In summary
Your pet child's sleep is not just a matter of comfort; it's an essential part of their physical health. How many hours a dog sleeps depends on their age, but the quality of that rest largely depends on where and how they sleep. Paying attention to signs of poor sleep and offering them a resting surface designed for their body is one of the simplest and most effective ways to care for their long-term well-being.
If you want to give your dog the restorative rest they need, you can check out our Pethijos orthopedic memory foam bed, designed specifically to accompany them through every stage of their life.