Watching your golden retriever puppy sleep a lot can make you worry about its health. We’ll address all your concerns related to your puppy’s sleep in this research-driven article to ensure it grows into a healthy dog.
Golden retriever puppies can sleep a lot, usually 18 to 20 hours a day, since they need time to grow and develop physically and mentally. As they age, this may reduce to 12 to 14 hours a day.
Proper sleep can prevent your puppy from staying tired, struggling to focus, and acting temperamental. Let’s take a look at all the crucial details.
Table of Contents
How Much Sleep Do Golden Retriever Puppies Need?
According to AKC, puppies usually need 18 to 20 hours of sleep every day. Just like newborn babies’ tiny bodies need sleep for physical and psychological growth, puppies also need sleep to grow and develop mentally and physically.
If puppies don’t get enough sleep, they may not be playful and active and struggle to focus. This will also negatively affect their overall health.
As they grow older (into adolescence and adulthood), they may only need 12 to 14 hours of sleep every day. Studies show that as puppies grow older, their need for sleep decreases.
RELATED: Golden Retriever 6 Months Old Behavior: A Complete Guide
However, a senior golden retriever may need almost the same hours of sleep as a puppy since they need to recover from daily activities and may suffer from illnesses.
You may also wonder how long do golden retrievers sleep at night, especially puppies. Puppies don’t sleep in one stretch. Instead, it’s broken down into naps and regular sleep, unlike an adult dog who has a more regular sleep-wake cycle.
You may have to wake up at least once during the nighttime for a potty break or midnight snack, so be ready for this!
Summary: Golden retriever puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep daily, crucial for growth. As they age, sleep decreases to 12-14 hours. Seniors may require similar hours for recovery. Puppies’ sleep is divided into naps, with potential interruptions for potty breaks or snacks at night.
Importance of Sleep
Getting past the “how many hours do golden retrievers sleep” query, it’s equally imperative to know the importance of sleep for puppies.
A 2021 veterinary article states that sleep deprivation in dogs affects their immune systems and cognitive and physical performance and increases pain sensation and the risk of diseases.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the importance of sleep in puppies.
1. Brain Development
All the information that your puppy receives when they are awake is processed when they fall asleep. In addition, during the sleep phase, their brain gets rid of all the toxins accumulated when they were up, which is necessary for developing cognitive stability.
This is why your puppy will seem happier to you and tend to focus better when they get their sleep.
2. Immune System Development
Newborn puppies are at a higher risk of developing infectious diseases as their immune system is in the development phase.
Therefore, sleep helps them save energy to build their immune system and keep them protected from any illnesses down the road.
3. Development of Bones and Muscles
When your energetic little one isn’t burning off their energy by jumping here and there, their body diverts that energy into the development of bones as well as strengthening muscles during sleep.
In a nutshell, sleep allows puppies to develop their brain, immune system, and muscles, so they can gradually turn into healthy and happy adult dogs.
Summary: Quality sleep aids in brain development, immune system strengthening, and the growth of bones and muscles. Sleep deprivation can impact their cognitive function, immune response, and increase the risk of diseases.
What Factors Make Golden Retrievers Sleep Even More?
As we just discussed that sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day for a puppy is absolutely normal for their growth and development, let’s discuss what factors other than age contribute to your golden retriever sleeping even more (or less).
1. Hot Weather
Hot weather can make your pup feel more fatigued. Since this breed has a double coat of fur, they tend to feel hotter during summer compared to us.
Moreover, they pant to regulate their temperature, which may cause an increase in humidity and make it harder for them to cool themselves down.
Recommended Reading: Do Golden Retrievers Pant A Lot?
Golden retriever puppy sleeping on the floor can make some pet owners ponder. If this is the case with you, your pup may be doing so to cool down as floors are cooler and help them sleep better on hot days.
RELATED: Why Do Golden Retrievers Sleep On Their Back?
However, you should make sure you take care of your puppy in hot weather to not feel tired by taking them for walks in the early morning or evening when the sun isn’t overhead.
You should also place water near them to keep them hydrated and ensure they have access to shade. Usually, the basement or main floor of the house is cooler during summer, so sleeping there would be your best bet when the temperatures are rising.
2. Diet
Feeding your puppy too much can make them feel lazy. On the other hand, feeding them less than needed can make them feel weak, and they will be inactive to the point where they will want to sleep more.
Make sure you’re feeding your canine companion a balanced diet. Along with exercise, diet can have an impact on the development of bones. For your dog’s diet, you must talk to your vet as they can recommend better according to your puppy’s individual needs.
3. Sickness
Your golden retriever puppy may sleep more due to an underlying medical condition.
If their diet and activity level are adequate along with the weather and they are also showing other symptoms like vomiting, you must take your pooch to the vet without delay.
4. Boredom
Golden retrievers are energetic and active dogs. They need both mental stimulation and physical exercise to stay active. If your pup doesn’t have anything to do, they will feel bored and keep sleeping.
Make sure you entertain them with toys, take them for walks, and even get them to exercise adequately (which we’ll discuss in a while).
5. Too Much Exercise
If your little pooch is exercising and playing more, they will tend to get tired and sleepier. Therefore, this factor can contribute to them sleeping more.
If you’re wondering about how much exercise does a golden retriever puppy need, we’ll discuss the details in the sleeping tips section below.
When Should You Be Concerned?
If weather, diet, and exercise aren’t a problem and your pooch is still sleeping a lot, you should be bothered.
You should also be concerned for your puppy when:
- They are inactive when up
- They have been showing signs of sickness
- They have started sleeping a lot all of a sudden without any major cause
In such a case, you must take your dog to the vet to rule out any health condition.
Sleeping Tips for Your Golden Retriever Puppy
During the Day
Since puppies need both daytime naps and nighttime sleep to develop and grow in a healthy manner, you should ensure daytime sleep as well.
Here are practical tips for your puppy to sleep through the day.
1. Let Your Puppy Nap Peacefully
We get it – it’s hard to resist cuddling with your adorable little puppy or picking them up when they sleep. However, you must not disturb them.
Since they are active and playful, they may get tired and want to recover through daytime naps. Don’t make them dependent to sleep on your lap as they won’t sleep without you when they grow older.
Let them rest peacefully in their designated sleeping area and encourage them to sleep there by providing them with a comfortable place to sleep and rewarding a favorite treat when they get there.
That’s why it’s better to invest in a high-quality dog bed like PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed which features memory foam to promote healthy joints and good-quality sleep.
One more thing to consider here is that you can add your pup’s bed in a crate to keep their temptations at bay and keep them safe from dangers while you’re away or asleep.
RECOMMENDED READING: How to Crate Train a Golden Retriever? (Step-by-Step Guide)
Some pet parents worry about their little golden retriever sleeping in bed with them, and to be honest, it’s more of a personal choice. It’s better for your puppy to sleep in your room, so you can supervise them and not make them feel anxious.
RECOMMENDED READING: Anxiety in Golden Retrievers: Symptoms, Causes, & Solutions
2. Follow a Schedule
This is what a typical day for your adorable puppy should look like:
- Eat
- Go potty
- Play
- Nap every hour or so for about 30 minutes to 2 hours
Make sure you plan their day so they become habitual in following the same schedule every day, and you can even have time for yourself when they are napping.
3. Don’t Neglect Over-exhausted Behavior
Along with not disturbing your puppy while they are napping, you shouldn’t over-exercise them or let them play for an extended period as they may become overtired and miss out on sleep which is important for them.
When you notice their over-exhausted behavior, you should immediately lead them to their sleeping place, keep petting them gently, and encourage them to relax.
At Night
Now it’s equally essential for your puppy to have a good night’s sleep. You may want to ensure they continuously sleep through the night so your sleep is also undisturbed.
Here are some effective tips to help you achieve this goal.
1. Give It Enough Exercise During the Day
You shouldn’t over-exercise your puppy as you don’t want to cause any damage to their growing joints and muscles. Over-exercising can also overtire them.
At the same time, you should also make sure that they get enough exercise and play so they don’t get bored and put on too much weight.
It’s quite confusing, isn’t it?
Well, according to The Kennel Club, a good rule of thumb is to exercise your puppy for:
5 minutes of exercise (twice per day) x month of age = x minutes
So, for a 6-month-old puppy, this is how you would calculate:
5 minutes x 6 months = 30 minutes (twice a day)
This means you will have to exercise (walk) your 6-month-old puppy for up to 60 minutes (1 hour) a day.
Keep following this until your golden retriever puppy is fully grown.
You should exercise your puppy in addition to mental stimulation (such as with interactive toys) and play, as this will have an impact on their quantity and quality of sleep.
2. Establish a Bedtime Routine
What’s great is that puppies (and dogs, in general) are quite routine-oriented. However, you will have to establish their routine from the start to acclimate them to a new one, as they don’t live by a clock.
This way, you won’t be up all night with your puppy, and your little one can get good quality and quantity of sleep in a single block.
For instance, by evening, have your puppy do this:
- Eat
- After dinner, go for a walk
- Play and interact with household members
- Go potty
- Get settled in a crate/bed
When it’s time for them to go to bed, you can use words like “time for bed” or “go to bed” and slowly they will understand your words and start following them quickly.
In the start, it may seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth it down the line!
3. Keep Its Sleep Area Dim and Quiet
As dogs have a circadian rhythm, they respond to light and dark in their environment. When it’s dark, they will know that it’s time for them to go to bed.
Hence, you should lead them to their bed and make sure the sleeping area is quiet and dark. Your pup may also want to go potty during the night, so it’s better to keep them in your bedroom and respond to their needs accordingly.
Restrict any background noises like TV for them to sleep peacefully. Moreover, cover the top of their crate with a blanket to make it more den-like and cozier.
4. Don’t Give In at Bedtime
In the start, your puppy may not really like you putting them to their bed, and they may bark, cry, and whine.
RELATED: Why Do Golden Retrievers Bark So Much?
However, you must not give in to their cuteness, as they must learn that it’s time for them to sleep.
Slowly, they will become used to this. What you can do is reward them with a treat when they enter their crate and praise them for making the “process” a breeze.
5. Be Ready for a Potty Break
Like human babies, your golden retriever puppy may wake up in the middle of the night for a potty break. That’s why you should keep them in the same room as you, so you can accommodate their needs.
Take your little one out calmly for a potty break and quietly praise them. Once they are done, quietly put them back in their crate and use positive reinforcements calmly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is my golden retriever puppy so tired?
Your golden retriever puppy may feel tired due to several reasons like boredom, heat, sickness, or poor diet. If the cause is not really apparent, you must take them to the vet to ensure they don’t have any serious medical condition.
2. How much do 8-week-old golden retriever puppies sleep?
An 8-week-old golden retriever puppy needs 18 to 20 hours of sleep daily for the healthy development of the brain and body. As they age, it may reduce to 12 to 14 hours per day.
3. Do golden retriever puppies cuddle?
Golden retriever puppies love to cuddle! Since they have a short attention span, they may not cuddle with you for a long time. However, they may like cuddling with you for a nap, but don’t make them so dependent on sleeping on your lap, as this may be a problem for you later.
Conclusion
Golden retriever puppies do sleep a lot, i.e., around 18 to 20 hours a day, which is totally normal. Sleep is important for them to develop their immune system, central nervous system, brain, and muscles.
In addition to age, your pooch may sleep more due to hot weather, poor diet, over-exhaustion, and illness. If you suspect your golden retriever puppy may be sleeping more due to sickness or an unknown factor, immediately take them to the vet to rule out any medical condition.