Why Does Your Large Breed Dog Need More Rest?
We all know the feeling of sleeping poorly or sleeping on a poor surface. When your hip cramps up in the morning, it can feel painful and effect your entire day. Imagine sleeping on that same surface every day of your life. You don’t even have the ability to massage those sore areas to make yourself feel better.
That should give you an idea of why you need to be sure your dog has a great place to rest. If you wish for nothing but the best for your large dog then you need to ensure that it has a place to sleep that will relieve its pains rather than cause new ones, especially for older dogs.
How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?
No matter what type of dog you own, knowing about their sleeping habits is one of the most essential ways to understand their health and needs in general. Dogs tend to sleep between twelve and fourteen hours per day . This is only a ballpark estimate, however, given that there are so many factors that contribute to determining the amount of sleep that your dog requires each day.
Puppies and Growing Dogs
As in the case of humans and most mammals, it’s the youngest who always require the most rest. Not only do puppies sleep more than full-grown dogs, but they sleep much, much more. On average, puppies of any breed sleep about 20 hours a day! That said, puppies are the only category of dog that requires more sleep due to increasing activity.
Considering the Sleep of Different Breeds
Although it’s easy to calculate the average sleeping time for all dogs and puppies, one of the most important factors that determines the different needs of dogs is their particular breed. Dog breeds vary enormously, all it takes is to consider the vast difference between the Great Dane and the Chihuahua to understand that different breeds are going to have vastly difference biological needs. In fact, some people have even questioned whether such vastly different animals should even belong to the same species!
To ignore the similarities of such breeds, however, would be to make as equally great a mistake. Either way, it’s incredibly important that when choosing a bed for your dog that you learn the specifics of your particular dog and choose the perfect dog bed for your dog’s breed before you bring home the wrong bed – and that’s exactly why our website allows you to pick out a dog bed according to breed.
Working Dogs Sleep Less
You may find it surprising to learn that dogs who have jobs, and live continuously active lives, actually tend to sleep less. Likewise, dogs who have more sedentary lifestyles tend to sleep longer amounts. The reason for this is that those animals that are more active derive energy from the work they do and the healthier lifestyles that they lead.
Why Do Older Dogs Need More Rest
Just like people, dogs end up having less energy as they age. But there are several other factors that contribute to their lack of movement and need for more rest. The main reason why older dogs require more sleep is due to the fact that they get tired quicker than younger dogs. This rule, however, is often complicated by the fact that older dogs often suffer from illnesses that come with age. Any dog that suffers from a medical condition will require more rest as well.
Considering Larger Breeds
Larger breeds commonly suffer from a number of illnesses that are associated with faster growth rates and larger bones. Some of the diseases that frequently effect large breeds of dog when they get older include:
- Arthritis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Wobbler Syndrome
- Bloat
- Hypothyroidism
The faster a dog grows during youth, the higher the risk that it will develop a disease related to its bones later in life, as in the case of Hip Dysplasia or Arthritis.
Whether or not a dog’s illness can be treated, it always helps to provide your dog with a comfortable bed that has been made specifically to suit its needs. Since Mammoth Dog Beds sells bed that are large enough even for a Great Dane or a Mastiff, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to find a bed that’s perfect your for large breed dog. If you’d like further consultation about exactly what type of bed will suit your specific large breed dog, then you can get all your large dog questions answered from one of our friendly and professional experts.
Is My Dog Sleeping Too Much?
How can you help your dog to get a better sleep? Given that those dogs that live a more active lifestyle also sleep better, there’s one important thing you can do to ensure that your dog gets the sleep it deserves. Make sure that your dog is getting all of the exercise that it needs to live a healthy life. As in the case of choosing the right bed for your large breed dog, the amount of exercise your dog requires will depend on individual factors, such as its size and age.
In order to ensure the best of care for your large dog, it’s important that you pay attention to all of the little details that determine things like how much sleep it should have, how much exercise it needs and, especially, what kind of bed it will enjoy the best.
