5 Real Reasons Why Dachshunds Sleep So Much
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Where is your Dachshund Right now? Is he on your lap while you surf the internet? Is he napping in a cozy blankie or dog bed? I know my doxies are snoozing beside my computer chair right now.
Dachshunds enjoy sleeping, especially in cozy, soft, and warm beds. Some doxie owners may be a little concerned that their dog is sleeping an little too much throughout the day. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why your dachshund may be sleeping the day away.
Some of the main reasons why Dachshunds sleep so much more than other dog breeds is because of instinct, age, levels of daily activity, boredom, and health.
Are Dachshunds Lazy?
In my opinion, No. If your dachshund receives the right amount of exercise and proper nutrition, a good amount of sleep doesn’t mean they are Lazy. If your Dachshund is bored most of the time, he may sleep more. When my doxies are following me all around the house, their little legs are at a full trot.
Does My Dog Need A Bedtime?
Dachshunds thrive on daily routines. Having a set bedtime for your doxie will help him understand when it is time to rest. Adult Dogs will generally choose the time and place to nap during the day. When they are tired, they will rest.
5 Reasons Why Dachshunds Sleep So Much
Instinct To Hunt:
Let’s look at the Dachshund’s history for a moment. Dachshunds are Hunting Hounds. The Standard sized Dachshund were originally bred in Germany in the 1500’s and it’s main purpose was to hunt the badger. Badgers were destroying crops and hunters needed smaller dogs to dig and burrow under the ground to flush out the badgers.
Dachshunds were raised to be brave and tough in order to win a battle with a badger. Dachshunds needed to be intelligent and clever to hunt down the badgers because it was dangerous work… especially for such a small sized dog. Did you know Dachshunds are still used for hunting today?
So, what does this have to do with sleepy Dachshunds? Well, the dachshund had a pretty stressful job back then, and sleeping was how they restored their energy so they could keep up.
Nowadays, your domestic / non-hunting doxie sleeps to restore his energy and prepare for the hunt at home. That’s right, it is your dachshund’s instinct to rest up for the hunt still today. He may not be hunting badgers anymore, but there are plenty of small game, like squirrels and rabbits to chase when he goes outside. He also needs to keep up with you throughout the day. Those little legs need to rest to be able to keep up.
Dachshunds are considered Scent Hounds and Earth Hounds.
- Scent Hounds are know for following their nose rather than relying so much on their sight.
- Earth Hounds primarily hunt below the ground. They use sound and vibrations to hunt for their prey.
When I am home for the day, my dachshunds follow me around the house. They are my little shadows and I trip over them constantly. If I am putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, my pup Eko is there to help with the “pre-rinse”… that is his favorite job. When I am cleaning up around the house or cooking dinner, the pups follow me.
If I have sitting down watching a movie or playing with my phone, my dogs are relaxing. They are either on my lap, at my feet, or in their doggie blankies taking their naps. They aren’t on guard when I’m not moving around. They are on the job when I am on the go.
Dachshund’s Age:
The amount of sleep your Dachshund needs can depend on his age. Sleep needs change throughout your Dachshund’s life. Just like people, Dachshund puppies and Senior Dogs require more sleep than an Adolescent or Adult Dachshunds.
Four Stages of a Dog’s Life:
- Puppy: Begins at birth and ends between six and 18 months old.
- Adolescence: Between six to 18 months after birth.
- Adult: Adulthood begins between 12 months to three years old.
- Senior: The senior years begin between six and 10 years old.
Dachshund Puppies
Little puppies are constantly growing at a rapid rate. Puppies need LOTS of sleep for proper body growth and strong brain development.
How much sleep does a puppy need?
It is normal for your dachshund puppy to sleep up to 20 hours a day! Wow, that is a lot of sleep.
Is it possible for a puppy to sleep too much?
Not really… If your puppy plops himself on the floor, he is exhausted and needs to rest. Let him rest as much as possible. Puppies have a ton of energy when they are active. They play, run, bark, jump, eat, and explore. Their little growing bodies need lots of GOOD NAPS… but not just any naps will do.. 5-10 minutes is not a “good nap”.
Your pup relies on you to create a regular sleep schedule. He needs to know when it is time to rest during the day and when to sleep at bedtime. Check out our detailed puppy training guide to help you through this exciting time.
Create a daily schedule for napping, potty training, and eating. When I brought my new dachshund puppy, Eko, home. He and I worked together to find a daily routine so his needs were met and I was able to do my daily work and chores.
Nap Time: For Eko, daily nap times occurred around 10 am (late morning), after lunch and potty time, late afternoon, and after dinner.
My puppy slept all of the time. But, every little sound would wake him up. So, when it was nap time, I put him in his designated puppy playpen area with a soft blanket. I also turned on a fan for white noise. These ‘quite room factors’ helped him sleep a lot longer. He would nap 1-2 hours at a time if everything stayed quiet. Now, that’s a good nap! You can check out my puppy proofing post for the playpen I use and recommend.
Playtime: Taking time during the day and evening to play with your pup or take him on a walk will help lower that crazy puppy energy and minimize boredom chewing and trouble making moments.
Senior Dachshunds
Your Dachshund becomes a senior dog around 6-7 years old. That is crazy, right? Some senior doxies start to slow down because their metabolism slows down, which is a normal part of aging in dogs. Generally, senior dogs won’t eat as much food as they did as adult dogs…But they do gain more weight and sleep more.
As they get older, your dog’s body will take more time to heal as well. Sleep helps them feel better.
My dachshund mix, Bastian, is 14 years old. He still has his eyesight and hearing. He walks with a slower gait and sleeps most of the day and all night. I still take him to the vet for routine checkups.
Bastian is a routine dog. Every morning, he gives me “that look” when its time to go for a walk. He also lets me know when he wants a treat after the walk. The rest of the day really is meals, naps, and going potty outside.
Adolescent and Adult Dachshunds
When Dachshunds become adult dogs, sometime after age 1, they usually won’t need as many nap times during the day. They will nap if they go on a long walk or have a fun play session with you or other furry friends.
They will nap to restore their energy for the hunt (even the domestic lap dog).
How many hours a day does a Dachshund sleep?
On Average, an Adult dog will sleep 12 to 14 hours per day. Add in a couple more hours for the Dachshund Dog Breed… more like 14-16 hours.
Hunting hounds need a little more shut eye than other dogs. Even the modern day Dachshund will sleep to conserve energy when they aren’t actively following you, sniffing around the house, or hunting.
Daily Activity:
Did you know working dogs sleep less than inactive dogs? When dogs are home alone during the day, they sleep most of the time. When you arrive home, it’s time to get active. I get it, when you arrive home, sometimes going for a walk or taking your dog to the park doesn’t sound like fun to you. But, it is good for you and your dog to get fresh air and exercise every day.
Exercise: Take daily walks with your dachshund for at least 20 minutes. Walking your dog before you leave for the day and when you return home is a great way to keep your doxie happy and maintain a healthy weight.
Diet: Your dog’s diet can also dictate how often they want to sleep. Make sure you are giving your dachshund the recommended daily amount of ‘high quality’ dog food.
A dog food that is specialized for your dog’s age does matter. Choosing the right food for your dog’s age can make a difference in their health and energy levels. Puppy foods have more fats than adult and senior foods. Senior dog food contains more fiber. Learn the 5 Signs that it’s time to change your Dog’s Food.
Weight: It is important for you to help your dachshund maintain a healthy weight through exercise and diet to avoid back issues, like IVDD.
If You don’t have Time to Walk the Dog…
Dog Walkers: If you are not able to walk your dog during the day, hire a dog walker. You can search online for local dog walkers in your area. I have used the Rover.com app to look up local caregivers to let my dog out when I’m gone for the day or evening. It comes with lots of reviews and is easy to use.
Doggie Daycare: Some dog owners take their dogs to doggie daycare during work hours. Dogs can play, socialize with other dogs, and exercise while you are at work. They are pretty tuckered out at the end of the day.
If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise on a daily basis, this can lead to boredom, destructive behaviors, and yes, even More Sleep.
Health:
If you notice a big change in your Dachshund’s sleeping habits, there may be a cause for concern. If you dog is usually more active when you are home, ready to walk or play, and they aren’t anymore, something may have changed.
A Dachshund that doesn’t feel well… will sleep a lot. If your dog seems slower than usual, excessive sleeping, acting lethargic, grumpy, disoriented, or not eating like usual, it may be time to visit the vet for a check-up.
It may be as simple as making a simple dog food diet change or unfortunately more serious health issues. Diseases, like Diabetes and Hyperthyroidism can change sleeping habits.
Pay attention, if something is different about your dog’s regular sleeping habits, it’s time to give the vet a call.
Do little dogs or big dogs sleep more?
The larger dog breeds average a few more hours than smaller dogs. They can sleep up to 18 hours per day.
Different dog breeds have different sleeping habits.
Dogs spend about 30 percent of their time lazing around while awake and the remaining 20 percent in activity. Dogs are flexible in their sleeping habits. When a situation suddenly alerts a dog, it immediately springs into action as if it wasn’t sleeping at all. In most cases, dogs tend to sleep when bored, but in situations where the dog has so many tasks to accomplish, it tends to sleep less. In fact, professionally trained hounds sleep less than their domesticated counterparts. Home dogs have little to do but eat and laze around all day waiting for the family to return from their outdoor activities.
