So Why Do Dachshunds Sleep So Much? Here’s Why!
Many sausage dog owners wonder about their dog’s sleeping habits, and if there is anything to be aware of. It depends on the cause of your Dachshund’s sleepiness. Generally speaking, depending on their life stage, doxies will sleep longer during some days and not as much on others.
We understand that your Dachshund’s “excessive” sleeping might be a source of concern, especially when you know that doxies are considered to be energetic and lively animals. There are several reasons why your Dachshund could be suffering from sleepiness and we’ll explore each of these situations.
Natural Tendencies
Generally speaking, dogs tend to spend 20% of their day being active, 30% being awake, but not active, and 50% of the day sleeping. This is especially true with Dachshunds, whose ancestors normally sleep a lot because of the nature of their work in the past.
As you may know, Dachshunds are hunting dogs. Thus, they normally sleep when they don’t hunt to conserve energy. This natural tendency could still be seen in modern dachshunds today.
For Dachshund owners, you can expect your four-legged friend to sleep as much as 14 hours a day. It is completely natural for dogs, including your Dachshund, to snooze as soon as they don’t see any meaningful activities for them to perform.
Age
How old is your doxie? Dachshunds in both extreme ends of the age spectrum tend to sleep more. Puppies and old dogs sleep as much as 18 hours a day.
It is understandable for us to notice puppies sleeping a lot, but as dogs grow old, they lose their vitality, strength, and stamina. They don’t exert as much physical and mental effort as they used to.
Environment
Your Dachshund feels comfortable when they are in a familiar place. You might have noticed that your doxie sleeps a lot at home, but outside, your pooch is mostly awake and active. That’s because outside lacks the comforts of home.
Moreover, an environment with more stimuli can keep your dog awake. For example, if you have visitors coming over, your Doxie would most likely avoid sleeping. Compare that to when you are alone in your home with your Doxie.
When You Should Take Your Pet to the Vet
As a pet owner, you get an idea of what is normal for your dog and what is not normal. If your dog likes to sleep near you or next to you at night, and suddenly, they change – that might be cause for worry.
Usually, a change in sleeping is accompanied by signs of illness. If you observe these signs, call your vet right away.
Sometimes, a change in sleeping position may indicate back problems. If you know your Doxie loves to sleep on his back or curled up and suddenly stops doing it, then you need to get his back checked. Dachshunds have a very high risk of developing certain back issues such as IVDD.
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