How Much Sleep Does a Golden Retriever Need a Day? The quick answer is Golden retrievers sleep 12-18 hours a day.
Sleep is essential to healthy growth: during sleep, his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles are developing.
All of that sleep also helps him rest up during growth spurts. Watching a dog take a nap can be an entertaining experience.
Their legs twitch as if they are running. They yip, they snore, and sometimes they even growl.
Dogs have far different sleeping patterns than humans do, and understanding the way dogs sleep can help pet owners keep their dogs happy and healthy for a lifetime.
How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?
Cats are famous for sleeping the day away, but dogs sleep quite a bit, as well. While owners are away at work all day and a pet’s stimulation is quite low, odds are the dog will sleep.
Puppies sleep far more than adult dogs, as sleep is an important factor for raising a happy, well-adjusted dog.
Owners of growing pups must balance out stimulation and exercise with plenty of rest. The sleep patterns of adult dogs depend upon the age of the pet, the daily activities of the pet, and even the size of the pet.
Large breeds sleep far more than small breeds. It’s not uncommon for owners of Saint Bernards and Mastiffs to believe their dogs spend more time sleeping than they do in wakeful activities. A simple walk for a large dog can be enough to send the pooch into a two-hour nap.
As a dog matures, he will sleep a bit less, but once a dog reaches its golden years, it’s likely that the dog will sleep early and often. As the body slows down and conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia set in, dogs are far less apt to romp around the house or the yard.
Typically, puppies sleep anywhere from 12-18 hours a day, adult dogs can sleep around 14 hours per day, large breeds may sleep up to 18, and elderly dogs can sleep even more.
Although being a central aspect of a dog’s health and a significant portion of his life, sleeping is often an overlooked element when raising a golden retriever.
Many owners experience problems when it comes to their golden retriever’s sleeping habits, we will teach you a few golden retriever sleeping tips to handle these problems.
Dogs sleep a lot when they aren’t doing anything, this was inherited from their wolf counterparts. Wolfs can lay around and sleep for extended periods of time until they go on another hunt, dogs have retained a portion of this sleep ability.
We usually sleep for about 8 hours a night, on the other hand, it is not unusual for a golden retriever to sleep longer than that, even more, common if it can’t go outside to play cause of weather or for some other reason.
It wouldn’t be uncommon for a dog to sleep in the middle of the morning right after breakfast.
Be pretty active for a while until lunch and afterward for a while, then sleep a couple of hours in the afternoon, have dinner, play vigorously, and attempt to get you to join him, then call it a night and sleep for another 8 hours and waking in time for breakfast again in the following morning.
A little less normal for an adolescent golden who is more active and playful, however, every dog has its own routine and personally, this affects when and how long they sleep, some are more restless.
Others are more calm and quiet, and still, we have those who are more sleepy and calm saving energy just to spend all at once when possible.
How much do senior Golden Retrievers sleep?
But what about when your Golden Retriever gets a bit older? Will they sleep just as much then, or can you expect them to sleep less? They are finished growing, after all.
As we mentioned earlier, older Golden Retrievers generally sleep for 12 to 14 hours. However, as they come into their twilight years of 8 to 10 years old, you can expect your Golden Retriever to start sleeping for more consecutive hours rather than napping so much.
If your Golden Retriever is a more active dog, perhaps working as your guide or seeing dog, they may need a little more sleep. But, of course, your older Golden Retriever will happily sleep any time they get cozy or aren’t doing anything.
If your elderly Golden Retriever begins to suffer from conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia, they may struggle to get quality sleep. If this happens, it could be time to upgrade your Golden’s sleeping arrangements.
For example, an orthopedic doggy bed with a bolster can work wonders for older pooches. Or you may prefer to bring your senior Golden Retriever into your bed for this time.
How to upgrade your Golden Retriever’s quality of sleep
But what if your Golden Retriever has trouble sleeping when they’re a puppy? There are a few simple things you can do to make this easier.
Of course, the main thing you can do to help your Golden puppy sleep is to make their bed inviting. Plenty of blankets and soft toys to chew on or lick will help your Golden Retriever get in the right sleep mood.
Licking has been proven to help many dogs relax, and Golden Retrievers are an extra mouthy breed. Also, don’t choose any materials that could easily fall apart, like loosely-knit wools or flimsy plastic or wicker.
Another tip is to try recognizing overtired behavior in your Golden Retriever puppy. For example, have you ever noticed how your Golden could get a second wind after playing for half an hour or so?
Even if they were lying down a second ago. This is a sign of your pooch getting overly tired. When this happens, try to scoop your pup up or call them inside for a drink of water and a nap.
It’s also a good idea to get into a schedule. Getting your Golden Retriever into a routine right from the start will have your Golden pup settling themselves down for naps and nighttime sleep in no time.
Don’t offer them too much food or water leading up to their main sleep, and cuddle them to get them relaxed before bedtime.
If this doesn’t work, take a look at your Golden pooch’s surroundings. Pull the curtains to keep the room dim and relaxing, and make sure it’s quiet. Some very young puppies like to sleep with the vibration of a clock in a cushion or a pillowcase, as this mimics their mother’s heartbeat.
You can expect some whining, howling and scratching, but try not to give in until your Golden
pup settles into its new sleep routine. Of course, if your Golden Retriever is persistent, you could always start them off in your room, then move them outside the door, until finally, their bed ends up in the kitchen or lounge.
Can dogs dream?
The noises and movements that dogs make during a nap seem to be clear indications that dogs do, in fact, dream.
Why animals dream has long been a topic of scientific debate, but one of the most widely accepted theories is that dreams are a vehicle for processing all of the data that the brain takes in throughout the day.
Researchers have studied the brain waves of dogs during the sleep cycle and compared them to human brains, and they have discovered similar results, further strengthening the theory that dogs dream.
Dogs experience two stages of sleep, the stage is known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS is the early stage of sleep; the “dozing off” period. Mental functions are slowed down, but the body is still engaged. REM sleep is the deeper stage of sleep, at it is recognizable from eye-darting movements, body twitches, and noise.
Fast brain wave patterns recorded during dogs’ REM sleep cycles indicate that physical activity is a manifestation of a dream state.
While all dogs experience these two stages of the sleep cycle, the amount of sleep that a dog requires depends on several variables including breed, size, age, and lifestyle.
Sleeping tips for your Golden Retriever
Out of all the problems many owners encounter with their golden retrievers, one is related to their sleeping habits, many owners encounter this problem with varying degrees of concern.
Most times, owners can’t get their dog to sleep at the same time they go to bed, some can’t have them sleep long enough during the night so they won’t wake them or the neighbors, others can’t even place them to sleep at all.
We will discuss a number of golden retriever sleeping tips that will improve your ability to manage when and how long your dog should sleep, this way you and your neighbors will enjoy quieter nights.
Choosing a sleeping area for your Golden Retriever
Whether we are talking about a new puppy or a grown dog you just brought home, the first of any golden retriever sleeping tips it’s establishing a sleeping place for your dog right on the first night.
This can be a kennel or a crate and have an elevated area as a sleeping area, with a nice blanket on it. We recommend a large comfortable dog bed.
We have looked at many on the market and below are the best beds for a Golden Retriever for under $100
Although important to establish a sleeping place for your dog, you need to train him to go to his sleeping place at will. Usually, by making a comfortable sleeping arrangement Your dog will be more inclined to sleep on it than on the floor.
Do not pick up your dog to move him to his sleeping space, this will create the false association that the sleeping space is a negative experience to have. Many chose to share the bed with their dogs, you shouldn’t do this right away. It is important for your dog to get used to his sleeping place before allowing him to join you in bed.
And if you can avoid it, the better, you won’t have to clean your bed and your dog will be more reliable on his own because it is hardly conceivable you will be able to let your dog sleep with you every time, this way you avoid future problems.
To better have your dog adjust to his sleeping arrangements, be sure he had a good exercise, enough food, and water, plus some petting, a toy, and treat on his sleeping area if needed, this should make it fairly easy for him to adjust to his new sleeping place.
Making your Golden Retriever Sleep at Night
Before explaining how you can make your golden retriever sleep at night, you should know and understand something.
Dogs adapt to our routines and most won’t distinguish a Monday morning from a weekend’s morning.
With this being said, your dog won’t sleep longer on holidays and weekends unless it is his nature to sleep late, instead, he will follow his own will or your workweek routine.
To have your golden sleeping during the night and wake up only in the morning, first start by arranging a sleeping area for him like mentioned earlier.
Make sure your dog had plenty of exercises to have him quite worn out and tired, exercising your dog to have him tired before bed is a number of two of all golden retriever sleeping tips.
After this, invite your dog to the bed you arranged for him, don’t forget to have a blanket where he will layover and be sure he can’t get out of the room where he’s sleeping.
The exercise should range from 40 to 60 minutes in the case of puppies, and 90 to 180 minutes should be enough for most adult golden retrievers.
Be sure not to over-exercise your dog, if you realize he had enough then it is time to stop and call it a night.
Most dogs will sleep 7 to 8 hours with a nice setup such as this, the exercise is very important as it will reinforce the dog’s need to rest and sleep long enough, for the most times this will even work on a very active golden retriever.
However if you find your dog still wakes up a bit earlier than he should, follow the same process for a few days and wait for results.
If even at the end of a week your dog still wakes up early, look for any source of noise that might be waking him up and remove or silence them. Sometimes just hearing the owner snoring is enough to wake a dog when this one reaches 4 to 6 hours of sleep.
If you found there are no sources of noise, then increase the exercise duration your dog performs and watch the results.
When exercising your dog do not forget you will need to adequately provide food and water according to the duration and intensity of the exercise before it occurs and makes more water available afterward.
For sleepless dogs, you should try a warm bag under the bed’s blanket and a clock with a rhythmic ticking sound, it has been found that some rhythmic noises often calm down people and pets.
Kindness and petting also go a long way to calm down a dog and make him ready to sleep, and treats will also help lure him to his sleeping area.
Also, yawning is contagious, so you can also try yawning intentionally towards your dog, this helps induce sleepiness, especially when directed towards puppies.
When dealing with puppies in new surroundings that still haven’t had a chance to become accustomed to the area, it is a nice idea to have a night light, a ticking clock and hold him for a while before placing him in his bed.
Lastly, don’t let your dog sleep all day because allowing him to do so, will make him more prone to stay awake during the night. If you find your dog wakes up an hour earlier or so, don’t pay attention to him, don’t go petting him or give him a treat, instead leave him there until it is the time for you to get up and allow him time to adapt to your routine.
Role of exercise in managing your dog’s sleep
Dogs that do not engage in exercise and mentally stimulating play throughout the day will sleep far longer than their active counterparts. And while it may seem counterintuitive, inactive may also suffer from insomnia.
If a dog sleeps all day, it’s likely he won’t be ready to turn in for a long night with the rest of the family.
Insomnia from inactivity is especially common in small breeds or among dogs that live an urban lifestyle, where they don’t get out and run regularly. Owners should commit to exercising their dogs at least 30 minutes a day, though large breeds and working breeds will require much more.
Walking a dog before and after work can help significantly manage sleep, and scheduling some one-on-one playtime is also good for developing healthy sleep patterns.
When a dog is left alone during the day, owners should leave behind interesting, puzzle-like toys – the kind where a dog must work to find a treat, for example – in order to keep their bodies and minds stimulated when they are left alone.
How much do Golden Retriever puppies sleep?
Vital for all that growth and development, the youngest Golden Retriever puppies generally sleep for 18 to 20 hours every day. So your Golden Retriever has plenty of growing to do, after all.
When they get a bit older, your Golden Retriever will only stay asleep for 12 to 14 hours every day. With their growth essentially finished, 12 hours is all they need.
The importance of puppy naps
Every time your Golden Retriever is idled for a minute, you’ll find your Golden Retriever pup sprawled on the floor, deep asleep. Is your Golden Retriever sleeping too much? Does it matter where or when you sleep? And are short naps effective?
It turns out that puppies have a unique “on and off” sleep cycle. This cycle lets them quickly fall into a deep slumber at any point during the day. As you know, sleep is imperative for your Golden Retriever puppy’s growth and development.
Their muscles, nervous system, and central nervous system get important to rest and development as they sleep. Your Golden Retriever couldn’t develop any other way. Therefore, these frequent naps are essential.
Sure, your Golden Retriever isn’t too deeply asleep during short naps. They don’t twitch or experience Rapid Eye Movement.
As you might have noticed, your pup sometimes wakes up quite quickly from these naps without appearing disoriented or confused. However, puppy naps still provide your Golden Retriever with an invaluable source of good quality rest.
My favorite puzzle dog toys for dogs
Dogs are creatures that like to play hard and sleep hard. Having a dog that sleeps the day away is perfectly normal, as long as his activities are balanced to include proper physical and mental stimulation.
For more about Golden Retrievers see my other articles below
- Can my Golden Retriever sleep outside?
- Do Golden Retrievers Get Along With Small Dogs?
- Do Golden Retrievers Have Separation Anxiety?
- Do Golden Retrievers Get Darker As They Get Older
- How Long Should I Exercise My Golden Retriever Puppy?
- How to protect a golden retriever’s paws in summer
Related questions
Do Goldens need exercise?
Yes, letting your dog out for potty breaks only is not considered enough exercise. They are a sporting breed and as such need plenty of exercises. Throwing tennis balls, swimming and romping with other dogs is great exercise. You do need to be careful exercising your Golden under the age of 18 months old.
They need exercise but it must not be forced. You should refrain from jogging with them until they are fully grown because you can damage their joints.
Do Golden Retrievers shed?
Yes, they do! Goldens shed most all year round and there are at least two times a year that it is a lot. You can expect dog hair everywhere if you own a Golden Retriever.
They need to be brushed daily and regular use of an undercoat rake will significantly improve the shedding. Daily brushing also keeps them from matting. If you do not like dog hair in your house a Golden is probably not the dog for you.
Why should I neuter my dog?
Neutered pets can’t develop testicular tumors and have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. If you neuter your dog early you will have fewer chances of medical problems, territorial aggression, leg lifting, roaming, behavioral problems, mounting & possessive aggression.
The biggest reason for spaying or neutering your pet is pet responsibility. Males who escape their yards can sire litters without their owner’s knowledge.
Millions of unwanted pets are euthanized every day. The primary cause of this is people who fail to spay or neuter their pets, and who abandon or give up pets because of a lack of commitment to training a pet.
