Pugs are indeed a small, compact, and popular dog breed to own. They are appealing puppies that will put a smile on your face every day. They fit well into families with children due to their loyal and non-aggressive behavior.
But why do Pugs sleep so much?
Pugs suffer from fatigue faster and hence sleep for around 14 hours a day. Longer Pug sleeps may be due to their owner’s bad habits shifting onto Pugs!
How Long Do Pugs Sleep For?
Pugs sleep for varying amounts of time, it usually depends on the age of the dog. At each stage of life, puppy, adult, or senior, sleep amounts change to accommodate growth and consistent health.
– How long do Pug Puppies sleep?
Many people associate puppies with highly active animals that love to play the entire day. While this is true, playing is hard work, and Pug puppies tire out fast! Sleep is equally important for puppies as it allows them to wake up again ready to sleep.
Pug Puppies who are 8 months or less can sleep for approximately 16 to 18 hours a day!
Yes, this is a long amount of time and you should not panic if your puppy sleeps this long. Nap sessions do not last long because of toilet breaks. On average they are short ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours but not longer.
– How long do Pug Adults sleep?
Adult Pug dogs show various sleeping patterns. They spend 50% of their time sleeping, and 20% of the time they are active. They spend the remaining 30% relaxing in the company of their humans (usually on their lap or bed)!
Adult Pugs sleep for approximately 12 to 14 hours on a daily basis. Not as much as seniors and puppies, but still a lot!
– How long do Pug Seniors sleep?
Senior Pugs have less energy and sleep for a long time! Especially if disease or mobility issues are hindering him, which is mostly the case for dogs nearing their last years.
Senior Pugs sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day.
Even if your senior dog is active, it may only take a few minutes of exercise to make him tired. Expect him to sleep after activity as he does not have the energy or stamina as he once did when he was younger.
Sleeping Routine: Is It Fixed?
Unlike humans, dogs do not stick to a fixed sleep routine. They cannot sleep straight for several hours (6 to 8 hours). Instead, they get to rest and sleep any time in the day. When they feel sleepy they sleep.
This helps them get the required amount of sleep and better sleep quality. Facts like this may be the reason why dogs fall asleep so easily!
But, beware he may look fast asleep but can awaken at any second.
Dogs always like to be part of the excitement and activity, especially when it comes to family. This means your dog will immediately wake up from his sleep if:
- He hears laughing or scolding
- The doorbell rings or a car horns
- Another dog is barking
- He smells food
- The tv comes on at a high volume
- Someone touches him
Dogs such as the Pug do not follow a strict sleep pattern. But, apparently, it works fine because they are always full of life and energy!
Everything You Need To Know About Pug Snoring
If you have researched a bit about Pugs, you would have probably read that they can snore excessively as well as snort while sleeping.
Some might consider this snoring as an innocent and quiet trait. Actually, it is the opposite as there lies a deeper reason behind snoring.
Snoring and snorting are caused when a Pug sleeps and stops breathing for 10 to 20 seconds. Reasons for this stopping of breathing could be their flat faces (brachycephalic faces) which come with a short snout and narrow airway passage.
Each time your dog sleeps and snores he may awake. If this happens several times, it could lead to loss of sleep, known as sleep apnea. Lack of sleep can leave your dog moody or with other issues.
This means snoring is unwanted and you should take your Pug to the doctor. It may be an underlying issue with his health. The vet can diagnose the issue (if any) and treat it at the same time.
Can Dogs Dream During Sleeping?
Are Dogs capable of having dreams or nightmares? Many people think so. The reason is that many Pug owners witness their dogs twitching, crying, or even growling in their sleep! This is a sign that your dog is seeing something while sleeping.
Dreams or nightmares are influenced by good memories and bad experiences. Perhaps a nightmare is just a bad memory replaying in his subconscious.
With this in mind, maybe it’s best to keep your Pug close to you at bedtime. Knowing he has you nearby can help to eliminate bad nightmares. This will definitely help to improve his quality of sleep and make him more confident and secure.
Why Do Pugs Sleep For So Long?
Pugs do sleep for quite a long time compared to most other dog breeds that are kept as companions.
While there is no one reason why Pugs sleep so much, the amount of sleep is determined by various factors, most of which are out of your control when it comes to the Pug.
Age
Age definitely affects how long a dog will sleep. It can as well influence how long each nap is.
Among all ages, seniors and puppies sleep the longest. But, their naps are not solid. Puppies do sleep for a long time, but sleep is usually interrupted by having to use the toilet. Puppies have weak bladders and waste must pass out soon after ingestion.
Adult dogs have a routine in place and are more likely to sleep for several hours per nap. Of course, that’s if they can keep away from the action happening around him!
Senior dogs have the ability to sleep a lot because of their decreased metabolism and possible health issues.
Breed
Some breeds are really energetic and seem to only need a few hours of sleep before they are recharged. Sadly, Pugs are not part of this group of dogs. This breed is naturally known to be the lazy couch potato.
A great deal of the Pug’s “lazy” character could be due to his short stature and of course, his short snout which tires him out faster compared to dogs with regular faces.
Nothing can be done to change this and you should never ever force your dog to exercise. Doing this could prove to over-exert your dog, possibly leading to death! Yes, it is that serious!
Diet
A dog’s diet will decide his activity levels, a factor that influences how long your dog will sleep. Poor quality dog foods are famous for not including energy-providing products in their food.
Instead, they choose grains that make your dog feel full, give digestive issues, and maybe even increase weight gain chances. This is exactly the opposite of high-quality dog foods.
Instead make your dog feel full of energy and less sleepy, with high protein and fat content. When your dog has lots of energy he is more likely to spend his time playing and not just sleeping.
Exercise Level
The Pug is not big on exercise and for once it’s not his fault! Pugs are brachycephalic breeds.
Their snouts are short and airways are narrow. This often means they tire out and struggle to catch their breath during exercise, even if the exercise is not that intensive.
That said, an active Pug will sleep less than an inactive one. The reason is that active Pugs find a way to burn off their energy and occupy themselves.
So, really they don’t find time to sleep during the day. That is good and the way it should be. Why? It means he will sleep when you sleep, allowing you to have a peaceful night unless he wants to bark at night!
Illness
Notice your adult dog has been sleeping a lot even though he is usually very active? This could be an obvious sign of illness and disease. If it is very out of character for your dog to sleep (a dog of any age), you should suspect something is causing it.
Opting to go for professional advice is suggested. You can take your dog in to the vet and he can do a physical examination to try to diagnose the issue.
If this doesn’t work, blood results should be able to reveal more about the cause. Infections are prone to making a dog feel weak and sleepy. A dose of antibiotics should be able to restore your dog’s health.
Lifestyle
Dogs are very social animals, taking their owner as a part of the pack. It won’t be long before he starts to fall into your routine. That means your pooch will easily follow your lifestyle and adopt your habits.
Sleeping for most of the afternoon? Expect your dog to be there sleeping right next to you.
That’s why for the sake of your pets, you need to be active to stimulate energy in them. A lazy lifestyle is not good for dogs, especially Pugs who can easily gain weight and become overweight.
Obesity then leads to other issues including a burden on joints that can create mobility issues.
Conclusion
Pugs are a relatively lazy dog breed but that doesn’t mean you must count them out and let them sleep all day.
Dogs that sleep too much will bear the repercussions later. Try to get your dog involved in activities throughout the day so that he sleeps when you sleep. Ensuring you both get enough uninterrupted sleep to recharge you for the next day.
FAQS
Yes, it is possible for Pugs to drool when they sleep. It happens when your Pug has dozed off but his tongue has slipped out of his mouth. This in addition to his mouth shape is a call for drooling while sleeping.
You may find him in the morning with a wet patch on his pillow or bed. Now you know what has happened!
No, Pugs should not sleep outside. Besides being a small and vulnerable dog breed, Pugs are not suited to the outdoors.
They can easily be attacked by other animals and are very sensitive to temperature changes. Their brachycephalic nature and short coats make them incapable of adapting to different environmental conditions.
Yes, Pugs do sometimes snore when they sleep. Because of their face shape, their airways are narrow, causing them to stop breathing for a short time (10 to 20 seconds). When they start to breathe again, snoring and snorting occur.