At some point in our life, we have all wanted to get ourselves a pet dog. Some of us got an adult dog, and some a puppy. Caring for a puppy requires plenty of care and knowledge about puppies so they can become healthy adult dogs.
7 month old puppy sleep requirements
Similar to human babies, puppies also need a significant amount of sleep. The AKC notes that it is normal for puppies to sleep for 15 to 20 hours per day. Getting 15 to 20 hours of sleep will allow puppies to adequately develop their central nervous system, immune system, and muscles.
Table of Contents
Most pet parents have concerns about their dogs sleeping all day. They compare with other pet owners’ experiences to see if their pet is sleeping the same duration. However, comparing such information is not helpful and may lead to confusion among pet owners.
How much sleep a dog requires depends on some factors. Some factors include breed, how active the dog is, surrounding environmental factors, how much food the dog consumes, etc.
Therefore, comparing the sleeping hours of your dog to other dogs’ sleeping hours will not help determine the expected amount of sleep required by a dog.
In general, dogs sleep for 12 to 14 hours. However, depending on the different factors, your dog may sleep less than the specified time but should not sleep for more than 15 hours.
If you notice your dog is sleeping for more than 15 hours, you should visit the veterinarian with the dog for a checkup.
On the other hand, puppies are great sleepers. Age plays a significant role in the amount of time a dog sleeps. So, you can expect puppies to sleep more than adult dogs since they need sleep to develop their body systems and muscles.
The American Kennel Club, also known as the AKC, notes that puppies need at least 15 to 20 hours of sleep per day.
Compared to adult dogs, puppies have a more sensitive immune and central nervous system. So, they need to sleep more to develop these functions and become healthy adult dogs.
Generally, puppies will sleep throughout the day. They need approximately 15 to 20 hours of sleep to wake up energized. If you want your puppy to sleep in a plan, you can make your puppy practice sleeping in a schedule.
Young puppies need help establishing a bedtime. 7-month-old puppies will fall asleep when they find a comfortable and quiet place. You can help by turning off the lights and noise and telling the kids not to disturb a sleeping puppy.
Is it normal for a 7 month old puppy to sleep a lot?
Yes, it is normal for a 7-month-old puppy to sleep a lot. Compared to adult dogs, puppies tend to sleep for a longer time and may sleep throughout the whole day. That should not be concerning to experienced pet owners who already have other pet dogs.
As mentioned before, age is a significant factor that influences the amount of sleep required by a dog or puppy. Puppies and senior dogs tend to sleep more than adult dogs. So, you may often find one sleeping throughout the day.
7-month-old puppies are still developing. As a result, they need to get enough sleep to allow their central nervous system and immune system to grow. Moreover, they need 15 to 20 hours of sleep per day for muscle development.
If you want your puppy to sleep at set times, you can help your puppy sleep on a schedule. You will have to encourage your puppy to sleep at a fixed time.
When you want your puppy to sleep, turn off all the lights and noise. Also, keep children and other pets from disturbing your sleeping puppy. Sleeping at a fixed time and at a fixed place will help your puppy sleep in a routine.
How much should a 7 month old puppy sleep during the day and night?
A 7-month-old puppy should get 6 to 10 hours of sleep during the night and 5 to 10 hours of sleep during the day.
In total, you can expect your 7-month-old puppy to sleep for a total of 15 to 20 hours per day. However, different breeds of puppies do not have the same sleeping hours.
Puppies are developing. Therefore, they need adequate sleep to help grow their muscles and systems. Puppies may sleep throughout the whole day but do not sleep for more than 20 hours.
If you notice your 7-month-old puppy is sleeping for more than 20 hours, visit a pet veterinarian for a checkup. Visiting a vet will help find out if there are any underlying factors for their lethargy.
Additionally, if your pet puppy is active during playtime or exercises, you can expect it to sleep for more than 20 hours. If it stays indoors mostly but sleeps a lot, you may visit a vet with your puppy for a checkup.
Should a 7 month/28 week old puppy sleep through the night?
Yes, a 7-month-old or 28-week-old puppy should sleep throughout the night. Generally, puppies should sleep for 6 to 10 hours during the night. During the daytime, they may sleep for more than 5 to 10 hours for a total of 20 hours.
If you have recently brought home a puppy, it may spend restless nights in its new home. As a result, it will not sleep during the nighttime and will stay awake.
Generally, puppies will take about 16 weeks to adjust to a new home before it starts to sleep throughout the whole night.
You can expect your 28-week-old puppy to sleep for 6 to 10 hours at night. If your puppy has a fixed sleeping schedule, it will go to sleep regularly at the same time and wake up at the same time.
If you want your puppy to have a fixed sleeping schedule, make sure you create a comfortable and peaceful environment for the puppy to sleep when it is bedtime.
Why does my 7 month old puppy sleep so much?
Besides the factors determining the amount of sleep required by a puppy, there could be many more reasons why your 7-month-old puppy sleeps so much. Some reasons are:
Environmental conditions:
If the surrounding temperatures are high, you may notice that your puppy is drooling.
However, your puppy may vomit if the surrounding temperature is too high. In hot weather, puppies are observed to sleep more than their usual duration and will also feel more lethargic than normal.
Playtime:
If your puppy is playing a lot, it will get tired faster in a shorter time. Therefore, it will want to regain its energy. Hence, you will see it taking a nap after its playtime.
Moreover, if your puppy is exercising it will need some time to adjust to the new routine. It will take some time to get back to its regular sleeping pattern.
Age:
A 7 months old puppy is considerably young compared to an adult dog. So, it will tend to sleep more and might sleep throughout the whole day.
Puppies need to sleep for a total of 15 to 20 hours to develop their brain and body. If they do not get enough rest, they may face health issues growing up.
Canine diabetes or kidney disease:
If you notice that your puppy is sleeping for longer than 20 hours a day and has an unusual thirst, you should visit the vet as soon as possible.
Excessive sleeping and unusual thirsts are symptoms of canine diabetes or kidney disease.
Nutrition:
Nutrition plays an important role in a puppy’s behavior and sleeping patterns. If your puppy is not getting the nutrition that its body needs, your puppy will grow up malnourished.
Additionally, it will feel more lethargic and will sleep more than usual. If you are concerned about your puppy’s nutritional needs, you can visit a vet. The vet will prescribe the appropriate amount of nutrition needed by your 7-month-old puppy.
The above mentioned are the most common reasons why your puppy may be sleeping for more than usual. If you feel concerned about your puppy’s sleeping patterns, you should visit a vet with your puppy for a checkup.
Final Thoughts
7-month-old puppies are still in their developing stage. Thus, they need about 20 hours of sleep. It is expected for puppies to sleep a lot for them to develop their brain and body. If you notice unusual sleeping behaviors or sleeping patterns, visit the vet with your puppy for a checkup.