Why Do Mastiffs Sleep So Much?
As we have seen, it is not out of the ordinary for a Mastiff to sleep up to 18 hours a day. If you are wondering how much sleep is enough for them, the National Sleep Foundation has the answer! A Mastiff’s life is 50% sleeping, 30% resting while awake, and 20% of active time. A typical schedule for carnivores!
One of the main reasons that cause dogs to sleep so much is that they follow different stages of sleep compared to humans. While most of the steps of falling asleep are similar, dogs reach each phase on a different time frame.
Humans follow a determined sleep cycle, from light sleep (stage 1) through REM (Rapid Eye Movement). While completing a whole cycle can take us up to 100 minutes, each phase lasts between 5 and 15 minutes. Each night, we experience up to 4 complete sleep cycles.
Oppositely, dogs tend to have regular naps rather than an 8-hours overnight sleep. Every time they fall asleep, they enter the REM stage within the first 10 minutes, and you can admire them as they dream of running through fields and gardens! However, dogs tend to be alert at all times, and they can wake up quickly, even during the REM stage.
Scientists and experts have calculated that, due to their sleeping habits, dogs will only get 10% in the REM phase (humans spend 25%). Such cycles leave them tired, and they need more sleep to feel rested.
Additionally, giant breeds, excited puppies, and frail old dogs need to sleep even more. Add all these facts, and you will understand why your snoring Mastiff truly needs its beauty sleep!
Factors That Can Influence The Sleep Schedule Of Mastiffs
As we have seen, Mastiffs can sleep a lot! Yet, their sleeping routine and patterns can be affected by several factors such as:
Don’t forget that, similarly to humans, our Mastiffs’ habits can vary depending on whether they feel ill, bored, sad, or have just experienced a trauma.
While all dogs tend to sleep between 12 and 14 hours a day, Mastiffs, along with other large breeds, can sleep up to 18 hours a day. A puppy can reach the seemingly worrying 20 hours of sleep a day! But let’s have a look at what the sleeping habits and schedules of your Mastiffs are.
Pro-tip: Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.
Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!
Different sleep stages:
Mastiffs do not have the same sleep cycle as a human. While we enter our sleep cycles 4 times in one night, our sleep cycles are a lot more stable with 25% of the time in REM.
Mastiffs, on the other hand, will get to the REM, deep sleep fairly quickly, and have only small periods in that stage. Hence, they sleep for 8 hours straight, and later they nap more hours throughout the day.
How do you deal with a stubborn Mastiff?
If you’ve got a stubborn dog who pulls on the leash, get some really good treats (chicken, steak, hot dogs, etc.) and cut them into pea-sized pieces. Take your clicker and these treats with you on your walk. When you step out the front door, wait for your dog to look back at you.
How Many Hours a Day Do Dogs Sleep? – Puppies, Adults & Seniors
Hush! There is finally some peace at home, and the sofa cushions are in their perfect place. Thats when you really know your dog is sleeping. Of course, you would adore your dog while theyre asleep, but this might also leave you wondering- how much do dogs sleep on average in a day? Lets find out more about the sleeping habits of your furry friend!