Why Do Shih Tzu’s Sleep so Much?
Despite their differences in shape and size, all dogs have the genetic heritage of their hunting ancestors.
Dogs used to sleep as a point of recuperation to achieve the stamina necessary for the hunt, and this has not changed today, especially in your Shih Tzu.
The National Sleep Foundation explains that dogs spend a shorter time than humans in the REM state, meaning they need more sleep time to get the same rest as humans.
As a breed, Shih Tzu’s have longer than average sleep patterns, which are just part of your Shih Tzu’s unique breed characteristics.
Sleeping patterns are dependent on several factors, but the average time spends in sleep for the breed are as follows:
What Do Shichons Look Like?
They’re small in stature. Some would describe Shichons as ‘portable-size.’
As I pointed out in the first paragraph on average, they only weigh between 9 and 15 lbs (4 to 6.8 kilos) when fully-grown and are just 9 to 12 inches (22.8 to 30.5 cm) tall.
However, their fluffy coat often makes them look bigger than they actually are.
Their dense hair is mostly curly, long, and soft to the touch. You could easily pet these cute creatures for hours! Their silky coats usually boast one of the following colors:
Occasionally a pup might showcase a combination of these colors, although history suggests they commonly don the lighter shades from the above list.
Fun Fact: Oddly enough, the coloring of a Shichon puppy can change as they mature- how neat is that?
Typically, this dog has adorable hanging ears, a cute black nose, a medium length tail that curls over their back, and brown button-eyes.
On the subject of Shichon eyes, you should know they often grow excess hair in this area. This requires extra grooming to ensure it doesn’t get out of control. If left untamed it can affect their vision and increase the likelihood of eye infections. Therefore, we suggest tidying this up once every two to three weeks.
Active Rest Postures and Deep Sleep Postures in Shih Tzus
When we talk about how Shih Tzus sleep, we also have to keep in mind how they rest, even without being asleep. A Shih Tzu have a wide variety of postures when resting and sleeping. Some of it helps them to be at rest but alert, and others help them fall asleep.
During active rest, which is the one that allows your Shih Tzu to spend minimum energy while being alert to what is happening around them, your Shih Tzu can be sitting or lying on their sternum. If they are used to being in a lying position, they will never be on their side because what they seek during active rest is to be able to react quickly to any unforeseen threat.
Zuchon – Shichon – TOP 10 Interesting Facts
Our furry Shih Tzu friends are cute sleepyheads when they are sleeping, obviously. In addition to the hours of nighttime sleep, they also usually take LOTS of short naps during the day. If you’re a Shih Tzu owner sometimes you will be wondering when they are actually going to bother to wake up
A Shih Tzu’s need for sleep is greater than that of humans and they require more than 50% of of our sleep amount each day.
For Shih Tzu’s, it is essential to sleep well and their sleep must be of good quality. Your Shih Tzu will enjoy a good rest if they perform lots of physical and mental activity during the day. So in addition to giving them walks and exercises, you must also stimulate their brain with some interactive activities. Keep in mind that the more activity your Shih Tzu has, the better the quality of their rest is going to be.
A Shih Tzu’s need for sleep must be respected to guarantee a good quality of life. A Tzu that is properly rested will be in good physical and mental health. This translates into:
If you want to avoid a grumpy dog, let them sleep and make sure they get enough interaction to tire them out naturally.