Why does my dog lay down all day? What to Know

How to Make Your Dog’s Day More Exciting

Since most dogs don’t go to work or school, it’s common for them to be bored if they are alone for long stretches of the day. Pair a long, lonely day with the hours that their human is asleep, and that’s a long time for your dog to spend sleeping every day! If it feels like your dog is sleeping his days away, consider what else he’s got to do with his time.

The best way to help your dog stay awake and active during the day is to provide lots of interesting toys, games, and activities. For example, puzzle toys can be a great way to keep your pup busy. Ranging from super-easy ways to hide their food (rolling treats inside of a towel or an egg carton) to the high-tech (the CleverPet), puzzle toys help keep your dog active during the day. Checking in on your dog using a dog camera can help you check to see if she’s playing with the puzzle toys or ignoring them.

You can also spice up your dog’s day with midday dog walks and more prolonged bouts of exercise in the morning and evening. Some dogs may also enjoy a doggy daycare setting where they can play with other dogs all day long.

If you notice that your dog is sleeping even when there are exciting things to do, or if your dog is no longer engaging with things that he used to, its a good idea to speak with your veterinarian.

Why does my dog lay down all day?

Why Dogs Sleep So Much

Studies suggest that many dogs sleep an average of at least 11 hours in a 24-hour cycle. Additionally, they take many resting periods with the smallest portion of the day devoted to activity.

Most dogs will sleep more when they are relaxed and there isnt a good motivation for them to be active. Since they don’t have smartphones, jobs, or homework, sleeping is a way for them to pass the day, especially if they are home alone.

How much your dog sleeps will depend on a variety of factors:

  • Very young puppies and older dogs will likely spend more of their time asleep.
  • Overweight and sick dogs may also sleep more than healthy dogs.
  • Certain breeds are predisposed towards sleeping more (ask someone who’s owned a slow-moving Bernese mountain dog versus a working-line border collie).
  • Of course, hours and hours of snoozing can also be a sign of a health problem. Many diseases and age-related problems can come with a change in sleeping patterns.

    In most cases, a dog that sleeps for 12ish hours per day is no cause for concern. That’s normal! But owners should be aware that excess sleep can also be a sign of potential problems, especially if you notice a sudden change in the amount your dog is sleeping. Its best to talk to your vet when you have these concerns.

    3 Things That Are Not Reasons

  • To Assert Dominance
  • To Distract You From Something They Did Wrong
  • To Make Others Jealous
  • What Your Dog’s Sleeping Position Reveals About Their Personality, Health and Character

    If your dog has been laying around all the time, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of reasons why it might be doing it and what you can do about it.

    So, why does my dog lay around all the time? The reason why your dog lays around all the time is likely to be normal behavior since dogs will naturally sleep for 12-14 hours per day and will spend a lot of time awake but relaxing (source). However, if it has started doing it suddenly and it seems like it might be ill, it would be recommended to take it for a checkup.

    Even though it is likely that it has been laying around a lot naturally, there are still some other reasons why it might have been doing it. There are also some things you can consider when deciding on what you should do about it.