Chihuahuas are known to be these energetic pets with strong personalities. So when you see your Chihuahua sleeping every day for a very long period of time, It’s only fair that you wonder why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot?. and you start to overthink and worry about your pet’s health and well-being.
Why do Chihuahuas Sleep a lot? Chihuahuas will differ in the amount of sleep they get by an hour or so, and this slight difference is not usually a cause for concern. A Chihuahua puppy will sleep anywhere from 20 to 21 hours per day. Adults will sleep approximately 12 to 14 hours.
However, if there is a noticeable increase in sleep, this warrants closer examination. That’s why today at Chihuahua’s Land, we will address all the common speculations Chihuahua owners may have about their pet’s sleeping habits. All in this extended article.
How Much Sleep is Normal for a Chihuahua
One of the first points to be taken into account to determine whether this behavior is normal or not would be whether your Chihuahua is a puppy or an adult. as age plays a major role among other factors in deciding how much shut-eye your Chi needs.
Newborns: The newly born Chihuahua puppies, from 1 day to 3 weeks old, will sleep the majority of the time, as much as 22 hours a day. They will mostly only be up for nursing. The age of 3 weeks is a major milestone; at this time, both vision and hearing are well developed, and with this comes a newfound eagerness and curiosity.
An enhanced desire to explore his world and play with his siblings means that a puppy will stay awake a little longer now. Starting at 3 to 8 weeks of age a puppy will be sleeping at any given time for 20 to 21 hours a day.
Puppies: The earliest months in a new home, from 2 to 5 months of age, a Chihuahua puppy will sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day; this combines both night-time sleep and naps. A puppy may be so engaged in his world that he struggles to stay awake. or may doze off in the middle of romping, or even eating, he simply couldn’t make it to his bed.
Each month that a puppy grows older, he will sleep a little less and stay awake for increasingly longer periods of time. Around the age of 6 months, puppies are close to the sleeping schedule of adults.
Adults: Adult Chihuahuas get approximately 12 to 14 hours of sleep per day; this includes both night-time sleep and naps. This may appear to be a lot, especially when measured against how much we as humans get; however, It’s totally fine in the canine world. most of this sleep will be taken during the nighttime. So when you do the math, It won’t surprise you that much anymore.
Seniors: As your Chihuahua gets older, you may start to observe some changes: Joint problems and/or loss of muscle mass leading to reduced activity, slower metabolism, etc., and the more time a dog is rested, the more naps he may take. In addition, melatonin production (which governs a dog’s sleep patterns) decreases as the dog ages; this can lead to disrupted sleep at night, thus more naps during the day.
Reasons Why Do Chihuahuas Sleep a Lot
As previously explained, the most decisive factor for the amount of sleep your Chihuahua gets is age. However, when you eliminate the age aspect and notice that your dog sleeps more than the norm, there are several points that you may need to consider, we will list some of them for you.
Lack of activity: One prime reason why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot is If a dog has nothing much to do, it will often do one of a couple of things: restlessness (pacing back and forth, barking) or tiredness. A dog needs stimulation, interaction, challenges, sights to see, and smells to sniff.
Rediscover and reassess things to see if you can introduce some play-time, fetch sessions, work on commands, or go out together to explore new arrangements.
Your Dog might be Imitating you: I’m sure you’ve seen some videos on the internet where dogs copy their owner when he limps or makes a funny movement. The same may be true here, your Chihuahua could be imitating your behavior.
Sickness or trauma: A sharp and drastic increase in sleep is a warning sign that a health condition may be present. If you suspect this, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. as this could be a hidden fact why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot.
Helping Your Chihuahua Sleep Better
There are several things you can do to provide your Chihuahua best condition for better sleep, Before that, To know why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot. you will need to have an understanding of how your dog falls asleep and what happens then.
The stages of a dog’s sleep are very similar to ours and can be split into the following phases:
Sleep: This is when you only observe your dog gradually falling asleep, going from alertness (or wakefulness) to a state of sleep
Numbness: This is when you just see your pet start to fall asleep, gradually transitioning from alertness (or wakefulness) to a sleepy state.
Light sleep: This is when the actual sleep phase starts, meaning that your dog’s body relaxes and you can see how he is breathing slowly, his heart rate has slowed down and he begins to rest. After a few minutes, your puppy will not be easily disturbed, other than being woken up by a sudden noise in the environment.
Deep sleep: After a while, you will notice that your dog enters this phase, the most characteristic feature being the fact that his breathing becomes much slower and more relaxed. It lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes at the most.
REM phase: This is when dreams occur and you see your pet moving its paws or looking upset, although, in reality, it is only dreaming. This is known as the “rapid eye movement” phase because your eyes begin to move faster spontaneously.
Now that you understand how sleep works for your dog, let’s focus on some points that can help provide a good night’s sleep for your Chihuahua. and get close to knowing why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot
Under no circumstances should you let your Chihuahua sleep outside. Chihuahuas are very small and delicate creatures. They should be kept indoors and never left unsupervised. You have to be careful with them because they have the heart of a Doberman, without understanding that they are so small.
Location: Although it is a good idea to give your dog his own personal space, specifically if you want him to become accustomed to that area when he is at home, it should be in a quiet spot in a normally active, non-isolated room.
Quality of bedding: The right supportive bed can help a dog calm down, remain warm, and provide adequate cushioning for the entire body. So even if you already have a good bed, it may be time to re-evaluate it.
We’re not asking you to break the bank, just invest in getting your dog a good and suitable bed. it will go a long way.
Adapt to the change of weather: What once may have been a great sleeping spot in summer might not be so in winter and the other way around. A draught from cold weather or cold places due to air conditioners can be disruptive for your Chihuahua to sleep soundly.
Exercise: We can’t stretch this enough, there is a balance that must be maintained. You will want to make sure your dog meets his daily exercise threshold; this helps foster a more restful night’s sleep.
However, exercising too close to bedtime can lead to a dog having trouble calming himself down. It is most often preferable to take the last walk of the day 2 to 3 hours before the expected bedtime.
You can refer to our article on How Much Exercise Does a Chihuahua Need to understand more about the importance of exercise for Chihuahuas.
Scheduling: No different than our real babies, Chihuahuas will have to do several things on a schedule. It is tricky for a dog who’s known for being energetic and hyper-active to go from being fully alert to being deeply asleep with no signals that the day is almost over.
Begin dimming lights and reducing noise levels about an hour before bedtime. as a sign for Chihuahua that bedtime is approaching.
Conclusion
We hope our article gave you some answer on why do Chihuahuas sleep a lot. Most of the days your Chihuahua will be just dreaming about getting their favorite treat or chewing on your favorite sofa!
Therefore, there is no need to be alarmed if you see your dog sleeping too much, you should always bear in mind the circumstances and points made above. If things start to follow a pattern, be sure to inform your vet and ask for consultation and all will be Chi-Good.
