German Shepherds Sleep Problem
Yes, German Shepherds can have sleeping problems if their state of mind is affected. Certain mental conditions or diseases could lead to the development of sleeping problems. These include:
Rapid Eye Movement Sleeping Disorder German Shepherds with REM sleeping Disorder are physically active in their sleep. They often act out the dreams they are experiencing with vocal sounds, sudden violet leg movements, twitching, and other bodily movements. In extreme cases, the German Shepherd can attack objects violently and run wild. When they wake up it is as if nothing happened and they continue with their life as normal.
Sleep Apnea German Shepherds sleeping patterns can be affected by Sleep Apnea. This is most common in obese German Shepherds whose airways have been narrowed by fat deposits. Such dogs will often snore loudly to the point of being startled by their own snores. They will wake up sluggish and tired. In extreme cases, Chronic Sleep Apnea can be fatal where the dog is unable to breathe properly when asleep.
Insomnia When German shepherds have certain health and mental issues, such as depression, stress, flea infestation, anxiety, chronic pain, and pent-up energy, they may experience insomnia.
Narcolepsy Sleep Disorder It is a sleeping disorder that causes a German Shepherd to suddenly collapse and sleep when it is excited or during physical activity. The German Shepherd does not experience any pain.
What About Going Potty
With an adult dog, they should be able to last for eight to ten hours without peeing. Puppies will not be able to hold it as long, and the general rule is that they can keep it for their age in months plus one hour. So for a three-month-old dog, that will be a maximum of four hours.
Bear in mind that these are the maximum periods, and health issues may arise if the dog is holding it in too long. One such problem is urinary tract infection, which can lead to urinary stones.
Why Does My German Shepherd Sleep On Its Back
I love it when my German Shepherd sleeps on its back because she looks so happy and relaxed. But, there are actually many reasons that my German Shepherd could be sleeping on her back.
If youve ever wondered why your German Shepherd sleeps on its back, then this post is for you!
Youll learn all about why you might frequently find your German Shepherd asleep on its back and what to know about this relaxing position.
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If You Are Worried Keep A Puppy Sleep Log
Keep a written journal of how much your puppy is playing and what he or she is eating. Draw up an asleep chart of your own in a notebook, create your template on the computer, or find one from a dog blogger.
The sleep chart should keep track of how much your puppy sleeps during nap, how many naps it took during the day, and the amount of time it slept during the night. Total up the number of hours at the end of each day.
If you see an all-of-the-sudden fluctuation, analyze any changes that could have happened for your puppys environment.
If your puppy still sleeps more than normal, address these changes so he or she can return to their normal sleep patterns. Once the changes have been addressed, keep track of how they affect your pups behavior and sleep patterns.
Can A German Shepherd Be Left Alone Our Ultimate Guide
Are you thinking about getting a German Shepherd but worried whether it is a sensible move because you work? The issue of leaving a dog alone is both complex and critical. By asking this question, you are showing that you would be a responsible dog owner.
It is certainly possible to leave a German Shepherd if you have to go out to work. However, it will require some understanding of potential problems, and what solutions can be employed.
In this article, I want to lead you through this topic and provide helpful answers.
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Why Do German Shepherds Wrap Their Tails Around Their Noses
The GSDs nose is the most exposed part of their body during winter. Wrapping their tail over their nose means they are trying to protect their noses from the harsh elements like rain, snow and wind. Is it normal to see a German Shepherd sleeping outside in winter?
Adult German Shepherd Sleeping Habit A healthy adult GSD might require less sleep since they are normally very active. They can sleep from 12 up to 14 hours a day. Since they are originally working dogs,being watchful and alert are their traits.
How Much Do German Shepherd Puppies Sleep
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German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot, 15 20 hours a day to be more specific. If its sleeping more or less than that, then you might want to check in with the vet.
This article covers everything you need to know as a german shepherd owner about GSD puppies and their sleep schedule. It explains the causes for why they sleep so much and what to do if theyre sleeping a lot, or not getting enough sleep.
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German Shepherd Sleeping Habits And Patterns
There are so many aspects of a German Shepherd dog breed that mesmerize any dog lover. First, there is the way they move about, play, and guard their parents! But whats most intriguing is that German Shepherd sleeping patterns are quite different from other dog breeds.
Do you have concerns that your German Shepherd isnt getting adequate sleep? Sleep is an essential component of your dogs health, and thats why weve analyzed what a German Shepherds normal sleeping patterns are, how much rest they should get, and the significances of different sleeping positions.
Where Should German Shepherd Puppies Sleep
German Shepherd puppies should sleep in a crate when really young and not yet trained. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping.
Puppies dont like to use the restroom where they rest, so if they are crated, they are more likely to wake you up when they need to potty which helps them become trained quicker.
Some of the best crates for German Shepherd puppies are ones that can grow with your pup and come with a divider. When your pup is tiny you can divide off the extra unused space so it doesnt become a potty zone, but as your pup gets older and bigger and is potty trained you can move the divider back or remove the divider altogether.
This is not to say your pup has be crated forever, think of this as a tool to help them get house-trained faster and to keep them safe.
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Some Of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in the everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years myself, Ive tried an abundance of different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But its products that I use on a daily basis myself, and have nothing but praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat properly, and finding the best food for your dog can be hard, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, Ive been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dogs specific needs, and as my dogs absolutely love the product, Im pretty sure Ive found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If youve ever owned a puppy, you know that they require a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and its something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, youre going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply cant beat this brush for everyday grooming.
German Shepherds And Children
Adult German Shepherds can range from being calm and patient to bouncy and boisterous, depending on their personality, training and socialisation. Some can make great family pets in homes with children of all ages, but dogs should always be supervised around young children.
Make sure you can recognise the signs of unhappiness or anxiety in your dog to help avoid any conflicts. German Shepherds can be nervous of strangers so make sure theyre never left unsupervised. Be careful if you are introducing a German Shepherd to younger children or adults unfamiliar with the breed as they often dont know their own strength.
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What Can Affect Your Dogs Sleep
Apart from natural ageing, a dogs sleeping pattern can be affected by stress, anxiety and disturbances in their routine. Some dogs have a lot of pent-up energy and need regular exercise to be able to rest well. Health issues such as frequent urination due to kidney diseases, itching due to fleas and recent injuries can also make them restless.
Do remember that dogs are social sleepers. Which means that they adapt to the situation or their parents sleep cycle. You will notice that your pet will generally come and lay down next to you if you are resting or sleeping. However, dogs are crepuscular, which means that they are most active during twilight and dusk.
How Many Hours Do Bulldogs Sleep
The result is that they need more total sleep in order to log enough of the restorative kind that they need.
The average dog sleeps for about 12 to 14 hours per 24-hour cycle.
That’s just the beginning, though.
Puppies, who expend a lot of energy exploring and learning may need as much as 18 to 20 hours.
As shown in the accompanying infographic, the average dog will sleep 12-14 hours per day.
If your dogs have adjusted to your sleep patterns, which most do eventually, they’re sleeping around eight hours at night.
So the other four to six hours required will occur during the day in the form of naps.
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German Shepherd Sleeping Habits
While I wasnt so worried about my German Shepherds sleeping habits, I was curious to see if he was getting enough sleep. This is because sleep is crucial and beneficial to a dogs life, just like us. After all, if we get too little or too much sleep, it can be an underlying illness or lack of energy.
In general, a German Shepherd should have between 12-14 hours of sleep. BUT, this is just an average number and it all depends on their lifestyle, whether theyre working dogs, or usually at home. So if your dog gets a bit less or more of this amount of sleep, no worries!
Ill be getting into these specific details in the next sections.
Hire Someone To Walk Your Dog
The ideal solution is to hire someone to come in to get your dog and take him for a long walk. They will tire him out at the midpoint of your absence. Your dog will be distracted it will enjoy the walk and get some needed exercise.
Benefits
1. Your dogs health will benefit, and you add years to their life
2. When your dog uses his energy on a walk, he is less likely to be destructive at home
3. You will relax, knowing that your dog is being taken care of.
Potential problems
1. You have to find the right dog walker who fits your needs.
2. You have to trust them with the key to your home
3. It is an extra expense.
The AKC suggests you talk to friends and local people to see if they can recommend someone, or you may ask your vet if they know of a good one.
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Fun Facts About German Shepherds
Before we get into more details about why German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot, here are some fun facts about your new excitable puppy from the Best Breed Ever on YouTube.
As you learn more about your German Shepherd puppy, you should get to know the unique traits of the breed to care for him or her in more ways than just its sleep schedule.
- They are the second most popular breed in America.
- German Shepherds are an active breed that requires extensive physical and mental training to stay engaged.
- Known as a one-man breed, your German Shepherd will grow to be very loyal to you as his or her owner.
- Their bites have 238 lbs of force, which is close to 3 times the force of a human bite. Make sure train to your pup not to bite unless the person is an intruder.
How Many Hours Should Your German Shepherd Dog Sleep
German Shepherd or GS dogs, as they are commonly known, are extremely clever and active dogs. Originally bred to be working dogs, they are more vigilant and watchful of their packs. As a result, they may sleep less than other dog breeds, but their environment and maturity will influence how much sleep they require.
On average, your German Shepherd dog should sleep for 12-14 hours. However, the exact number of hours might vary significantly based on lifestyle and age. Working and active GS dogs typically sleep less, while puppies and seniors GSs tend to sleep more.
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What Months Do German Shepherds Shed The Most
German Shepherds shed the most in the fall and spring. They shed most of their undercoat during September, October, and November and replace it with a thicker, warmer winter coat. They will then shed their old winter undercoat during March, April, and May, making room for a lighter summer coat.
When Your German Shepherd Is An Adult
This study states that approximately half of pet owners share their bedroom or bedwith their pet during the night.
If you choose to sleep with your German Shepherd once he is an adult, several benefits come along with it. However, you should make sure that your dog is well-behaved and trained. Dogs who are territorial or aggressive should not sleep in your bed.
Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners.
And thats not even counting the multitude of health benefits, too, such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. When you opt to sleep with your pet, these overall benefits become even stronger. Some of the most common health benefits of sleeping with your adult German Shepherd include:
- An overall reduction in depression and anxiety.
- Increased feeling of security.
- Lowered blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels.
- A decrease in hypertension.
As you can see, many benefits go along with sleeping with your adult German Shepherd in addition to increasing the loving bond. However, this should only occur after your dog has shown that he has been properly trained and socialized and knows you are the boss!
Of course, there can be negatives in allowing your German Shepherd to sleep with you. These are:
Still, even when you are allowing your dog to sleep with you, there are two rules to follow:
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My Senior German Shepherd Sleeps More Should I Be Worried
Of course, if your German Shepherd has started to sleep more, it could also be that nothing is wrong, your German Shepherd is just aging.
As soon as your German Shepherd hits the ripe old age of anywhere from 7 to 9, you can consider them to be a senior, even if many dogs of this agile breed still think they are a puppy at this age!
Along with expecting your senior German Shepherd to sleep more, you can also expect graying around their muzzle and eyes, and a decreased interest in walkies and play.
If this happens, just follow your German Shepherds lead on whether they want to get some exercise or would prefer to have another nap.
So How Much Sleep Does A German Shepherd Need
In truth, theres no right or wrong answer to the question of how much sleep a German Shepherd needs.
As weve detailed above, your German Shepherd may need more or less sleep at certain stages of their life, though if they are working, they may have to consistently make do with substantially less sleep than is recommended as long as they get some rest days.
But mainly, its about paying attention to what is normal for them and being able to quickly spot when they are sleeping too much or too little.
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Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much
You will notice that your dog does not go into deep sleep for long periods like you. Thats because they have relatively shorter sleep cycles. They tend to nap and are a lot more aware of sounds and motion than us.
Dogs spend a big part of their day either sleeping or relaxing. Apart from the fact that they experience much less REM sleep time than us, they are also balls of energy when they are active. Recharging their batteries by sleeping more than 8 hours a day is quite normal among dogs