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You’re noticing that your dachshund seems to be sleeping all day. And because of this you might find yourself wondering.. Why do they sleep so much? Are Dachshunds just lazy? Is this normal or is there something wrong?
Why Do Dachshunds Sleep So Much?
Dachshunds sleep so much because their bodies require extra sleep. Dogs only spend 10% of their sleep in REM compared to humans that spend 20-25% of their sleep in REM. This means dogs require more sleeping hours throughout the day to get an adequate amount of time in REM sleep.
*This is of course assuming that your dachshund is healthy and doesn’t have any underlying health issues that would make them sleep more.*
In this post, you’ll discover:
- 8 surprising reasons why dachshunds sleep so much.
- Does boredom play a role?
- How to tell if anxiety or depression is making them sleep more.
- Does their diet contribute to how much sleep they need?
We dive deep into each of these and more, so let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Is It Normal For My Dachshund To Sleep Most Of The Day?
Dachshund puppies can sleep anywhere between 16-20 hours a day and have it be normal.
Senior dachshunds will need more sleep than adults, but not as much as their puppy years.
Anywhere between 12-16 hours.
It’s quite normal to see your adult dachshund sleep anywhere between 12-14 hours a day.
The reason for this is dog’s don’t get as much quality sleep as people do.
So while you may only need 8 hours, and it’s concerning to you that your dog seems to be needing much more. In many cases, there’s really nothing wrong with your pup.
They are only in deep sleep roughly 10% of the time whereas people are able to be (on average) in deep sleep 20-25% of the time.
Which simply means they need more hours to feel rested.
It becomes something to look into when your dachshund is a healthy adult and their sleep exceeds 17-18+ hours per day.
If they’re sleeping 17-18 or more hours per day there may be some underlying health issues that should be addressed.
Top 8 Reasons Why Your Dachshund Sleeps So Much
1) Boredom/Lack Of Activity
While you’re gone at work each day, your dachshund needs to pass the time somehow.
And since there isn’t really anything for them to do while you’re gone, they’ll choose to sleep to pass the time.
They know you’ll return at some point (or at least they think you will) and if they sleep now, they’ll have more energy later to play with you.
However, if even while you’re home you’re noticing your dachshund is sleeping a lot, it could be because of long periods (days or weeks) without much activity.
If your pup doesn’t get much activity throughout the week, not only will they sleep more, but they’ll likely gain weight.
They’ll eat because they’re bored, gain weight because of lack of activity which then makes them sleep more.
And creates a terrible cycle.
If you think your dachshund might be in this downward cycle of gaining weight, eating more, sleeping more, then gaining more weight, you need to change up their activity levels.
The only way to help them get back to their normal, healthy sleeping schedule (12-14 hours per day) is to increase their physical activity.
If you take this upon yourself to help give them more exercise, you might even find yourself with more energy!
Related Reading: 10 Best Toys To Entertain Your Dog | Boredom Buster Toys
2) Improper Diet
Almost everyone knows that the quality of food you eat has a direct impact on your energy levels.
And It’s no different for your dachshund!
If they’re eating a poor quality diet of too many treats, too much unhealthy human food, or even too much poor quality dog food, this can impact their energy levels.
Often, when a dog has a bad diet and their energy levels get lower, they will also gain weight.
Which inevitably makes the situation worse.
This makes them want to sleep even more because simple daily activities require more energy.
If you want to help your dachshund not need as much sleep as they do now and they have a poor diet, it’s important to change it up!
Not only will this help them have more energy in their day-to-day life, it will also likely extend their life.
And who doesn’t want their pup to be around as long as possible?
Important note: Whenever changing up a dachshund’s food, always do so gradually. For example:
1st Day: 10% new food, 90% old food.
2nd Day: 20% new food, 80% old food.
3rd Day: 30% new food, 70% old food.
4th Day: 50% new food, 50% old food.
5th Day: 60% new food, 40% old food.
6th Day: 75% new food, 25% old food.
7th Day: 90% new food, 10% old food.
8th Day: 100% new food.
3) Not Eating Enough
Food is a dachshund’s energy source!
If you find your dachshund isn’t eating as much as they usually do, this could be contributing to why they’re sleeping more.
Why they aren’t eating as much as they normally do is a completely different discussion that could have health related issues.
However if you’ve taken them to the vet and they don’t see any underlying problems, it’s likely that they’re simply low on energy because their body is lacking nutrients.
Sometimes dog’s will go through periods of not wanting to eat their food. In this instance there’s two things you can do.
1. Wait for this phase to pass and eventually they’ll start to resume eating normally again.
2. Try changing up their food to something new that they hopefully like more.
4) Depression
While it’s impossible to know for sure if your dachshund is feeling depressed since you can’t ask them.
It’s quite possible that their negative feelings are making them sleep more.
If someone your dachshund loves is now out of their life, either because they moved away or passed away, this could be taking a toll on your pup.
It’s normal for a dog to go through a period of ‘funk’ similar to how people do after losing a loved one.
And this funk can consist of choosing to be less active, eating less and sleeping more, as well as being generally withdrawn.
If your dachshund has recently gone through the loss of a loved one the best way to help them get back to normal is with additional tender, love and care.
Stay engaged with them, do things with them that they love to do and give them a little more physical activity.
These things can help take their mind off of what’s bothering them and get them back to their regular schedule.
Be sure not to give them treats and excessive love and affection while they’re moping around.
This will only reinforce the behavior.
Do things that get their tail wagging and reward their happiness to help facilitate more of that behavior.
Sidenote: It’s never a bad idea to have your dachshund checked by a vet if they’re behaving this way. It could also be a health related issue.
Related Reading: Why Does My Dachshund Always Look Sad? 7 Reasons + Tips
5) They’re Sick
The most concerning reason of all that your dachshund is sleeping more is because they’re unwell.
Whether they’re fighting a virus, stomach bug, or parasite, these are all things that could cause your precious pup to be sleeping more.
Whenever their body is battling with an infection or disease, it takes a great deal of energy for their body to protect itself.
And because of this, they don’t have as much energy to do other things and also require more sleep.
If their excessive sleeping has come on out of the blue without anything else changing.
Such as a loved one dying, eating was normal up until now, getting sufficient exercise, eating a good diet, etc.
It’s important to take them to the vet to have a professional diagnose what’s wrong to get them the help they need.
Also, if their extra sleeping is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, shivering/trembling, inflamed or irritated skin, these are good indicators they’re sick.
Related Reading: 16 Ways To Know If Your Dog Is Sick + Helpful Tips
6) They Simply Need That Much Sleep
Sometimes people may think that something’s wrong with their dachshund because they’re sleeping more than they do personally.
And while it’s never a bad idea to have them looked at to know for sure they’re okay, odds are they simply need that much sleep!
They’re not unhealthy or feeling unwell, they just need a little more sleep than you do.
Interestingly, it’s because they don’t get as much quality REM sleep as people do.
REM is one of the most important phases of sleep and dog’s only get roughly 10% REM sleep while people get 20-25%.
This means they require more sleeping hours in order to feel well rested.
In this instance, nothing’s wrong with your dachshund, they just don’t get into a deep sleep very easily which requires them to sleep more often.
Related Reading: 12 Best Dog Beds For Dachshunds: The Ultimate 1-Stop Resource
7) Lots Of Exercise
While lack of physical activity can create bad habits that make a dachshund sleep more, getting lots of physical activity also increases the need for sleep.
However, it’s much more healthy for a dachshund to be sleeping more because of excess exercise than from lack of exercise.
If you’ve ever had a busy week where you felt like you were always moving, you likely needed more sleep to help you recover from all your activity.
This is a good thing!
If your dachshund has been playing more than usual or you’ve decided to go on longer walks than usual, this could be the culprit behind why they’re sleeping so much.
When muscles are being used more than usual the muscle fibers are breaking down and rebuilding, which requires energy.
And every living animal needs sleep to help replenish energy.
So long as they’re not acting ‘off’ when they’re awake.
Such as limping or being sick to their stomach, their increased activity levels are good for them.
Related Reading: Top 12 Best Harnesses For Dachshunds
8) They’re Showing Their Age
When a dog is an adult (3-6 years old) they will generally sleep the least amount during these years.
However, when your dachshund starts to move toward their senior years, they will be tired more often.
If you’re noticing your pup is starting to sleep more, it’s possible that their age is playing a large role in why they’re choosing to catch more zzz’s.
If this worries you and you’d like to help them stay awake for longer periods of time, adding more exercise to their life can help a lot.
Sometimes when a dog gets older, people get a little bit lazy with how often they walk their dog as well as play.
The truth is, even if your dachshund is aging, if you spend more time helping them get exercise, the more energy they’ll have throughout the day.
Obviously you wouldn’t want to push their limits too far given their age. But increased activity can help bring some youth back to your senior pup.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Let My Dachshund Sleep With Me?
One of the great joys of owning a dog is snuggling up together at night.
And what could be better than snuggling up with acute little Dachshund?
While there are pros and cons to letting your dog sleep in your bed, ultimately it comes down to personal preference.
Some people worry about germs and dirt, but if you keep your dog clean and groomed, there’s no need to worry.
And if you’re concerned about your dog taking up too much space, don’t be – Dachshunds are small enough that they won’t disturb your sleep.
So if you’re looking for some extra warmth and cuddles, invite your Dachshund into your bed.
Just be prepared for some early morning wake-ups when they’re ready for their walk!
Do Dachshunds Sleep More Than Other Breeds?
According to a recent study, the answer may be yes.
Dachshunds were found to sleep an average of 14 hours per day, compared to 12 hours for other breeds.
The study also found that Dachshunds are more likely to sleep during the day than at night.
This is likely due to their small size, which makes them vulnerable to predators.
As a result, they have evolved to sleep during the day and stay awake at night to keep watch.
However, this does not mean that Dachshunds are nocturnal animals; they simply tend to be more active at night than during the day.
So if you’re looking for a cuddle buddy, a Dachshund may be the perfect choice.
Why Do Dachshunds Sleep Under The Covers?
One quirk dachshunds have is they often like to sleep under the covers.
While there are a few theories about why this is, the most likely explanation is simply that they enjoy the warmth and security of being hidden away.
After all, dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers, so it makes sense that they would want to find a safe, cozy spot to curl up in.
Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that sleeping under the covers is one of the many things that make dachshunds so special.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons why your dachshund sleeps so much. Some reasons are harmless while others require action on your part to help them get better.
Hopefully this information has either given you peace of mind or an action to take to get your dachshund back to normal.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Top 9 Reasons Why Dachshunds Smell + 8 Ways To Stop It
Are Dachshunds Aggressive? The Truth + 11 Helpful Tips
Can Dachshunds Live & Sleep Outside? 6 Risks + 6 Tips
Can Dachshunds Climb Stairs? 4 Dangers + 7 Helpful Tips
Citations:
Should I Let My Dog Sleep Late Every Day?