Why Do Pugs Sleep So Much? – The Basics
If you’ve heard the rumors about Pug’s sleepiness, and recently got one, you might wonder; why do Pugs sleep so much? When talking about Pugs, you’ll hear that they are a lazy breed that doesn’t do much with their day. Still, this is not always the case, and actually, Pugs have similar sleeping time and nap times throughout the day to other breeds. So, what’s the truth about this? In this article you’ll find:
- Why do Pugs sleep so much? The reasons whether they are good or bad ones!
- What is and what is not normal about your Pug’s sleeping routine.
- And how to improve his sleeping quality.
After finishing this thorough article, you’ll have sound knowledge about a Pug’s schedule, and how much it will change as he grows. Not only sleeping is important for them, but it’s vital for their proper upbringing and growth. Let’s get right into it!
So, why do Pugs sleep so much?
Do they, actually? You might worry because your Pug is not as active as you and doesn’t get an 8-hour sleep, but instead a whooping 14-hour sleep throughout the day. This is not a reason to worry. Pugs are small dogs, which means that everything they do, from walking to playing, is a toll on their energy levels just like with any dog. Still, their energy input/output is accord to their size, which means they eat what they need and rest what they need to recover from their daily activity. Big dogs eat much more and sleep what they need to recover; even working dogs! That’s why you need to feed them properly depending on the activity level they have in their day, otherwise, they’ll become obese or poorly nourished/skinny.
If you went for a walk, your Pug will come back and probably lay down if he ran out of energy. So, that’s not a reason for asking “why do Pugs sleep so much?” Conversely, if you don’t go for a walk with him, he might be bouncing around until he depletes his energy, and then he’ll take a nap. That’s just how dogs work.
AKC – American Kennel Club
Normal Pug sleeping hours and routines
Now, there are a few things that might be off the charts, and usually, they present when something’s wrong. Here are the Pug sleeping time and nap time throughout the day as they grow.
- Newborn Pugs: They will sleep almost all day. They will sleep at least 22 hours and will take the extra 2 hours to nourish from the dam’s milk. You mustn’t interrupt this routine, as it’s vital for them to grow properly, even if it appears to be too much.
- Puppies from 3 to 8 weeks: As Pug puppies grow, they will sleep a little bit less. From the 3-week mark, they will sleep 21-20 hours. This will remain like this until the 8-week mark.
- Puppies from 1 month to 4 months: The growth of a Pug will be incredibly fast within this timeframe. They should sleep less each time (though you shouldn’t force this). By now, their senses are amazingly sharp, so they will be curious, and will want to explore their surroundings. By now, their sleeping time should be around 16-18 hours.
- Puppies from 4 to 8 months: By now, they will be adapted to your sleeping time at night. They will sleep at least as much as you sleep during nighttime. They will get up every morning whenever the sun or any light hits them, which is the best time to take them out for potty training. They will take naps if they need to throughout the day, completing 14 to 16 hours of sleep for the day. This is their adult sleeping time.
- Adult Pugs: Adult Pugs will sleep at least 14 hours, 8 hours every night (or as much as you sleep), and the rest will be naps scattered throughout the day on a need-to basis. They might stay up all day if you’re traveling, but whenever they get a chance, they’ll take a short nap that will boost their energy.
- Senior Pugs: When Pugs enter seniority, they will sleep more, as their metabolism slows down, and their energy levels drop. This will be especially true for Pugs with other issues, like arthritis. They will sleep for up to 16 hours. You shouldn’t wake them up from naps, as this can make them grumpy – who wouldn’t get grumpy though!
CKC – Canadian Kennel Club
How to improve their sleeping quality?
Dogs also deserve quality bedding to improve their sleep. We’ve reviewed three useful goodies for you to check out.
- Cooling beds for Pugs: When in the summertime, Pugs will love to curl in a bed that is useful to keep him fresh. Also, those beds work amazingly well during the rest of the year!
- Car seats (best to nap on the go!): These will be very helpful to keep them comfortable during road trips.
- Pajamas for Pugs: Yes, they exist. Yes, they are cute. And yes, your Pug will love to wear them to keep him warm during winter and at night!
Those items will improve your Pug’s sleep and naps immensely; we especially recommend you to get him a good bed, as he will need it even more as he gets old. It should provide him good support and comfort, so he sleeps well every night. Maybe you will stop wondering “why do Pugs sleep so much?”
Pug’s sleeping issues
There are a few issues that can affect Pugs while they sleep, but most of them will affect you instead. One of them is snoring. Pugs make a lot of different sounds in their sleep, and this is something you should pay attention to; if it’s too loud, you should get them checked. Sleep apnea is also something that can affect them, as it’s rather common in all brachycephalic dogs.
Finally, some Pugs will have issues getting their sleep if they’re not completely comfortable. You can try placing their bed in a warmer/cooler place, in another location inside the house (maybe near to you), and maybe tired them out a little bit with playtime before sleeping.
Frequently Asked Questions – Why Do Pugs Sleep So Much?
There might be several reasons for this to happen. It might be that your Pug is not sleeping in a quiet and dark enough place for him to relax. This usually happens if cars are passing by in front of your street. If that’s the case, he will get used to that eventually. Another common thing for this to happen is that they’re filled with energy. Take them out for a walk or two in the morning and at night and this won’t be an issue!
Depending on how loud is your Pug’s snoring from one to ten – 1 being bunny snores and 10 being a truck’s engine -, you might need to take him to the vet. This might be caused by different things like the wrong bed (without neck support) and stenotic nares. The issue and specific solution will be pointed out by the vet, still, you must know that some Pugs simply snore without apparent reason!
Yes, and they will love it, as it’s probably warmer between your feet. Still, they snore, shed, and move around, so it depends on how comfortable you are with it. Also, housebreaking is needed, unless you can throw away a few mattresses!
Conclusion
Why do Pugs sleep so much? Just like humans, dogs sleep to recover their energy. Pugs have slightly less energy than other dogs, which is why they’re perceived as lazy. Still, this is not bad for all owners that have a slower pace on their daily routines or that simply don’t have that much time to play with them. On the other hand, you must know that they will require at least a little bit of interaction, attention, and stimulation to get a good night of sleep.
You should provide your Pug with comfort and a warm/fresh place to sleep depending on the weather, season, or how cold/hot your house is. Finally, you’ll have to keep their energy levels balanced by, well, using that stored energy. If you don’t, you will harm their health, as they will probably become obese.
So, is it nap time yet for your Pug?
