There’s nothing cuter than a German Shepherd puppy that’s just starting to explore the world and learning how to be a good companion dog. Still, sometimes it can be alarming if your puppy spends more time sleeping than playing, but all puppies need plenty of sleep to grow. That brings us to today’s question: Do German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot?
German Shepherd puppies do sleep a lot, typically getting between 15 and 20 hours of rest per day during puppyhood. Without enough sleep, a German Shepherd puppy may experience developmental issues, suffer a weakened immune system, and struggle with learning and processing new information.
So, let’s talk about why German Shepherd puppies need so much sleep. We’ll discuss the amount of sleep that German Shepherd puppies need and the benefits of ensuring that your puppy sleeps enough. We’ll also go over some pro tips on how to make sure that your puppy stays well-rested.
Why Do German Shepherd Puppies Need So Much Sleep?
German Shepherd puppies grow very quickly. Depending on your dog’s adult size, they can reach their full height between 12 months and 24 months after birth. Larger dogs usually take more time to mature to their full size than smaller breeds, so you can expect your German shepherd to reach their full size within 24 months.
All puppies grow quickly. Because they grow up so fast, they need plenty of sleep and additional nutrition to stay healthy as they mature.
Usually, puppies need at least 15 hours of undisturbed sleep every day. Still, it’s best to ensure that puppies get between 18 and 20 hours of sleep. Large dog breeds, like German Shepherds, also need more rest than smaller dogs since it takes more time for larger dog’s bodies to process information and heal from the day-to-day wear of life. So, always let your German Shepherd sleep if they’re tired.
As puppies grow, the first things that they develop are the long bones in their legs. Puppies have short, flexible legs when they’re born. As they mature, these soft bones harden and elongate, often causing puppies to have disproportionately long legs. After their legs have lengthened, they gain more substantial muscles, and then they start to develop fat on their bodies.
With such a rapid transformation, puppies need plenty of sleep to allow their bodies to develop. Ensuring that your puppy gets plenty of sleep can help them grow faster, and it can prevent health and developmental issues.
What If German Shepherd Puppies Don’t Get Enough Sleep?
Puppies, like human babies, need plenty of sleep to develop a healthy immune system. German Shepherds that don’t get enough sleep will have a weakened immune system, making them prone to many different infections and viruses. When a German Shepherd sleeps, their body has time to grow, develop a healthy nervous system, fight off viruses, and process information.
A recent study proved that dogs who get more sleep learn more than dogs who get less sleep. Sleep allows dogs to process information and internalize what they have learned and experienced throughout the day. For puppies, this is extremely important since puppies are exposed to a brand new world full of exciting things, new lessons, and new people.
Overall, sleep helps puppies grow more healthfully, and it helps them learn and memorize things. So, if you want your German Shepherd puppy to grow into a healthy, intelligent dog, allowing them to get the right amount of sleep every day can ensure that they’ll be well-adjusted when it’s an adult.
Tips To Help Your Puppy Get The Sleep They Need
With all of the benefits that a good night’s sleep, and often a good day’s sleep, can offer German Shepherd puppies, you must ensure that your puppy gets plenty of rest. If you want to make sure that your puppy receives all of the rest needed, follow these tips:
Leave Your Puppy Undisturbed
Puppies are cute, and it can be tempting to wake it up while they’re sleeping. Even though it can be challenging not to wake up your puppy whenever you have time off or want to play with them, ensuring that your puppy stays asleep once they fall asleep is crucial.
Waking your puppy up can stress their body and mind, and it can disrupt your puppy’s sleep schedule.
Set A Schedule
Setting a schedule for you and your puppy is an excellent way to ensure that your puppy gets enough sleep. It can help your pup get into the habit of resting at night when you do. Puppies aren’t born with an internal schedule. Puppies will still want to go outside when they want to go outside, and they sleep whenever they want to.
If you keep your puppy on a schedule, they can get into the routine of day-to-day life.
Usually, setting regular food times can help your puppy sleep, especially if you want your puppy to sleep through the night. Most puppies need to eat 4-6 times a day depending on their age, usually spaced out every 4-8 hours. So, as your puppy matures, feeding them during the day can help them understand that nighttime is a time of rest.
If you stick to your feeding schedule and teach your dog that they won’t sleep through mealtimes, they’ll probably be able to rest more soundly.
Keeping a regular bedtime and wake-up time for yourself can also help puppies get used to routines. Dogs are creatures of habit who love routines. If you have ever had an adult dog, you know that they’ll expect to go out as soon as your alarm clock goes off. So, to help your puppy ease into your own daily routine, keeping a regular wake-up time and bedtime is an excellent practice to follow.
When you’re training your puppy to follow a schedule, do so gradually. Puppies need more food, more bathroom times, and playtimes than adult dogs. So, forcing your puppy to comply with a strict schedule right away could be detrimental to their health. Puppies also sleep more in smaller increments. Always gradually introduce new routines to your puppy’s life and be patient with your puppy as they adjust to change.
Give Your Puppy A Quiet, Comfortable Place To Sleep
German Shepherd puppies need a spot to sleep in where they’ll be comfortable and undisturbed. Usually, ensuring that your puppy has their own bed, crate, or special place on the couch can help them have a restful sleep. If your German Shepherd puppy prefers to lay on the floor, you may want to put a towel in their favorite spot or give them a thin blanket or sheet to sleep on when it gets hot.
You may also want to find a spot for your puppy to sleep where there won’t be too much noise or light. Often, sounds of movement, light, and talking can wake up puppies and disturb their sleep. So, setting aside a private place for your pup can significantly help them get enough sleep.
If you have kids, you may want to let your puppy sleep in a place where the children won’t be tempted to wake it up.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherd puppies need at least 15 hours of sleep every day, and it’s important to never keep your puppy from sleeping. Ensuring that your puppy gets enough sleep is crucial if you want your puppy to stay healthy and comfortable. Letting them rest could even help them learn new things. Overall, always make sure that your puppy is comfortable enough to sleep when they want to.