If you have just brought a puppy home and find yourself asking how long do puppies sleep, the honest answer is a lot, far more than most new owners expect. A young puppy can sleep somewhere between 18 and 20 hours a day, and that is completely normal. All those growing bones, muscles and busy little brains need serious downtime to develop, so a puppy who naps constantly is not lazy or unwell, they are simply doing exactly what they should be. Your job is to protect that sleep and build a gentle routine around it.
Below is a simple age-by-age guide, why puppies need so much rest, and how to help yours start sleeping through the night.
How many hours by age
Sleep needs drop gradually as your puppy grows. As a rough guide:
- 8 to 12 weeks: around 18 to 20 hours a day, in lots of short bursts.
- 3 to 6 months: roughly 15 to 18 hours, with longer active spells between naps.
- Over 6 months: settling towards 14 to 16 hours as they head into adolescence.
- Adult dog: most adults land around 12 to 14 hours across the day and night.
These are averages, not targets. Some pups need more, some a touch less, and that is fine. The Royal Kennel Club guide to puppy sleep sets out very similar figures.
Why puppies need so much sleep
Puppies grow at a startling rate, and almost all of that development happens while they are asleep. During deep rest their bodies build muscle, bone and tissue, their immune system strengthens, and their brains process everything they learned while awake. A tired puppy also struggles to cope emotionally, much like an overtired toddler.
That is why an overtired pup often gets the zoomies, nips more, or ignores everything you say. Nine times out of ten the answer is not more training, it is a nap.
Groomer's tip: If your puppy suddenly turns into a land shark in the evening, biting hands and racing around, try popping them somewhere quiet for a rest rather than more play. Overtired puppies get wild, not sleepy, so a calm nap often solves the "witching hour" completely.
Helping your puppy sleep through the night
Broken nights are the hardest part of early puppyhood, but they pass quickly. To help things along:
- Keep the last hour before bed calm, with no rowdy games.
- Offer a final toilet trip right before settling, and one overnight for very young pups.
- Give them a cosy, appropriately sized bed or crate in a quiet, warm spot.
- Keep night-time trips outside boring: no chat, no play, straight back to bed.
Most puppies begin sleeping through by around 4 months, once their bladder can hold on longer. A predictable rhythm makes the biggest difference, and the Dogs Trust routine guide explains why dogs thrive on knowing what comes next.
Building a daytime routine
Puppies do best with a loose pattern of the same events in the same order: wake, toilet, a little play or training, food, then a proper nap. Aim to actively encourage naps rather than letting an overtired pup run on empty. A crate or pen with the door left open gives them a safe den to retreat to when the world gets a bit much.
Little and often is the theme of puppy life, short bursts of activity wrapped around plenty of rest.
Frequently asked questions
How long do puppies sleep in a day?
A young puppy of 8 to 12 weeks sleeps around 18 to 20 hours a day in short stretches. This drops gradually to about 14 to 16 hours by six months, then towards a typical adult 12 to 14 hours.
Is it normal for my puppy to sleep all day?
Yes. Sleeping most of the day is exactly what a healthy puppy should do while growing. Do keep an eye out for a pup who is genuinely difficult to rouse, off their food, or unusually floppy, as that is different from ordinary heavy napping.
When will my puppy sleep through the night?
Many puppies start sleeping through at around 4 months, once their bladder matures and a routine is established. A calm bedtime, a late toilet trip and a cosy sleeping spot all help it happen sooner.
Should I wake my puppy up during the day?
Generally no, let sleeping puppies lie. The exception is nudging them awake for a toilet trip after a long nap, which helps toilet training and avoids accidents.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. A well-rested puppy who is used to a calm routine settles far more happily on the grooming table, which is exactly how we run our gentle puppy grooming sessions. Book your puppy's first groom.