Why do dachshunds sleep so much?

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Dachshunds are one of the breeds of dogs that are known for sleeping a lot. But why do they sleep so much? And is there anything that you can do to help your dachshund get more rest?

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons why dachshunds sleep so much and offer some tips on how to help your furry friend get more shut-eye.

Why do Dachshunds sleep so much?

Dachshunds sleep a lot because they have the instinct to conserve energy when they are not doing anything. It is quite normal for dachshunds to sleep a lot. Dachshunds are hunting dogs, this type of dog uses a lot of energy when they are at work tracking down prey.

That is why they instinctively sleep when they have nothing to do, to preserve energy for the hunt. The thing is that our dachshunds are pets and not hunters. So they spend the day, saving energy for a hunt that will never happen.

How much sleep do dachshunds need?

The amount of sleep that a dachshund needs can vary depending on its age and activity level. A young, active dachshund may need up to 18 hours of sleep per day. An older, less active dachshund may only need 12-14 hours of sleep per day.

To get an idea of how much sleep your dachshund needs, consider their age and activity level. If they are young and active, they may need up to 18 hours of sleep per day. If they are older and less active, they may only need 12-14 hours of sleep per day.

What Affects Dachshund Sleeping Behavior?

Their Age

There are three stages in a dog’s life: puppy, adulthood, and senior. Each stage varies in length depending on what breed the dog is. Dachshunds are considered puppies from birth to 1 year, adults between 1 year to 5 years, and seniors from 5 to 6 years onwards.

Naturally, depending on which stage your dachshund is in their life, its sleeping requirements will be very different. Puppies, for example, will spend most of their days asleep, and that would not be unnatural.

It’s not strange to see your puppies sleeping for at least 20 hours a day. Dachshund puppies will need to spend most of their energy growing up, after all. Of course, when they are awake for a short period, they are generally very active.

As your dachshund transitions into adulthood, it’s a lot easier to catch them awake than asleep. But as they age and enter their senior years at 5-7 years old, they will start to sleep more often again.

This is because their metabolism will start slowing down, which is pretty much part of the course of growing old. Senior Dachshunds tend to eat less as well, so they become less energetic and will start gaining pounds at this stage.

Their Natural Tendencies

Dachshunds were originally bred as hunting dogs, specifically for tracking and chasing down smaller prey, such as badgers, rabbits, and foxes. This is a very labor-intensive task, usually involving a lot of running and digging into burrows.

It also didn’t help their stress levels much, either, seeing as how badgers do tend to fight back. Naturally, dachshunds would try to save as much energy and relax as they can during their downtime.

Now, while our dachshunds are no longer used for hunting, they still have that instinct to sleep a lot. This is why they would rather sleep than do anything else when they have nothing else to do.

This is why, if you’ve been observant of your dog’s habits, you’ll notice dachshunds would have short bursts of energy whenever they’re awake but are very easy to tire out. They would often take multiple naps throughout the day as well.

Related post: Are Dachshunds Hunting Dogs?

Their Daily Activities

Dachshunds may have been used as working dogs in the past, but nowadays, dachshunds are usually kept as home dogs. The more active your dog has during the day, the less it will spend taking naps.

Because dachshunds are being kept more as house pets rather than hunting or tracking dogs, then they tend to live less active lives, which ultimately gives them nothing to do other than sleep.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that dachshunds wouldn’t rather be outside living their active lives. It’s just that their current lifestyles don’t require too much activity from them.

Related post: Do Dachshunds Like To Cuddle?

How do I get my Dachshund to sleep at night?

As we’ve mentioned before, Dachshunds are, by their very nature, active dogs. If given the chance, they will try to spend more time being active and awake.

If you feel like your dog could be a little more active during the day, then there are a few things you can do to help them out.

First, try to give them more opportunities to run and play. This could mean taking them on more walks or trips to the park. If you have a backyard, then letting them out to play there for a bit would also be a great idea.

Second, if your dog is already getting plenty of exercise during the day, then try to engage their minds more with puzzles or interactive toys. This will help to tire them out both mentally and physically.

And lastly, make sure that they are ready for bed when it’s time for you to go to sleep. This means no more playing or exercising for at least an hour before bedtime.

Try to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere in your home so that they can wind down and get ready for sleep.

Let Them Out Before Bedtime

Before letting your dachshund settle in for the night, let him out so they can go pee or poop before going to bed.

This will ensure that your pet wouldn’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to relieve themselves, giving them uninterrupted sleep.

You can let your dog out right as you’re doing your nightly routine and simply have them back inside once you’re about to go to bed yourself.

Keep Activity to a Minimum Before Bed

It may sound like a good idea to tire your dachshund out before bed, but that would be counter-productive. Too much activity before bed will only make them more restless and less likely to sleep.

Be Consistent

Dachshunds are creatures of habit, and they are relatively easy to train simply by being consistent with their bedtime habits. Once you’ve set up a routine that works for both you and your pet, then you should stick to it.

Try to keep your dog’s potty break right before bed the last one, and they will learn not to bother waking up just to pee.

Eventually, your dachshund will follow the routine on its own without much supervision, leading to better sleeping habits.

Where should a Dachshund sleep?

Dachshunds are den animals, meaning that they sleep in their dens or hiding places. In the wild, this would be somewhere like a burrow underground or a small space under a tree stump.

At home, you can provide your dog with its own little space where they feel safe and comfortable. This could be a crate, a dog bed, or even a spot under your desk or bed.

Just make sure that their space is not too big or too small, as they should be able to turn around and move around freely.

You can also put a blanket or a toy in their space so that they have something familiar to them when they sleep. This will help to ease their anxiety and make them feel more at home.

Related post: What dog bed is best for Dachshunds?

Why do Dachshunds like to sleep under blankets?

Dachshunds like to sleep under blankets because they feel comfortable and cozy tunneling burrowing under the covers.

This is because dachshunds were originally bred to hunt burrowing animals like badgers. So dachshunds instinctively like to go into small, dark spaces.

Dachshunds also tend to be on the smaller side, so they get cold easily. Sleeping under a blanket helps them stay warm and comfortable.

If you have a dachshund, you might want to consider getting them a dog bed that’s covered or has sides so they can burrow and feel cozy.

Should I let my Dachshund sleep with me?

It’s up to you whether or not you want to let your dachshund sleep with you. Some people think it’s a great idea because it reinforces the bond between you and your pet.

Others may not want their dog in bed with them because they might move around a lot in their sleep or they might not be comfortable with it.

If you do decide to let your dachshund sleep with you, make sure that you have a bed that’s big enough for both of you and that your dog is properly trained.

You don’t want your dog to jump on the bed or get under the covers while you’re trying to sleep.

Dog allergies: Are dachshunds hypoallergenic?

Why is My Dachshund Sleeping More Than Usual?

Now that you understand why dachshunds sleep so much, you may wonder why your dog seems to be sleeping more than usual.

They might be a fully grown dachshund and you’ve done all you can to maintain a good sleeping routine, yet they’re still sleeping for most of the day.

Here are some of the possible reasons why that is:

Boredom

Just like people, dachshunds can get bored if there’s nothing else to do at home. Naturally, one of the ways they can alleviate this boredom is to get some sleep.

A good way to keep dachshunds from falling asleep due to boredom is to keep them entertained. Dachshunds like to dig, so letting them out to play is a good way to provide cheap enrichment.

Health Problems

If your dachshund is sleeping more than usual, it could be a sign that they’re not feeling well. If they seem lethargic and uninterested in their usual activities, then you should take them to the vet to make sure there isn’t anything wrong.

Related post: Are dachshunds a healthy breed?

The age of your dachshund

As dachshunds get older, they tend to sleep more. This is because their metabolism slows down and they have less energy. If your dog is getting up there in age, then you shouldn’t be too concerned if they’re sleeping a bit more than usual.

Frequently asked questions by dachshund owners

How much should my Dachshund sleep?

It is completely normal for dachshunds to sleep up to 14 hours a day. When the dogs have nothing to do they go to sleep. This is an instinct that animals have to conserve energy.

If you look at any dog’s sleep schedule closely, you may notice that they don’t spend that much time being active. On average, most dogs spend at least 10 to 12 hours of their day asleep, whether they’re tucked in for the night or just taking a nap. What makes dachshunds so noteworthy is that they would sleep for as much as 14 hours a day.

Do Dachshunds like to sleep a lot?

Dachshunds have the instinct to sleep a lot because they are hunting dogs. In the wild, these dogs would use up a lot of energy when tracking down prey. So when they’re not hunting, they would sleep to conserve energy for the next hunt.

Since our dachshunds are pets and not hunters, they don’t use up as much energy during the day. As a result, they end up sleeping for longer periods.

If you’re concerned that your dachshund is sleeping too much, you can talk to your veterinarian about it. They will be able to tell you if your dog’s sleep habits are normal or if there’s something more to be concerned about.

Do dachshunds need a lot of sleep?

Dachshunds don’t necessarily need a lot of sleep, but they do tend to sleep a lot. This is because they are easily bored if they don’t have mental stimulation or physical activity during the day.

So if your dachshund is sleeping a lot, it’s probably nothing to worry about.

However, if you notice a sudden change in your dachshund’s sleeping habits, it could be a sign that something is wrong.

If they seem uninterested in their usual activities and are sleeping more than usual, then you should take them to the vet to make sure there isn’t anything wrong.

How Much Sleep is Normal for a Dachshund?

Now that we know all the reasons why dachshunds sleep so much, let us take a look at how much sleep is normal for them.

According to the American Kennel Club, the average adult dachshund should be getting 12-14 hours of sleep daily. This means that if you’re seeing your dog asleep for more than half the day, then it’s perfectly normal.

Puppies, on the other hand, can sleep for up to 20 hours a day since they need all the energy they can get to grow up healthy and strong.

How many hours should a miniature Dachshund sleep?

A miniature dachshund should sleep 14-16 hours a day. If your miniature Dachshund is sleeping more than 16 hours a day, then you should consult a veterinarian to rule out any possible health problems.

How do Dachshunds like to sleep?

Dachshunds usually like to sleep in a curled-up position with their head resting on their paws. Sometimes, they may also sleep on their back with all four legs in the air.

Related post: Why do dachshunds sleep on their backs?

Final thoughts

As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why dachshunds sleep so much. But overall, it’s nothing to worry about as long as they are still interested in their usual activities and there isn’t a sudden change in their sleeping habits.

Do you have a dachshund? How much sleep does your dog get each day? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. And if you don’t have a dachshund, be sure to check out our video of one snoozing away.

It will make you want to take a nap yourself! As always, thanks for reading and watching Dog Daily. Have a good one!

Related post: Unveiling the Temperament of Dachshunds

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