How to Create a Puppy Sleep Schedule

Editorial Team

Puppies

2 November 2024

How long should a puppy sleep? Should you be concerned if your little furball is constantly snoozing? Does your corgi need a set bedtime, just like humans?

These questions are crucial when it comes to your pup’s health and well-being. In fact, sleep is a fundamental aspect of raising a healthy corgi and deserves your full attention. That’s why, in this article, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about puppy sleep patterns and schedules. We’ll explore the best strategies to balance sleep, playtime, and other daily activities, ensuring your corgi grows up happy and healthy. First off, let’s answer the most important question…

How long should a puppy sleep?

There are some serious misconceptions about little puppies, one of them being that they are full of energy and can run around non-stop. That’s just not the case. The truth is that little corgi pups need a lot more downtime than adult canines. They sleep both during the day and at night, and they may wake up frequently throughout the night, not unlike human babies.

If you’re wondering how long your puppy should spend asleep, here are a few guidelines regarding age and sleep needs:

• New-born corgi puppies typically sleep about 90% of the day, which is roughly 21 hours.

• 2- to 4-month-old corgi puppies usually sleep 15 to 20 hours per day. They can only stay awake for about an hour at a time, and take frequent naps, ranging in length from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

• Puppies over the age of 4 months sleep about 12 to 14 hours a day.

• Adult corgis sleep roughly 8 to 13 hours per day.

Wow! That’s a lot of sleep, isn’t it? yes, indeed, dogs sleep a lot more than humans, and their snooze time helps them regenerate and recharge. That’s why you must ensure your little furball gets enough sleep. Which brings us to the second question…

How do You Create a Puppy Sleep Schedule for Your Corgi?

Dogs thrive on routine and a strict schedule can be very beneficial for their wellbeing and discipline. To prevent them from waking you random hours of the night, you should set times for eating, playing, going to the loo and sleeping.

Here are four steps to take to establish a consistent sleep schedule for your puppy.

1. Create a cosy sleeping nook

Dogs can snooze off wherever and whenever they see fit. However, it’s good for them to know where their sleeping area is, which is why you should gently nudge them off to their own bed when you notice them getting drowsy. When they are aware that their crate or bed is the sleeping spot, they are more likely to stick to a habit and a pattern.

2. Create a balanced exercise schedule

The key word here is “balanced”. Tiring your dog is a generally good idea, but if you overdo the exercise and you do so too close to bedtime, you will have a dog that’s hyper and out of control. Moreover, exhausting a young pup can be detrimental to their mental and physical health.

You’re not training your corgi pup for the Olympics. There’s no need to go overboard with playing, walking or exercising. Instead schedule time for 2 to 3 sessions of walking, playing and exercising, each no longer than 30 to 60 minutes.

As we mentioned earlier, young pups can only remain awake for up to an hour – that’s the maximum amount of time you should spend on activities.

If you don’t have the time to walk your puppy regularly, it’s best to hire a dog walker or dog sitter.

3. Don’t wake up your puppy

Your puppy might look utterly adorable when asleep. It might be irresistible not to start stroking it and fussing about it. Do not do it! Resist the urge to pet, stroke and hug your puppy while it’s asleep. This will help to create a solid sleep routine that’s beneficial for its health and its habits.

4. Set times for potty breaks

Young pups need potty breaks far more often than adult dogs. They need to go as often as every one to two hours. In addition to giving them these breaks, make sure you take your puppy out as soon as it wakes up and just before you both go to bed. This way, you can make sure it won’t wake you up too often if it needs to do its business in the middle of the night.

Is your corgi puppy sleeping too much?

It should be easy for you to determine whether your corgi is getting enough sleep or not. However, if you notice that he sleeps more than what’s appropriate for his age, it’s wise to consult your vet if you notice anything suspicious.

Unfortunately, some health issues and conditions may manifest as lethargy in both young puppies and adult dogs. If you notice that your corgi sleeps too much, it might be due to several reasons. Parasites and viruses are the main culprits. However, poor nutrition and separation anxiety could also lead to sleep problems.

Now that you know what’s good and what’s not for a young dog, you should be able to create a balanced sleeping schedule that will help your corgi’s brain and body develop in the best way possible. If you need more advice on how to prepare for a young puppy, check out our other resources below.