If you didn’t know it already, pitbulls tend to sleep much like humans. Of course, there are some significant differences and we’ll talk about them in this piece.
But generally speaking, pitbulls, like most dogs, sleep more than humans. But it is important for you to know how much is too much.
Because excessive sleep in this breed of dogs can be really bad news for everyone involved. Here’s all you need to know about their sleeping habits.
Pitbull Sleeping Habits
If you are dealing with a puppy, you should know that it is normal for them to sleep about 18 to 19 hours every day. This makes it possible for them to grow their body and brain in a healthy manner.
But you should make sure that your puppy is generally active. That means you should give them some exercise and tasks so that they don’t sleep more than the regular amount.
Things are a bit different with a grown dog. Adult pitbulls tend to sleep for 12 to 14 hours every day.
But if they are sleeping more than that, it could be for a number of reasons and most of them are not benign. You should also know right away that too much sleep in adult pitbulls could be because of health problems.
So, it’s not something to ignore.
You want to make sure that your dog is healthy and is sleeping the average time for its age. It is good to know at this point that they do tend to rest for about 6 hours, even though they have slept for 12 to 14 hours.
So, they do like to spend a lot of time sleeping, but you must make sure that the rest of the time is filled with activities so that they are happy and healthy.
If you don’t keep them active, they are inclined to go back to sleep, and that’s not good news. So, if your canine is looking sleepy even though they have slept enough for the day, you should start monitoring their schedule.
Now, it’s okay if they are doing this once in a while because these dogs do like their nap time. But if not, you might consider figuring out what’s wrong with them.
And if you can’t do that on your own, taking them to the vet is not a bad idea at all.
Also Read: Do Pitbulls Drool?
5 Reasons Why Pitbulls Sleep So Much
Now you know that adult pitbulls sleep for 12 to 14 hours a day and puppies sleep even more than that. But what could possibly be the reason behind them sleeping even more than this?
Let’s figure it out.
It’s Normal for Them
Sometimes, you might feel like 14 hours is a long time. If that’s your concern, it is totally baseless.
Pitbulls tend to have a shuteye like teenage humans. Sleeping for 12 to 14 hours is actually not a lot for domesticated dogs.
Just make sure that it is not happening in one stretch and your dog is fine.
Your Dog Is Bored
The second reason why your dog might be sleeping a lot is that they don’t have anything to do. As mentioned before, pitbulls love their naptime and if they have nothing fun to do, they will happily take another nap.
In fact, if you pay attention to your canine, you will notice that they don’t really try all that hard to go to bed if you try to give them a fun activity. So, that’s what you need to glean from this.
If your furry friend is left to their devices for the most part and there’s nothing or no one trying to keep them busy, they will go to sleep. In that sense, once again, they are a bit like teenagers without the internet.
They’re Getting All the Exercise They Need
It’s important to take your pitbull out and give them some exercise. This helps them stay healthy and active and also puts them to sleep easily at night.
That’s yet another thing these dogs have in common with human children. The more exercise you give your pitbull, the more peacefully they will sleep because they need to recover from the strain of all the physical activity.
So, a little bit of extra sleep is not all that bad either. But make sure it is just a little and not too much.
If you know the normal routine of your pitbull, you will be able to tell when it has become abnormal and needs special care.
There’s a Health Problem
Now, if your pitbull is actually sleeping for longer hours than what is normal and there is no real reason why they should be, you need to pay attention to the predicament.
Pitbulls are likely to spend a lot of time sleeping if they have a health problem. Unfortunately for you, these dogs are prone to canine narcolepsy, which causes this extra sleep.
This can happen very quickly and you won’t even get a warning. So, it’s important to make sure that your dog has not taken a sharp turn from its routine sleeping habits.
You Have a Puppy
Obviously, if you have a puppy, the little one is likely to sleep more than an adult pitbull. So, you don’t have to worry about it.
This is a good thing because, during this time, the pup’s body is strengthening its muscles, brain, nervous system and immune system. So, when they are awake, they have quite a bit of energy and it’s rather exciting to have them around.
Also Read: Why Are Pitbulls So Popular?
How to Make Them Sleep Less
If you don’t want your pitbull to sleep as much, there are a few things you can do to keep them awake. But you want to remember that they need their rest and you shouldn’t be messing around with their routine all that much.
But here’s what you can try.
Play with your pitbull and get them to move around. Pitbulls love to play with their humans and they will engage with you as long they have the energy to do so.
If your pitbull has been socialized well at a young age, you will find that taking them for a walk or a run is a terrific idea. You can also pick other games and they will be more than happy to play with you.
If you keep the pitbull more active, they will sleep less. However, they will take their nap when the time comes and that’s good too because they will recover from the strain of physical activity.
How to Make Them Sleep During the Day
If you have a specific requirement which is to get your pitbull to sleep during the day, here’s what you can do.
Make sure your dog is resting comfortably when it takes a nap. The place shouldn’t have too much disturbance.
So, when the dog does wake up, it will have a lot of energy to play with you.
Make sure their routine is such that they sleep when you want them to. Don’t disturb them while they are napping unless you think it’s time for them to wake up.
And slowly you will see that their schedule is exactly the way you want it to be. This is helpful for working individuals who might want to take their dog for a walk or run in the evening and then see it doze off late in the evening when they have things to do around the house.
The same trick is applicable to those who want to go for that walk or run in the morning. So, you should ensure that your dog naps at noon when you are busy.
But you should always remember to give them enough time to sleep so that they don’t get too tired. It’s nice that you want to spend time with your canine, but they shouldn’t have to pay a price for it.
How to Make Them Sleep at Night
If you want your dog to sleep at night so that it has the energy to play with you during the day, there are a few things you can do.
The trick about maintaining or tweaking their sleep schedule a bit to match yours holds true even here, obviously. Just make sure that their sleeping area is dark with just a little light and is quiet.
This will put them to sleep easily and make sure that they are bright and ready in the morning when you’re ready for that walk or run.
You should also make sure that they play and get exercise during the day. This will tire your dog by night and they will slip into a deep slumber effortlessly.
Once again, you just need to remember not to keep them awake or worked out all day long because they do need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep, don’t they? If you don’t let them get their naps, it will make them very restless.
You don’t want to cuddle up next to them when you’re trying to get them to sleep. You might think this is a sign of affection and that your dog will feel it, but it will just cause a disturbance, especially if you tend to move around in your sleep.
Pitbulls, as you might have realized by now, aren’t dogs that need help falling asleep if they’ve had enough exercise during the day.
Another reason not to do this is that pitbulls are excited to be around their humans, right? So, if you sleep near them, they are going to be alert and watch over you all night long.
That’s not what you’re aiming for right now. So, let them go to sleep on their own.
And even after all this, if your dog is not going to sleep the way you have planned, you might want to take them to the vet just to make sure that there is no health problem.
Also Read: Do Pitbulls Shed?
Summary
Pitbulls love to sleep.
Puppies sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day, while grown pitbulls sleep for 12 to 14 hours.
Dogs, in general, sleep more than humans, so this shouldn’t be surprising. There are ways to keep them up a little bit with exercise and games.
You can also tinker with their schedule to match yours and ensure they sleep specifically during the day or night. But you should let them get their hours at some point.