Dogs may seem like peaceful sleepers, but their sleep patterns are more revealing than you might think. Recent research into canine sleeping habits provides fascinating insights into how living with humans has influenced dog behavior — and even suggests that dogs’ sleep patterns might be more wild than we expect.

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Dog Sleep Patterns

Unlike humans, who generally maintain a steady sleep cycle, domestic dogs have a more flexible sleep pattern. While most of their sleep happens at night (typically between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.), dogs also enjoy frequent daytime naps, particularly in the afternoon. Studies have shown that dogs, on average, sleep for about 10 hours per day. However, this can vary significantly from dog to dog, with estimates ranging from 7 to 16 hours.

Interestingly, dogs’ sleep habits have been influenced by their human companions. Domestic dogs follow a more diurnal sleep schedule (daytime wakefulness, nighttime sleep) because it aligns with human activity. However, their ancestors—the wild gray wolf—tend to follow nocturnal or crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk) patterns based on the availability of food, weather conditions, and external threats.

Feral dogs or wild canids, particularly in areas far removed from human influence, may display these wild sleep patterns, reverting to a schedule closer to their wolf ancestors.

Does Domestication Affect Canine Sleep?

Studies suggest that while domestication has certainly shaped some aspects of dog behavior, it may not have drastically altered their sleep patterns. Dogs adjust based on their environment and human routines rather than simply shifting to a new sleep schedule. Left to their own devices, dogs would likely sleep according to their wild ancestors’ patterns.
The Stages of Dog Sleep

Like humans, dogs experience various stages of sleep, including drowsiness, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep — the stage where most dreaming occurs. Surprisingly, dogs spend more time in REM sleep than humans, clocking in around 2.9 hours a day compared to our 1.9 hours.

In a 2022 study, researchers observed dogs and socially raised wolves as they slept. Interestingly, dogs spent less time in REM sleep than wolves, despite both species spending similar amounts of time in other sleep stages. This discovery raises more questions about whether dogs’ reduced REM sleep results from domestication. In the wild, animals vulnerable to predators tend to spend less time in deep, dream-heavy REM sleep. This could suggest that domestication may make dogs feel safer and less likely to need frequent awakenings to check for danger.

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The Impact of Age, Activity, and Environment on Dog Sleep

As dogs age, their sleep habits tend to change. Older dogs often experience fragmented sleep, with fewer REM sleep periods during the night and more NREM sleep during the day. This shift is typical of the aging process, much like it is in humans.

Several factors influence the quality of sleep in dogs. For instance, if dogs don’t get enough naps during the day, they may fall asleep faster at night and spend more time in REM sleep. Similarly, environmental and internal factors such as noise, stress, or temperature can affect their sleep quality.

Ultimately, the deeper we delve into canine sleep behavior, the more we realize how wild our furry companions can still be.

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