I used to wake up at 6am because Cooper would stand on my chest and breathe dog breath directly into my face until I got up. It was annoying. It was predictable. It was our routine.
Now? I wake up at 8am and he is still asleep. Sometimes I check to make sure he is breathing. He is always breathing. He is just... really committed to sleep.
Cooper is 8. According to our calculator, that puts him at about 62 in human years. And apparently 62-year-old dogs sleep a lot. Like, a lot a lot. I did some research — actual research, not just scrolling Reddit at 2am — and it turns out senior dogs can sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. That is not lazy. That is biology.
How Much Sleep Is Normal?
Puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours because growing is exhausting. Adult dogs sleep 12 to 14 hours. Senior dogs sleep 16 to 18 hours. The numbers are surprisingly consistent across breeds, though large breeds tend to sleep more than small ones.
But here is the thing: quality matters more than quantity. A senior dog sleeping 18 hours but waking up stiff, confused, or lethargic is different from a senior dog sleeping 18 hours and then doing a happy dance when the leash comes out.
Cooper does the happy dance. He just does it slower now. And then he naps.
Why Aging Dogs Sleep More
Several factors drive increased sleep in senior dogs. Metabolism slows down. Activity levels drop. Joint pain makes movement less appealing. And cognitive changes can make dogs less interested in their environment — if the world seems confusing, sleep is a reasonable response.
There is also something called "sleep fragmentation." Older dogs sleep more total hours but in shorter bursts. They might nap for two hours, wake up and wander around confused, then nap again. This is different from deep, restful sleep and can indicate cognitive decline.
When to Worry
More sleep alone is not a red flag. But sudden changes in sleep patterns can be. Watch for:
- Sleeping more AND eating less
- Sleeping more AND showing signs of pain
- Sleeping more AND having accidents in the house
- Sleeping more AND seeming disoriented when awake
- Suddenly sleeping way more or way less than usual
Any of these combinations warrant a vet visit. Not an emergency visit — just a "hey, something changed" visit. Vets appreciate when owners notice patterns.
Making Sleep Better
If your senior dog is sleeping a lot but seems comfortable, your job is to make that sleep as restful as possible. Orthopedic beds help. Quiet spaces help. Consistent routines help. And honestly? Letting them sleep without guilt helps. I used to feel bad when Cooper napped through what used to be walk time. Now I just take Luna instead and let Cooper have his beauty rest.
Because at 62 in human years? He has earned it. I am 34 and I would also like to sleep 18 hours a day. Unfortunately I have a job and a mortgage and a cat who judges me when I try.
Luna, by the way, sleeps about 12 hours and then runs around like a maniac for the other 12. She is 4. Youth is wasted on the young.
