Dachshunds are one of the most popular dog breeds around. Also known as weiner dogs, these little dogs have short legs, long bodies, and huge personalities. Their loyalty and fun-loving natures make them ideal family dogs. One thing families with Dachshunds notice is this breed’s tendency to sleep quite a bit. While most dog breeds can get in a good 12 hours of rest throughout the day, a Dachshund can push it to 14 hours or more.
While this can be worrisome for owners, it’s not unusual. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons your Dachshund may be sleeping a lot. You can then decide whether it’s normal Doxie behavior or something you should be concerned about.
The 8 Reasons Why Your Dachshund Sleeps So Much
1. It’s Natural
Yes, Dachshunds sleep a lot, but no worries, it’s completely natural. This breed originated in Germany during the 17th century. Their purpose was to help hunt badgers who were destroying crops and being a nuisance. With small bodies and short legs, Dachshunds were ideal at invading badger holes and flushing out the inhabitants.
Badgers are known for fighting and being a bit brutal and this meant work for a Dachshund was hard. To recuperate the energy they spent in battle with badgers, these dogs slept a lot. The act of sleeping a lot is still part of a Dachshund’s natural behavior today.
2. Dogs Sleep More as They Age
In the dog world, Dachshunds have a long life expectancy. With many dogs of this breed living upwards of 12 to 15 years, it should be expected that they would slow down a bit as they age. Your Dachshund is considered a senior at around 8 years old. For most of them, this is when you’ll notice they don’t eat as much and receive less energy from their food.
This lack of energy and the natural changes their bodies go through as they age often results in more time needed to sleep.
3. Your Dachshund Isn’t Getting Enough Activity
Dachshunds no longer drag badgers out of holes. Instead, they are with us in our homes. If you spend a lot of time away from home or can’t help your Dachshund stay active throughout the day, they’ll simply spend their time sleeping out of boredom.
When this becomes a habit, it won’t change when you are at home unless you do something to get your Dachshund up and about.
4. It’s Cold Outside
Yes, just like us, dogs are affected by the change in weather. As winter approaches, Dachshunds and other dog breeds experience a change in their melatonin levels. Melatonin is the sleep hormone. When this happens, and the nights get longer, expect your Dachshund to sleep a bit more.
5. Dachshunds Get Bored
People deal with boredom in lots of ways. Dogs do too. Some dogs will bark when this happens. Others will tear around the house to find things they can get into. When your Dachshund has nothing to do, you may find that sleeping is their answer.
With the amount of time Dachshunds spend simply lying or sitting around the house nowadays, this makes sense.
6. Narcolepsy in Dachshunds Is Real
Dachshunds are a relatively healthy dog breed but they can suffer from narcolepsy. This neurological disorder can make your dog feel tired most of the time and cause it to sleep a lot. There are even times when a dog suffering from narcolepsy loses control of its muscles and simply collapses where they stand.
Narcolepsy usually presents itself between 6 and 12 months of age. If you feel your Dachshund may be suffering from narcolepsy, reach out to a veterinarian for assistance.
7. Your Dachshund Is Overeating
When you eat too much, it’s normal to kick back and relax. The same can be said for your Dachshund. However, just like with humans, overeating and obesity in dogs can be dangerous. Dachshunds are no longer the active badger hunters they once were.
Without the activity to burn off the extra calories, overfeeding your dog will result in weight gain and a bit of laziness. To avoid this, only provide your Dachshund with high-quality food and the portions a veterinarian recommends.
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8. Your Pooch Isn’t Getting the Rest They Need at Night
Like any pet, if your Dachshund isn’t sleeping well at night, they are going to make up for it during the day. Unfortunately, there are lots of reasons your pet may not get the sleep they need at night. Perhaps some people in the house are night owls and make too much noise.
Your Dachshund could also be older and suffer from joint pain which makes them restless. It could also be too hot or cold in the house making them uncomfortable. There are even other health issues that could cause issues. If you notice your Dachshund isn’t sleeping when it should, schedule a veterinarian visit.
In Conclusion
If your Dachshund is sleeping too much, it’s only natural to try to determine what’s happening. While many of the reasons are easy fixes that you can handle on your own, others may require a trip to the veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.
The key to understanding your Dachshund and its sleep pattern is to stay aware of what’s happening around your pet and do what you can to make sure they are comfortable and well cared for at home.
Featured Image Credit: Cate186, Pixabay
The 8 Reasons Why Your Dachshund Sleeps So Much
2 Responses
I adopted Hank from a rescue when he was eight, he is now over twelve. Good health, great appetite and loves to sleep. Thanks to your information I now understand why he is sleeping more these days. Always a Dachshund Lover
Hello Laura,
thank you very much for your nice message! It is great to hear about you and Hank and that you are doing well together. We hope that Hank will keep bringing you joy for many more years to come!
Best wishes.