Has your Golden Retriever been sleeping for unusually long hours, and you are worried that something might be wrong?
There are numerous reasons why your Golden Retriever is sleeping so much. Some of these reasons are not serious and are simply natural. However, several reasons are severe and will negatively affect your Golden Retriever.
Fortunately, we will be discussing the reasons why your Golden Retriever is sleeping so much and ways in which you can help your dog.
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Why Does My Golden Retriever Sleep So Much?
Your Golden Retriever may be sleeping so much because it is in their nature. If such prolonged hours of sleep are unusual for your Golden Retriever, then they may be sleeping a lot because they may be malnourished, ill, affected by the weather, or overworked.
Here’s a chart representing the average sleep hours of a Golden Retriever.
| Age | Sleep In Hours |
| Adult Golden Retriever | 14-15 Hours |
| Golden Retriever Puppy | 15-20 Hours |
Reasons Why Your Golden Retriever Sleep So Much
Diet
When your Golden Retriever is not fed adequately, this will be displayed in several ways, and one of these ways will be them sleeping a lot. If your Golden Retriever is not getting the nutrients, they will be fatigued. This could happen when you overfeed or underfeed your Golden Retriever.
If you changed your Golden Retriever’s diet or started feeding them more or less than usual and noticed that they started sleeping more, the reason behind your Golden Retriever’s excessive sleeping is likely their diet.
Ill Health
Like us, when Golden Retrievers are sleep, they may experience a lack of energy. When your Golden Retriever starts sleeping excessively, you should watch them and note other symptoms that they may display. This will help you identify whether your Golden Retriever is ill or not.
Nature
Your Golden Retriever may be sleeping for prolonged hours as a result of their nature. This may be the case when you recently adopted your Golden Retriever. Some Golden Retrievers can sleep for between 12 to 14 hours simply because of their nature.
Age
Golden Retriever puppies tend to sleep for more hours than adult Golden Retrievers. This is a side-effect of their rapid growth. Like human babies who are energetic and play around then fall asleep for a long time afterward, Golden Retriever puppies experience the same thing. You can expect your Golden Retriever puppy to sleep for 15 to 20 hours.
Weather
If your Golden Retriever is sleeping a lot and is hot, do not worry because this is normal. Your Golden Retriever is likely experiencing a bit of lethargy as a result of the hot weather.
If your Golden Retriever has suddenly started sleeping more as the weather has gotten hotter, then it is likely that the hot weather is the cause of your Golden Retriever sleeping so much.
Boredom
Golden Retrievers have a lot of energy, and they are also a curious breed. They need something to stimulate their curiosity and allow them to expend some of their energy, or else they may grow bored. If your Golden Retriever has been sleeping a lot, then they may be bored.
This is often the case when you do not spend enough time with your Golden Retriever or allow them to play and have some fun.
Activity Level
If your Golden Retriever is overworked, they will experience a lack of energy and will need to refuel by sleeping a lot. Despite being a breed with high energy levels, Golden Retrievers should not be overworked because they are susceptible to hip dysplasia.
The opposite is true; if your Golden Retriever does not get enough exercise daily, they will be able to have energy for the day. A lack of physical activity also results in a lack of energy and will lead to your Golden Retriever sleeping excessively.
Should You Worry About Your Golden Retriever Sleeping Too Much?
Golden Retrievers typically need between 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily. However, these hours can be affected by factors such as your Golden Retriever’s age and activity level. The more active your Golden Retriever is, the more they will tend to sleep.
If your Golden Retriever suddenly begins to sleep more than usual, then that is a cause for worry. Once you notice that your Golden is sleeping for an unusually long period, along with displaying other symptoms, you should consult your veterinarian because it is likely that your Golden Retriever is ill and requires treatment.
What To Do About Your Golden Retriever Sleeping So Much?
Good Diet
You need to ensure that your Golden Retriever has a healthy and well-balanced diet. You should not overfeed or underfeed your Golden Retriever because that will cause them to sleep a lot. If you are unsure how much you should feed your Golden Retriever, consult your veterinarian for guidance.
You can also look at this food chart which will give you a general guideline about how much to feed a Golden Retriever.
The amount of food you feed your Golden Retriever is not the only factor you should consider about their diet; you also need to ensure that you feed your Golden Retriever some high-quality dog food. High-quality dog food is packed with healthy nutrients that will give your Golden Retriever the energy that they need to make it through the day.
Give Them Shade
When it is hot, you should try to keep your Golden Retriever as cool as you can. If your Golden Retriever is too hot, you will not only be running the risk of them sleeping too much, but they may also fall victim to heatstroke. An excellent way to keep your Golden Retriever cool is by ensuring that they have access to a shaded area where they can relax.
Let Your Golden Sleep When It Wants To
Since some Golden Retrievers naturally sleep for long hours, you should allow your Golden Retriever to sleep when they want to sleep. While your Golden Retriever sleeps, they can regain their energy and recover from the day’s activities.
You are not allowing your dog to get the sleep that they want will be counterproductive. A lack of sleep will cause your Golden Retriever to become anxious, tired, and grumpy.
Talk To Your Vet
Suppose you notice that your Golden Retriever has been sleeping for an unusual number of hours. A safe bet would be to take your Golden Retriever to your veterinarian. Instead of playing a guessing game and not giving your Golden Retriever treatment when they need it or giving them a treatment that they do not need, your veterinarian will be able to make an accurate diagnosis.
This will spare you the time of guessing and worrying about your Golden Retriever. You will limit your Golden Retriever the discomfort of being ill without treatment for a prolonged period.
Ensure Your Golden Retriever Sleeps Comfortably
You need to ensure that the room that your Golden Retriever sleeps in and their bed is comfortable for them. If your Golden Retriever is uncomfortable and unable to get a good night’s rest, they will be tired throughout the day and end up sleeping a lot.
You can have a look at these 5 best dog beds for Golden Retrievers to get a night of better sleep for your pooch.
FAQ
Why Does My 8 Year Old Golden Retriever Sleep So Much?
Your 8-year-old Golden Retriever may be sleeping so much because they enjoy sleeping, and it is their nature. However, if their prolonged hours of sleep are unusual, it could be a result of the weather, a lack of physical activity, or an unhealthy diet.
How Much Should A 5-Month-Old Golden Retriever Sleep?
A Golden Retriever puppy should sleep for 15 to 20 hours. Golden Retriever puppies need to sleep a lot because it allows them to grow and develop their muscles. Puppies also tend to be overly active while awake, and they sleep a lot to recover from their activities.
Do Golden Retrievers Like To Sleep With Their Owners?
Yes, Golden Retrievers do like to sleep with their owners. Golden Retrievers are affectionate and protective dogs. They are ideal family dogs because they enjoy spending time with their owners, and they are always keen for a cuddle.
What Time Do Golden Retrievers Wake Up?
The time at which Golden Retrievers wake up is dependent on the time at which they fall asleep. There will typically be a 12 to 14-hour gap between when your Golden Retriever falls asleep and when they wake up.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Sleep During The Day?
Golden Retrievers typically spend about three hours napping during the day. Golden Retrievers do most of their sleeping during the night, usually between 12 to 14 hours of sleep. However, Golden Retrievers puppies sleep away most of the day.
Conclusion
If your Golden Retriever is sleeping a lot, you should consider that it is simply their nature, or they may be malnourished. As a rule of thumb, always ensure that your Golden Retriever has a healthy, well-balanced diet.
On the other hand, if your Golden Retriever displays other symptoms and excessive sleep, you should take them to your veterinarian for a professional diagnosis. You should instead be safe than sorry when dealing with your Golden Retriever’s health.
