Why is my Beagle always tired
Why do Beagles sleep so much?
I still remember, years ago, when I first brought my beagle home, I was so excited to play with him. We did play for around half an hour, but then he found a corner and dozed off. I waited for an hour for him to wake up, then waited for another hour. Then he did wake up but peed and slept again. Well, I was a newbie then. If you have a beagle and even you have had such a question, then lets find out why does your beagle sleep so much?
Beagles are an active and energetic breed. They spend most of their time sleeping to rebuild their muscles and gain energy. Its natural for an adult beagle to sleep 10 to 12 hours daily. Puppies and older beagles get tired easily and need more sleep.
How much sleep do Beagle puppies need?
Beagles do sleep a lot, especially when they are puppies. Adult beagles can sleep for around 12 hours a day, while puppies can sleep for around 18 hours a day. Active beagles spend more energy, and hence they can sleep even more.
My beagle is exceptionally active, especially during the day. Beagles are very, very playful when they are awake. In fact, they tend to expend loads of energy. I guess that is precisely why they need more rest. After all, thats how babies regain their stamina.
The one thing I have learned is that beagle puppies shouldnt be kept awake for more than 4 or 5 hours. They need adequate sleep for proper growth. They play, eat, and sleep in bursts, so pet parents have to be very careful.
How much sleep do adult Beagles need?
An adult beagle should get between 10 to 12 hours of sleep every day. Beagles spend around 50% of their day sleeping, 30% lying down awake, and 20% being active. As they get old, they become flexible sleepers. Even a pin drop can wake them, and they could go back to sleep within a few seconds. Older dogs, if left to their own devices, will eat and sleep much more than what is needed. You must train your dog and set a proper timetable. Your pet should get enough exercise, playtime, and walks. In fact, it is very normal for your dog to take short power naps.
How to Sleep train your Beagle?
Well, beagles do have a strange sleeping pattern that can disturb your routine. It is necessary to sleep train your beagle according to your schedule so that you and your dog can have the maximum time to spend together.
Your main goal is to create a routine for your dog and act accordingly. In this way, sooner or later, your dog will get used to your routine. This is how your dogs routine should look like:
Step 1: Exercise
I think you already know how much energy beagles have when they are awake. So take them out for long walks daily. You can play fetch with them or take them swimming. This will drain them up and help them sleep better at night.
Step 2: Meals
Feed your pet at the same time every day. Make a routine and feed them according to it.
Step 3: Toilet
Dogs dont sleep if they want to go to the toilet. So take them outside before you go to bed. This will help your dog understand his sleeping schedule.
Step 4: Playtime
In your free time, play with them, and teach them some tricks and commands. Here are some tricks you can teach your beagle.
Step 5: Greet your Beagle
Greet your beagle with Good Morning as soon as you wake up and Good Night before you go to sleep. A habit of greeting them in the good morning will give them an assurance that you will be there to greet them in the morning. This will make them more relaxed during the night.
Relevant Questions
Do other dog breeds also have similar sleep patterns?
Its not just a beagle that sleeps so much. Other dogs especially hunting breeds, also rest a lot. There are occasions when you feel that all your pet does is sleep. I decided to delve a bit deeper into this. A vet told me that certain pet parents find it tough to understand the benefit that animals get from sleep. Researchers still arent sure as to why beagles or, for that matter, other dogs need so much sleep. Some think that dogs enter the REM cycle of sleep ten percent of the time they sleep. They probably need more rest so they can rejuvenate completely.
Why does my beagle sleep so much during the daytime and stay awake at night?
All the dogs trace their ancestry to wolves. Beagles were predators and hunters, and we all know predators dont sleep at night. In fact, most dogs, if not trained, tend to stay awake at night. So dont be surprised if you wake up in the middle of the night and find your beagle staring at a wall. They keep watching while we sleep at night.
Tiredness and fatigue
Tired during the day because of waking up at night, making gasping, snorting or choking noises at night and loud snoring
Sleep apnoea
Lack of energy, noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations), shortness of breath and pale skin
Iron deficiency anaemia
Very tired, feeling very thirsty, peeing more often than usual (particularly at night), weight loss
Diabetes
Tired all the time, finding it hard to stay still, feeling nervous, anxious and irritable, muscle weakness
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Extreme fatigue for at least 3 months (making it very hard to do daily activities), problems with thinking, memory and concentration, flu-like symptoms
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Why Does My Beagle Sleep So Much? Learn to Minimize Beagle Sleeping Habits.
There are moments that beagle owners are eager to exercise or go out. Yet when they look around, their Beagle is sleeping on the couch even if its still daytime. They look like theyve done something tiring because theyve been sleeping so much. And you ask yourself, why do beagles have a tendency to sleep around so much?
Beagles tend to sleep to regain their energy level and strength especially if theyve done exercise. In addition, it is normal for dogs to sleep more hours than humans. It is the given trait for most dogs except for the ones that were bred for work and law enforcement purposes. Further, adult beagles will tend to sleep more because of their age and health issues. However, there are a lot of instances why a certain beagle will get hours of sleep every day.
1. Beagles Experiencing Boredom
Beagles will fall asleep because there are not many things to do. Dogs have limited entertainment, unlike their owners that can find a lot of things to do from being busy with work, gadgets, dates, and games. Even having toys for dogs, they can still get bored if they are already used to it. A dog can feel bored most of the time if they are being tied down in chains, staying in a crate, or stuck indoors.
They can have more fun running in the backyard, digging and exploring as well as having the exercise that they need.
2. Older & Puppy Beagles
Puppies and older dogs tend to sleep more than dogs with age in between. Because as for puppies, they needed sleep for their growth development. Just like babies, puppies require more time to lie around and gain the energy that they need for the brain, heart, immune system, and muscles.
When Beagle pups move around and play, they are easily tired, thus they will find a comfortable place and sleep there. The same goes with beagles that are of age, because their health and energy start to degrade you can find them more inactive and sleeping all the time.
3. Overweight Beagles
When humans have more weight than they ought to have, they will tend to sleep more and refuse to be active. One factor would be laziness but when humans are in this stage its easier to just sleep than exercise. It is true for beagles too, when your beagle is overweight they will sleep more than usual.
4. Sick Beagles
Another reason a beagle will sleep more in the morning is that its suffering from various health issues. There are common illnesses a Beagle can get especially if they dont have proper diet and exercise. Older dogs will be prone to illnesses too thus they will sleep more every day.
How to Minimize Beagle Sleeping Habits
In general 12 hours of sleep for dogs is normal, theres no need to get worried when you find your dog sleeping 12 hours per day. However, that doesnt mean that you will not do something fun so that their beagle days will not just be filled with sleep but with fun and exciting activities.
You can try incorporating the following activities so that your Beagle will not tend to sleep more than it used to.
- Give Your Beagle Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are going to give your Beagle a lot of Fun. Basically, puzzle toys will allow you to put a treat inside and your dog has to think about how to get the treat. Puzzle toys have a lot of levels, choose the ones that are suited for your beagle. They are intelligent breeds thus they can handle the puzzle toys while they eat. In addition, it can prevent your dog from overeating and it will take time for them to chew the food.
Puzzle toys are a great mental stimulation and brain development for dogs that have nothing to do in the house. The product will be engaging and fun. Whats amazing about puzzle toy is that they have levels. Once your dog is done with level one you can give your beagle level 2 and so on & on.
Exercise and Daily Walks are proven activities that can keep your Beagle away from sleep. Walking will keep your beagle grounded at the present moment and enjoy the surroundings. Dogs that are given 30 minutes of walk and exercise per day were much happier and healthier.
If you cant get your Beagle to have daily walks and exercise, then it would be helpful that you get a dog walker. At least, your Beagle will get the required exercise per day. They can burn calories as well as feel alive and happy.
How to Train Your Beagle to Sleep According to Your Routine
There are times that the Beagle and pet owners dont have the same sleep patterns. Its either the Beagle sleeps at night and the owner is wide awake or the owner is awake at day while the Beagle is asleep. It is important that both of you have the same routine so that you can bond and spend time together. It would be easier to feed your pet Beagle as well.
1. Drain the Energy During the Day
Set the walks and exercise activity of your Beagle during the Day so that they are tired at night. You have to allow them to play outside during the day so that they will know that playtime is during the day and not at night. Set a routine or specific time that you will put your Beagle on the crate or on its bed to indicate sleep.
2. Meal Routine
Its important that you feed your Beagle at the same time each day. It will create a meal routine for your Beagle and most probably they will be awake and in time for the meal so that they will not miss it. In addition, avoid a poor diet because it will lead to many medical issues.
3. Toilet Before Sleep
Beagles or most dogs will not fall asleep when they want to pee or poop. You have to take them outside or lead them to the litter box to make sure that they pee first for them to have a comfortable and undisturbed sleep. It will also avoid adult dogs or puppies from accidentally peeing on the bed. Create this sleep routine so that you as a pet owner will not be disturbed on your bed at night.
4. Play Time During The Day
Spend time or play with your Beagle during the day for them to be excited to wake in the morning for they know that it is time to play or have fun. Its not necessary that you will play all the time, both of you can have a quiet time wherein you will both sit around and watch TV.
How Many Hours of Sleep Does My Beagle Need?
Your Beagle will need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per day. Therefore, its fine if your Beagle sleeps longer than you. If you find them having a nap again during the day, let them. However, dont allow them to the extent that they will just sleep all day because of boredom.
Beagles can go on their days with 50% sleeping, 30% just lying around but not asleep and the remaining 20% is to be active. Make sure that your Beagle will have an active time during the day because when they grow older, they will be more prone to sleeping than doing anything.
Furthermore, Beagles will tend to have a series of naps during the day. Because there are times that they cant fall into a deep sleep thus they need to sleep more.
How Should I Know if I Need to Get Help on My Beagle Sleeping Patterns?
You can identify that your Beagle is going through something by observing its sleeping patterns. Here is the following list to take into consideration:
*If your Beagle is sleeping when obviously their favorite toy or dog friend is there.
*Your Beagle is still sleeping even though their food is already prepared and served.
*When your Beagle falls asleep in the middle of a play or while running in the backyard.
*Your Beagle wakes up suddenly in a state of distress.
*Sudden change in sleeping patterns.
Pet owners will instantly feel that theres something wrong with their Beagles. You have to visit your vet and do a consultation about your Beagles sleeping habits. Dogs that are drowsy will tend to have illnesses such as:
*Hypothyroidism
*Diabetes
*Back Pain
*Anxiety
*Obesity
There are Beagles that will tend to be lazy, not all beagles are the same. It would still depend on its environment, human families, diet, and personality.
Photo from: (@beaglensta)
Sometimes it is beneficial that our Beagles fall asleep during the day because they can be demanding and annoying at times. When you are doing some chores they will include themselves and want to play. Nevertheless, let us not forget the responsibilities that we have as dog parents. We ought to give them healthy food, proper exercise, regular check-ups, and playtime. Dont just let your Beagles be bored, plan exciting activities that are engaging to your Beagle and to you.
