All Shih Tzu spend most of their time sleeping. The obvious question is, why does Shih Tzu sleep so much?
How long does a Shih Tzu need to sleep?
Shih Tzus need more sleep than humans. As adults, they will spend between 12 and 15 hours sleeping, while when they are puppies they can sleep up to 18 hours.
This is due to several factors such as age. As they get older, they need to sleep more, as the weight of age and health makes their body ask for more rest. Another factor is whether the dog is domestic, wild, or working:
In the case of a wild dog, which lives under threat and must always be on the lookout to look for food or alert to the possible presence of an enemy. In the case of working dogs, their name says it all. They have a job, their free time is scarce and they usually have the same appointments as their owner.
See also: Simple Tip To Teach Your Shih Tzu To Paw
Why do they sleep a lot?
The domestic dog has a lot of free time and tends to get bored easily, so the best way to kill time is to sleep. So, between the need for hours of sleep that they have because they are dogs, added to the chronic boredom, your dog can spend a lot of time sleeping.
When should I be concerned about my Shih Tzu sleeping?
Well, if you see that your dog sleeps longer than the ones we mentioned before. It could be that he has some illness or a symptom that something is not right.
Now, it could be that your dog sleeps most of his needed hours during the day and bothers you with his nighttime walks. There are several things you can do to remedy this:
Tips for your Shih Tzu to sleep at night
It is important that the place where your baby sleeps is comfortable and that he feels protected and safe. It should be in a warm place in winter and cool in summer. If your Shih Tzu is very dependent on you, place his bed somewhere close to your room, or if you don’t mind, inside your room.
Exercise is essential for your Shih Tzu to sleep like an angel at nightfall. Try to get him to run and play early in the evening. By the time he goes to bed, he will be tired and it won’t take him long to fall asleep.
Get him used to having dinner early so he doesn’t go to bed with a full stomach. Digesting food at night makes it difficult to sleep and creates the need for movement.
You can consult with your vet and find out about some kind of pill that will help your dog sleep while he gets used to the changes you are putting in place to create a nighttime routine.
If your dog sleeps more at night than during the day, you’re in luck. Our latest advice will not be needed. We are sure that the information provided will be of great use.
If you notice that your Shih Tzu sleeps fewer hours than necessary, consult your veterinarian. This is because your Shih Tzu may be experiencing stress or anxiety that should be treated by a specialist.
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