In addition to the 50% of their day spent sleeping, dogs will then spend another 30% of their awake hours doing what I call “loafing.” Just like with humans, loafing is when a dog is awake but really not doing much of anything—just hanging out.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs spend around half of the day asleep, 30% awake but relaxing and about 20% being active. So, it is normal for your dog to sleep or rest for a majority of the day. However, excessive sleep can be concerning for any pet owner.
Running, swimming, jumping, sniffing, eating, rolling, lounging, playing, posing, or socializing — the list of activities our dogs enjoy is endless. Our pets are also masters at making their own fun, turning the most mundane of activities into a challenge, an adventure, or just a howling-good time.
Most dogs spend a lot of their time catching some Z's. When you're not home to keep your pet busy, they'll likely find a comfortable place to cuddle up and take a siesta. If you're gone for a longer period of time, your pet might even take a few naps.
Yes, just like humans, dogs can get bored, too. And a bored dog definitely isn't a happy one, so it's important to ensure you're engaging with your dog to keep their body and mind stimulated throughout the day.
Dogs get bored just like we do, so it's important to provide them with exercise, training, interactive toys, and brain games to keep them busy and entertained. Giving them appropriate ways to burn that extra energy also means your flower beds, shoes, and couch won't become unfortunate casualties.
"Not in most situations," said Dr. David Sewell, veterinarian and co-owner of Crestview Animal Hospital in Cumming, Ga. "Dogs need to be outside for exercise and for their mental well-being. It makes them happier."
Overall, dogs are complex creatures that think about a wide range of things, including social relationships, their physical environment, daily routine, physical needs, and health and well-being.
As your puppy gets older gradually increase the total amount of time you leave them alone. Adult dogs are generally okay on their own for 4-6 hours a day. But, many dogs are good at adapting to being alone for 8-9 hours while you are at work if they are provided with enough space to comfortably move around.
Experts agree that dogs get lonely when they spend much of their time alone because they are pack animals. Descended from wolves, who live and work in groups, dogs are social beings, and we have become their pack members. If they are deprived of companions—both canine and human—they suffer.
Dogs love to play, and playing with you, their Number One Person, is their favorite way to play. Play helps young dogs develop motor skills as well as coping skills for real-life stressors. Play promotes a social bond as well as releasing pent-up energy. But mostly, dogs love to play with you just to have fun with you!
Provide Appropriate Play Time & Exercise
Exercise and playtime aren't only good for your dog's physical health, it also helps strengthen their mental health. Swimming, playing fetch, or going on brisk walks are some daily exercises that will let your furry friend burn off some excess energy.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Most dogs will spend a longer amount of time sleeping during the night, then they will have short bursts of sleep throughout the day. Surprisingly, many dogs only spend about 20% of the day being active.
Your dog may not look at the clock but most dogs do know when it is dinner time or time to go for a walk. How do they do this? All animals have a circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are the physical, mental and behavioural changes that follow a 24 hour cycle, responding to light and dark in the animal's environment.
“Some dogs will do better with more alone time than others,” he says. That said, for a general guideline, dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs on a daily basis, which can be broken up into chunks of time over the course of the day.
The television affects every dog differently.
While it's generally OK for dogs to watch television, the colors, sounds and content can make some dogs feel anxious.
While your dog will remember you leaving the house, they most likely won't understand how long you were away. When dogs are left alone, sometimes they become stressed (stemming from their separation anxiety), indicating that they have an awareness of the passage of time.
Adult dogs can sometimes hold their pee for up to 10 to 12 hours, if necessary. Most dogs can manage being left alone at home and keeping their pee for that long if the situation calls for it.
They have the same feeling as a child towards their parents and so they are not just an animal but a child to us and for them we are family. If ever you wonder whether your pooch is just like your child or not, think again. For them you are their parents.
That said, dogs often treat us as like we're part of one big happy pack. They can be incredibly loyal and loving to their family members. They rely on their human alphas to take care of them. If your dog doesn't see you as their alpha and ignores your commands, some professional training may be in order.
A fenced yard is a wonderful thing – but it's not the only way your dog can get exercise and mental stimulation. In fact, dogs do not necessarily get adequate exercise from being let out into a yard on their own. It's not unusual for dogs to find destructive ways to entertain themselves in a yard.
A dog may not only fill a home with joy, it fills a home with a whole lot of bacteria, new research suggests. But that doesn't mean you have to kick your pooch out of the bed.
While it may be impossible to say how much time is the perfect amount of time to spend with your dog every day, it is possible to spend too much time with your pet. In fact, spending too much one-on-one time with your dog could result in separation anxiety when you do have to leave or an unhealthy dependence.