If you happen to get a chihuahua for the first time, you will probably wonder how long do chihuahuas sleep. This is not unusual. Their long hours of sleep might be alarming to some people. If you are looking to get one for yourself, you might as well learn some of their behaviors before then. Learn about their sleep patterns, how long they should sleep and some reasons that may trigger the long hours of sleep.
Also do not forget to check out our blogpost on popular dog breeds. Generally, chihuahuas are known to sleep for very long hours. A baby chihuahua can sleep for about hours while the adults can sleep for about 12 to 14 hours a day. The reason behind this being that the puppies are more energetic and very playful, which exhausts them hence the need for more sleep.
Some abrupt changes in their behaviors need a vet to determine what could be the cause. Either way, if your chihuahua sleeps in the range of 14 to 18 hours, there is no need to worry. That is just their nature. When a chihuahua is born, he will spend all his time sleeping and will wake up only at intervals of about 2 hours to feed. This will go one until 3 to 7 weeks when the chi starts to learn how to walk. This can take about a week. At this time, the puppy is very curious and wants to learn.
He will try to stay awake for longer periods. When the puppy is about 6 months, he will make use of his sleep fully as well as his active hours. The dog is playful and energetic when they are awake. By the time they are done playing, they will pass out and sleep for long hours again.
This can be up to 18 hours a day. As they keep growing, the 18 hours will slowly reduce. At this age, you should teach your dog to manage his sleep, let him sleep at night and keep him active during the day. When they are adults, they should have mastered how to manage their sleep. They will sleep at night and stay awake for most parts of the day. This is 12 to 15 hours. As they get to the senior stage, they will tire easily and they will tend to sleep either frequently or longer.
It is very normal for chihuahuas to sleep a lot. Their sleep can leave you with so many questions. Chihuahuas have good talent to find and sleep under covers like blankets, pillows. So they are staying pressed and warmly. Some dogs have that habit even they have grown up. So they tend to find a cover to sleep on when they feel sleepy. That means they have a habitual tendency to relax, hide, and sleep in some small places in their houses. Sometimes they may feel some kind of safeness in such places.
But usually, we can see this behavior in small dogs. Mainly, we can see this behavior in chihuahuas. So all of a sudden, they tend to burrow in those places without a second thought. I have had some worst experiences with this. I searched for more than an hour. But when I look inside our laundry room, he was there in a blanket. I think he felt too comfortable. So he did not answer me. In fact, usually, my chihuahua burrows himself and sleeps under covers for long hours.
He gets a little angry when I pull him out of it. By the way, Click to check the best Chew toy for chewiness which resolves a lot of problems. Usually, dogs are sleeping under covers when they are sick. This means they really wanna a dark place to stay in such situations. Probably he may have a stomachache or something else. Therefore they find a covered, comfortable place to hide and sleep.
I know every Chihuahua owner has seen this behavior. But be mindful if your chihuahua sleeps more than usual under covers, it may indicate some adverse health situations. But let me be honest. We cannot directly say if chihuahuas are sick or not by simply looking at their sleep behavior with covers.
Because whenever they feel some sleepiness, they would love to find a nice place and burrow. One of the other reasons why do chihuahuas sleep under covers is anxiety. These dogs can quickly suffer from anxiety. Every dog breed has bred upon a specific purpose. AS an example, those purposes can be service, hunting, protecting, watching, etc. But actually, why did chihuahuas have bred?
Actually, small dogs such as chihuahuas have initially been bred as companion dogs. So they love to stay close with their owners and cuddle. But now, what happened? Many chihuahua owners tend to leave them for long hours due to busyness. So it causes their dogs to have higher anxiety levels.
Sometimes, when chihuahuas face unexpected incidents that can trigger their anxiety level, they tend to hide and sleep under the covers.
Mostly those incidents can be unexpected large sounds. So hiding under a blanket can make them feel something like a safe feeling. We often see that Chihuahuas tend to sleep under covers when they first arrive at their new home and new owner. So give proper exercises which are suitable for chihuahuas on a daily basis. Giving about 30 minutes of exercise would be enough. As soon as the deed is done, bring him right back to his bed, give a quick pat and leave. It's hard to do, but you will be helping him in the long run.
One of the best ways to train a Chihuahua puppy to sleep at night is to show him that absolutely nothing fun or interesting at all happens during the night.
There is no play, there are no treats, and there isn't even any speaking. He will not be soothed and he will not be sung a lullaby! In fact, life is so boring when its dark out that he mind as well just lie back down and snooze until morning when there is interaction, fun, treats and attention. If the pup just urinated and eliminated and is only staying up to gain attention, he must be allowed to self-sooth himself back to sleep.
Owners who rush over every time there is a yelp or a whimper will actually train a puppy to call out all night long. This can set up a foundation of terrible habits that is not easily reversed.
Sleep Apnea Overview - This is a condition in which breathing patterns disrupt one's sleep. It is common with both people and their pets. This most often affects brachycephalic breeds those with flat faces such as the Pug when air passages become swollen and narrow.
However, a Chihuahua may have stenotic nares pinched nostrils or elongated palate that does cause breathing problems particularly when the dog is in a prone position. With stenotic nares or elongated palate, minor surgery may be warranted. I'm hearing different opinions on this and am wondering what the pros and cons are?
A: When a Chi is a puppy there are a few cons. One will be keeping the pup safe from not falling off the bed or getting rolled over by accident. We understand the urge to cuddle, but it's really in the best interest of the puppy to have his own spot where he is safe. One pro may be that you may be quickly awakened if there is a bathroom need and perhaps an owner may feel that allowing a Chihuahua to sleep in his bed will prevent barking at night.
While that is true, you also have to consider that dogs do best - in the long run - if they learn to self soothe and have some independence. This will really be needed if the pup is going to be home by himself during the day while owners are at work. Once the pup matures and can handle being alone, a move to your bed is alright as long as you do take in the pros and cons you asked about.
For Chi of all ages, you want to think about the long term consequences of letting a Chihuahua share your bed. It's very hard to reverse this decision and go from your bed back to his own separate area.
This especially holds true during the twice a year shedding season. It goes against the method of teaching proper hierarchy in the house. Humans must be seen as the leaders and for some Chi, sharing the bed will be seen as a 'weakness' that can lead to bad behavior and not obeying commands.
This being said, one pro is that you have your best friend to snuggle with. Also, since this breed is so small, an adult Chihuahua will hardly take up any room.
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